Workers appreciated at St Patrick's

In end-of-year party mode on Nov 30, the team of St Patrick's Marist community showed their appreciation of the work of scores of staff, volunteers and other helpers throughout 2012.

In the crypt celebration parish priest, Fr Ray Chapman SM, thanked the dinner guests for the wide of range of contributions made throughout another year. He paid special tribute to Fr Peter McMurrich who leaves St Pat's shortly to take up the role of vicar-provincial of the Australian Province and superior of the Villa Maria Marist community at Hunters Hill, NSW.

Frs Ray Chapman and Peter McMurrich are pictured, left.

St Francis Xavier in Japan recalled

As the journey of the relic of St Francis Xavier in Australia nears its end, Fr Jim Carty SM recalls its historic 1949 journey from Rome to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the saint's arrival in Japan.

Fr Jim's father, Bill Carty, a renowned wartime combat photographer, moved with his young family from Sydney to post-war Japan as a newsreel cameraman. In 1949 he covered the tour of the relic to the principal towns and cities associated with the saint's brief but fruitful ministry in 16th century Japan.

Amongst Fr Jim's keenest memories as a 10 yr old was his fascination with the 35m-long scarlet 'cappa magna' of Papal Legate, Australian Cardinal Norman Gilroy, at the open air Mass at Nagasaki.

Fukushima pilgrimage of aid and hope

During his 3-month sojourn in Nara, Fr Paul Glynn SM has organised a pilgrimage of aid to bring hope to Fukushima tsunami survivors in the north of Japan.

Members and friends of the Australian Japanese Catholic community joined the group at Fr Paul's base in Tomigaoka for the journey to Fukushima, offering warm clothing, home needs and financial support, including for children orphaned by the disaster which claimed 19,000 lives.

Many survivors are housed in temporary dwellings while they must wait five years before returning to their radiation-contaminated homes.

'Sparkling High Tea' at St Patrick's

St Patrick's Courtyard Coffee Shop held its annual 'Sparkling High Tea' in the crypt of St Patrick's on Nov 24 for volunteer workers and friends of the popular Sydney gathering place.

In addition to champagne and other party fare, guests were treated to the music of the 'Mighty Mouse', Angela Chan, and accompanist, Daniel Rojas.

APTO conference's Marist keynote speaker

Fr Jim Carty SM was the keynote speaker at the 9th annual conference of the Association of Practical Theology in Oceania (APTO) at St. Joseph's Centre for Reflective Living in Baulkham Hills, Sydney,

The theme of this year's conference was 'Being Christian in a world with the marginalized'. Fr Jim's keynote address was entitled 'Refugees and marginalisation: the Sabian Mandaean community.'

Dr Bet Green, President of APTO, Dr Bet Green described the conference as 'a terrific success, presenting a rich and diverse opportunity for people to collaborate about those
marginalized in our society.'

Sister Fidelis' new start

After 50 years of religious life, including 45 years in Catholic education in Ireland, England, New Zealand and Australia, Marist Sister Fidelis McTeigue SM has started a new ministry.

'I love my job!', declares Sr Fidelis, newly-appointed pastoral associate at St Patrick's, Church Hill, Sydney. In addition to liturgy preparation in the parish, Sr Fidelis manages the popular book and religious items stall on Sundays in the courtyard of St Patrick's.

In her previous ministry Sr Fidelis was deputy-principal for 6 years and principal for 27 years of Marist Sisters' high schools at Merrylands and Woolwich.

Marist book launches

Frs Andrew Murray and Gerry Arbuckle have each launched a book in recent days.

Fr Andrew's 'Thinking Things Through: Essays in Philosophy and Christian Faith' was launched at the Catholic Institute of Sydney on Nov 15 while Fr Gerry's 'Humanizing Healthcare Reforms' was launched at Heythrop College, London, on Nov 17.

'Thinking Things Through' is available from ATF Press and contains Fr Andrew's reflections on a range of life issues since the mid-nineties.

'Humanizing Healthcare Reforms' will have its Australian launch at St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, on Dec 13, 'a useful mirror for managers and clinicians to reflect on and mitigate their own responses to structural change.'

Marist Laity newsletter

The November issue of Marist Laity Australia's newsletter is now available from their website, www.maristlaityaustralia.com

Download newsletter directly from here.

Colin Year begins

Communities of the Society of Mary across the world have begun to celebrate the beginning of the 'Colin Year' honouring their Founder, Ven Jean-Claude Colin.

Superior-General, Fr John Hannan SM, (pictured, left) led the way with a simple ceremony in the chapel of 'Monteverde', Rome, on Nov 15, the anniversary of the death of Fr Colin at La Neylière, France, in 1875. A candle in front of the icon will remain burning throughout the Colin Year as 'a reminder and expression of the reflections and prayers of confreres throughout the world.'

The start of the Colin Year coincides with the launch of www.jeanclaudecolin.org which will provide an ongoing focus on the Beatification Cause of Fr Colin and a source of resources for communities, schools and Marist lay groups.

S&L group meet with JPICC

As part of their program addressing a range of lifestyle and ministry issues, the 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' group at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill, met with the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Committee of the Australian Provnce on Nov 12.

Pictured, left, JPICC convenor, Fr Jim Carty SM, sharing on refugee and asylum seeker issues.

Marist Youth International website

Pictured below, Fr Alejandro Munoz SM, international coordinator of vocations for the Society of Mary, announces the launch of the 'MYI' website.

The site is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese. Go to www.maristyouthinternational.org

Sr Noelene Simmons SM welcomes Paul Power  /
participants at the Hunters Hill JPIC session included Marist Missionary Sisters and Marist Fathers as well as Marist Sisters

Sisters address refugee issues

CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, Paul Power, led an afternoon's reflection on refugee and asylum seeker issues with Marist Sisters from the Sydney area on Nov 10.

Organised by the JPIC group of the Marist Sisters, the session explored the plight of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia and comparisons with treatment in other countries of the world's 42 million displaced persons.

Australia is presently 43rd in the order of countries accepting refugees internationally, but is setting a wholesome trend in developing community housing models as an alternative to secure detention. For more info, go to Refugee Council of Australia

Fr Chris' ten years

Filipino 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' program participant, Fr Chris Ganzon SM, has celebrated ten years of Marist priesthood while in Australia.

As formation director for young Marists in the Marist Philippines District, Fr Chris is based at Davao City in his native Mindanao.

He was joined by 'S&L' companions for a celebratory Eucharist on Nov 07 and by Australian confreres for dinner and coffee afterwards.

Young Marist-TOH-er's tragic death

Marists throughout the Pacific are mourning the sudden death of Fr Toma'akino Lakai SM (38) in a truck accident near Hanahan, Bougainville, on Nov 07. A former Marist seminarian, Chris Ulena, residing with Fr Toma, also died in the accident.

While still a seminarian, Tongan-born Fr Toma participated in 'The Other Half' journey of 2006-07, sponsored by Marist Mission Centre Australia and travelling to remote areas of Thailand and Cambodia, his gentle presence winning the hearts of refugee and disabled youngsters along the way.

Since his ordination in 2009 Fr Toma worked in the Oceania Marist Province's Bougainville region after graduating from the Marist seminary at Bomana, PNG. He will be sadly missed by many in the Pacifc. May he rest in peace.

Missionaries remembered at historic cemetery

Marists from Asia-Pacific countries gathered for prayer on Nov 02 in the historic missionaries' cemetery in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, NSW.

Members of the 'Spirituality & Lifetsyle' program joined local Marists to remember deceased missionaries on the Commemoration of All Souls.

After the prayer copies of Oceania Province's memorial book of 700 missionaries were presented to local Marist communities in the picturesque setting.

Facebook connections add to web visits

Links between the Australian S.M. website and Marist Facebook friends have led to increased visits to the site.

During October daily visits averaged over 300, peaking at 473 on Oct 29. Current 'hits' will approach a total of 3,000,000 in 2012.

Many Marists in various provinces and units throughout the world are increasingly connecting through the social media.