Marianist Provincial to preside at VASJ opening Mass

The Head of the U.S. Marianist Province, Fr. Martin Solma, will travel to Cleveland next month to preside at the Opening Mass of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School on September 2.

“Fr. Marty,” a 1966 graduate of VASJ-predecessor St. Joseph High School, was installed on July 1, 2010, as the new Provincial of the Marianist order of priests and brothers in the U.S. VASJ President Brian Menard travelled to Louisville, Kentucky, for the installation ceremony. “If one of our alums was going to assume the position as the top Marianist in the U.S., I wanted to be there to offer prayers and support from his alma mater,” Menard said.

While in Louisville at the Installation, Menard spoke with the new Provincial about the prospect of returning to the VASJ campus to preside at a Mass sometime when he would be in Cleveland. The Marianists and Ursulines continue to be Sponsoring Orders at VASJ, supporting the school through the continued presence of Religious on campus, providing important resources to support the programs and students, and offering daily prayers, among other ways they make a difference at VASJ every day. “Fr. Marty said in Louisville he would like very much to come back home to his old school," Menard said.  "After the Installation, we continued our dialogue through e-mail until we landed upon a date that works.”

Alums and community members are welcome to attend the Mass, starting at 9:50 am in the VASJ gym on September 2. “We want to welcome Fr. Marty home to VASJ with the fanfare he would never claim but greatly deserves. With nearly three decades of missionary work in Africa before assuming his current post, he is a model of how a VASJ education turns loose on the world graduates who will have an impact for good on that world,” said Menard.

People with questions about the event can get more information from VASJ’s Communications & Media Coordinator Emily Robinson. 216-481-8414, ext. 235.

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