March 2017
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Marist Family leaders meet General Councils of the Marist Family's professed branches came together recently at Nemi near Rome, for their annual meeting (Mar 23-25). The international leadership teams represent the Marist Sisters, Marist Missionary Sisters, Marist Brothers and Marist Fathers. [Mar 27] |
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24 hours for the Lord Members of Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill, took turns in spending prayerful time before the Blessed Sacrament for twenty-four hours over Mar 24-25. Alas, the popularity of their beautiful parish church for weddings and baptisms meant they needed to 'pop in next door' and use the chapel of the Marist aged care centre, 'Montbel', for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. Welcome guests. [Mar 26] |
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Fr Jim Carty / Port Moresby's Archbishop John Ribat MSC |
Maria Tiimon Nauoko / Abp Mark Coleridge, Brisbane |
Climate change no joke Fr Jim Carty SM has joined the ranks of those calling for serious action on climate change. As part of 'Pacific Climate Watch's' social media campaign towards a congregational voice on climate change and the Pacific Islands, Fr Jim braved Sydney's recent Big Wet to record his statement... soggy, but sincere. He says: 'Climate change is on my mind, so I stood in yesterday's thunderstorm- the rain blurred the sign and soaked the holder. It reads: 'CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT A HOAX. ITS REAL. WE NEED ACTION NOW'. [Mar 22] |
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Colin biography talk Members of the Maryvale-Montbel community, Hunters Hill, were joined on Mar 16 by Marists from other parts of Sydney to hear Fr Justin Taylor SM speak about his work on the recently-completed biography of Jean-Claude Colin. Whilst in Sydney Fr Justin examined pictorial resources to provide visual enhancement for the Marist Founder's definitive biography. The book is likely to be published in 2018. Fr Justin returned to Auckland, NZ, on Mar 18 to resume pre-publication work. Below: Fr Paul Mahony introducing Fr Justin's talk | some of the biography's possible visual enhancements [Mar 18] |
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MCC immersion success Enthusiastic feedback from the Marist Charism & Culture immersion event confirmed the success of the initiative for school personnel to share Marist vision and values. (see below) After their five-day gathering at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill, participants from Marist-founded schools were unanimous about their positive experience. The next immersion will be held in late July. [Mar 15] |
| Above: Participants and team outside Villa Maria church / Fr Gerard Halll leading one of the MCC sessions Below: Marist Laity representatives, Andrew Dumas and Maria Baden give input / one of the school group presentations | MCC participants with Marist resource literature Further below: Historian, Fr Peter McMurrich, leads a tour of Villa Maria | Final Eucharist in Holy Name of Mary church |
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Pope Pus VII / The 1822 'Brief of Praise' |
195 years ago... On Mar 09, 1822, a short but important letter was sent from Rome by Pope Pius VII to the aspiring members of the Society of Mary in Cerdon, France. Known as a 'Brief of Praise', the letter gave initial encouragement to the Marist project, outlining the further steps necessary before official approval could be given. It was signed on behalf of the Pope by Monsignor (later Cardinal) Raphael Mazio, secretary of the 'Latin Letters' whence such documents were sent. To test your Latin: click here [Mar 09] |
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Today's anniversary highlighted on the 2017 Colin Calendar |
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Marist Laity news The latest issue of the Marist Laity Australia newsletter includes a comprehensive and colourful report on their immersion experience in the Philippines. Click here for the MLA web site Click here for the March newsletter (7Mb, may take a moment or two to download) [Mar 08] |
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'Bethany' community members, Paulo Rejende (Brazil), Frs Ekuasi Manu (Tonga-Fiji), Gerard Hall, Chris Ketsore (Bougainville) and John Worthington / the newly-acquired house, left, is next door to the main community building |
Bethany expands New members have joined the community of the Marist House of Welcome, 'Bethany', Rosalie, Brisbane. An adjacent house accommodates the newcomers, Frs John Worthington and Ekuasi Manu. Fr Ekuasi, a Tongan-Fijian Marist, has just completed nine years as principal of St John's school, Cawaci, Fiji, and is now commencing a M.Ed. (Leadership) through ACU in Brisbane. Community leader, Fr Gerard Hall SM, adds: " 'Bethany' offers a welcome not only to visiting Marists from our region but to any young person who may wish to come and stay for a while to discern a Marist vocation." [Mar 07] |
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Opening session of the MCC workshop, with coordinator, Glenn Roff / ... and Marist provincial, Fr Bob Barber SM |
Marist Charism & Culture On Mar 05 the latest in the series of Marist Charism & Culture workshops commenced at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill. The fifteen participants are from Marist-founded schools: St John's College, Woodlawn, NSW, Holy Spirit College, Bellambi, NSW, and Marist Regional College, Burnie, Tas. The four-day workshop will include input from a range of Marist speakers as well as historical tours and interviews with senior Marists. [Mar 06] |
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En route to La Neylière Tongan Marist, Fr Wesley Manu SM, is in Sydney for some days en route to France and the Colinian Period of Renewal (see below) now commencing at La Neylière. Fr Wesley is no stranger to Sydney and Villa Maria where he participated in the 2011 'Spirituality and Lifestyle' program. Recently based in Hahela, Bougainville, Fr Wesley caught up with Pacific veteran, Fr Kevin Kerley OAM, during his transit visit. Maloleilei, Fr Wesley! [Mar 05] |
| Above: Fr Wesley Manu / ... with Fr Kevin Kerley. Below: Fr Wesley at Villa Maria | Flashback to 'S&L' days in 2011. |
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From left: Back: Tony Kennedy, John Hand, Setefano Mataele, Kevin Redmond, Peter McDermot, Jimmy McElroy, Ad Blommerde, Armando Barron, Bernard Boisseau. Front: Joselito Molse, Trevor Tindall, Frank Bird, Jose-Maria Da Silva |
CPR starts From La Neylière, France, Australian Fr Tony Kennedy reports: "On Ash Wednesday ten Marists gathered at La Neylière to begin the Colinian Period of Renewal. "They come from the provinces of Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Oceania and the Districts of Asia and South America. (We are still waiting on one more person. We hope he is here soon.) [continued below...] [Mar 03] |
| "The group gathered in the Oratory for a short liturgy. We began with a message from the Superior General and then the names of the participants were called. Each of the group was presented with a copy of the 1872 SM constitutions by Tony Kennedy, the director of the program. The Marist community at La Neylière make up the rest of the team who will take up significant roles throughout the period. For the next five months the group will reflect on the Spiritual life through prayer, silence, presentations, accompaniment and reading. We will have the opportunity to visit the places of Marist origins and reflect on the life of Fr Colin and the constitutions: both old and new. Listening to the different experiences and stories from each of the group members will be a key component as we share life together as Marists. Thank you to all those who have offered to pray for us." |
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Hayden's new home Australian Marist seminarian, Hayden Kennedy, is settling into his new home in New Zealand. Hayden has joined the formation community at Hopetoun St, Auckland, with two other young men, including newly-professed namesake, Hayden Powich. Hayden (Aussie one) was recently farewelled from the Marist House of Welcome, Paddington, Brisbane. [Mar 01] |
| Above, from left: Hayden Powick, Fr Chris Skinner, Seremaia Turagabeci, Hayden Kennedy (with scarf), Fr Pat Breeze (superior) and Fr Tom O'Connor. Below: Grounds and chapel, Hopetoun St. |
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Fr Paul's forbidden fruit In an effort to protect Villa Maria's annual crop of persimmons from pesky predators, Fr Paul Glynn has enlisted the aid of Bunnings Warehouse and the Japanese Catholic community to fit netting covers over two endangered fruit trees of the historic property. Birds, bats, possums and people are known to pray on the persimmons, forbidden until the appointed time of ripening. All the best, Fr Paul! [Mar 01] |
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Social Justice diary for March JPIC: click here [Mar 01]
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Marist news from Europe Download latest 'Euroinfo'. Click here [Mar 01] |
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