Chaminade University students and recent alumni joined more than 170 members of the Marianist Family this past week in Dayton, Ohio, helping shape conversations about the future of the Marianist mission during the 2026 Province Assembly.
Focusing on “Embracing Our Roots, Forging Our Future,” the Assembly brought together members of the Society of Mary, Marianist Brothers, Sisters, Lay Marianists, and youth to pray, reflect and ask “How do we carry a rich legacy forward while responding to the needs of a new generation?”
“I feel so blessed to have gained a Marianist education and the chance to attend the Assembly,” said Victoria Zembik, a current Chaminade student. “I feel an obligation to serve others in big and small ways and to carry on the traditions that our founding fathers instilled.”
That focus on young people remained at the heart of the Assembly. Panels featuring young adults, Marianist family members, and Province leaders focused on the relevance of the Marianist charism, the future of the Marianist mission and preserving traditions for the next generation.
Among the Chaminade participants were Victoria Zembik, Easton DelaCruz ’25, Alex Hernandez ’24, Temika Hemmings ’25 and other recent alumni. Together they joined students from the University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University, the nation’s other Marianist universities.
“Being able to meet and chat with Brothers, more than we usually see on Kalaepohaku, gave me a better understanding of how the Marianists in the US are doing their best to reach out to the country,” DelaCruz said. “Each Brother had a unique story on how they found the Marianists, and how they are living their vocation.”
The aloha spirit was also present during the installation of new leadership for the Society of Mary. One of the Assembly’s most memorable moments came during the installation of Bro. Ed Violett, former vice president of the Marianist Center of Hawaiʻi, as the new Provincial of the Society of Mary. Draped in Hawaiian lei, Violett’s installation reflected the close ties between Hawaiʻi and the Marianist Province.
“Our founders taught us that faith grows when we are willing to respond creatively to the needs of our time,” Violett was quoted as saying in the Family Online newsletter. “The future of our Province will be shaped by our courage to listen, to collaborate, and to walk alongside young people who are searching for purpose and community. If we remain rooted in our Marianist Charism, the future before us is filled with possibility.”
The Assembly reflected many of the same characteristics that define a Marianist education at Chaminade—faith, family spirit, service, justice, and adaptation to a changing world.
Participants honored the Marianists who came before them, celebrated jubilarians, prayed at the Province cemetery in Dayton, reflected on their personal journeys, and looked honestly at the realities facing the Church and society today.
As students returned to Hawaiʻi, they brought home more than memories of Dayton. They returned with a deeper appreciation for the Marianist mission and a renewed commitment to live its values through leadership, service and community. As the Province begins a new chapter, Chaminade students will continue helping carry that mission into the future.
“As young adults, I think it’s important to really try and understand the charism and what it’s trying to do in our lives,” DelaCruz added. “The Marianist charism is really special and it was really nice to see how it impacts people from around the world. As young adults, we need to continue sharing the charism by spreading faith, serving others and building communities.”
