The icon triptych includes a depiction of the wedding feast at Cana created by an Italian Marianist, Bro. Salvatore Santacroce. Flanking the art are original letters penned by Venerable Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon and Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. (Photo courtesy of Chaminade University)
For 18 months, ending on Jan. 22, 2018, the Society of Mary (Marianists) and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianist Sisters) are celebrating the bicentennial of their foundations around the world.
A focus of the celebrations is an icon triptych that includes original letters written by Mother Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon and Father William Joseph Chaminade, with artwork depicting the wedding feast at Cana created by an Italian Marianist.
The triptych will travel the Marianist world with stops in countries as varied as Austria, Togo, Korea and Mexico.
The icon was in Hawaii Nov. 16-20, and on display in Mystical Rose Oratory at Chaminade University on Nov. 17-18.
“For me, the significance of this being on our campus is that this is one stop throughout the entire Marianist world,” said Marianist Brother Bernard Ploeger, Chaminade’s president.
“It is always something that gives me pause when I think about all the different places the icon will visit and all the different places that Father Chaminade has had a direct influence,” he said.
The university’s chaplain, Marianist Father George Cerniglia, said the icon “marks a special time for the whole Marianist family. This icon of the Wedding Feast of Cana, which is very special to the Marianist spirituality, history and tradition, reminds us to do whatever he tells us. That is our mission — to bring Jesus to the world as Mary did.”
In addition, the Marianists celebrated the Eucharist with the icon on its final evening in Honolulu, followed by a dinner together.
Marianist Brother Edward Brink, Chaminade’s rector, said, “For a vision to endure for 200 years is a very big accomplishment. We are still trying to do what Father Chaminade and Mother Adele dreamt of. I don’t think they could have envisioned these times or this place.”
