Provincial leaves for Rome meeting

Fr Bob Barber is off to the 'Annual Review Consultation' at the Society of Mary's General House, 'Monteverde', Rome, where he will represent the Australian province at the yearly leadership meeting..

Initiated by the General Chapter of 2009, 'ARC' gathers provincials and district superiors to review and plan Marist life and ministry internationally.

After the ten-day meeting Fr Bob will return to Sydney on Oct 13. Bon voyage, Fr Bob!

 [Posted Sep 29]

First arrival for S&L 2014

Filipino Marist, Fr Lionel ('Long') Mechavez SM, is the first participant to arrive in Sydney for this year's 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' program.

Young Marists from the Marist Mission District of Asia and the Oceania Marist Province will follow the three-month course beginning at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill, on Oct 06.

 [Posted Sep 27]

The basilica and chapel of Fourvière / Madonna and Child in the ancient chapel of the Virgin

Marist leaders' Fourvière invitation

The Superiors-General of the four professed branches of the Marist Family have released a letter introducing a year of celebration of the Fourvière Pledge.

On Jul 23, 1816, the pioneer Marist aspirants pledged to form the Society of Mary. They did so at the shriine of Our Lady of Fourvière, Lyon, France.

The four Marist leaders are inviting fellow Marists to prepare for the pledge's 2016 bicentenary in the year beginning Jul 23, 2015.

Click here for the Superior-Generals' letter and here for images of Fourvière on the Jean-Claude Colin web site.

 [Posted Sep 26]

Two visiting Marists

Enjoying the hospitality of 'Oceania House', Hunters Hill, are Italian Marist, Fr Andrea Volonnino, and American missionary, Fr David Galvin.

Ph.D. graduate of 'La Sapientia' and Gregorian universities in Rome, Fr Andrea is in Australia and New Zealand to meet fellow Marist philosophy teachers and to improve his English skills before commencing a three-year appointment at Pacific Regional Seminary, Suva, Fiji.

A welcome face in Sydney, Fr David is in Sydney for a periodic medical check. He will then return to the remote Marist mission of Makira, Solomon Islands.

Welcome, Fr Andrea and Fr David!

 [Posted Sep 25]

Fr Gavin Foster joins Australian Province

Australian provincial, Fr Bob Barber SM, has announced: 'The Superior General has approved a transfer of Fr Gavin Foster from the District of Asia to the Province of Australia. The transfer takes effect on Sep 24. We warmly welcome Gavin to the Province.' 

After early teaching ministry in his native New Zealand, Fr Gavin worked for nineteen years in the Philippines Mission District (later District of Asia), specialising in formation ministry and with extensive background in Clinical Pastoral Education. He is currently chaplain of St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, NSW.

Yes, welcome to our province, Fr Gavin!

 [Posted Sep 25]

Anniversary of first Marist professions

Sep 24 marks one hundred and seventy-eight years since the religious profession of the first Marists in 1836 in the chapel of La Capucinière, Belley, France.  Amongst the nineteen signatories were Jean-Claude Colin, Marcellin Champagnat and Peter Chanel.

The event followed the approval of the priests' branch of the Society of Mary by the mission-minded Pope Gregory XVI. On the same day a reluctant Jean-Claude Colin was elected superior-general.

 [Posted Sep 24]

College humour

Parting senior students of Marist Sisters' College, Woolwich, NSW, have put their alma mater' on the market!

As the HSC girls bade farewell to their school last week, a clever sign appeared at its Woolwich Road entrance, tribute to the good-humoured spirit of the college over its decades of Marist care.

Prospective buyers 'enquire within'.

 [Posted Sep 22]

New Archbishop of Sydney

Pope Francis has appointed the Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP as the new Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. He has been Bishop of Parramatta since 2010. 

Archbishop-elect Anthony Fisher will be the ninth Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney. He succeeds Cardinal George Pell who was appointed to a new senior role in the Vatican earlier this year

We welcome Archbishop Fisher to his new role.

 [Posted Sep 18]

Holy Name of Mary parish Mass

A brilliant spring day, parishioner involvement and the presence of young families in the picturesque grounds of Villa Maria monastery were features of the patronal feast day Mass of Holy Name of Mary community, Hunters Hill, NSW.

Parish priest, Fr Kevin Bates SM, presided at the open air Mass transferred from Sep 12 to the weekend of Sep 14.

 [Posted Sep 14]

Third term for Secretary-General

Australian Marist, Fr Tony Corcoran, has been appointed for a third term as Secretary-General of the Society of Mary as of Jan 2015.

The reappointment was announced in Rome this week by Superior-General, Fr John Hannan.

Fr Tony, pictured left, is assisted by Ms Sophie Janssens at the secretariate. Monteverde, Rome, and will continue as procurator-general to the Holy See and superior of the General House community.

 [Posted Sep 13]

Novena for Peace in Iraq

Marist Laity Australia invites all to join in a novena for peace in Iraq from Sep 12 to 21.

MLA co-ordinator, Andrew Dumas, remarks: 'The people in Iraq are experiencing terrible things. Please pray this Novena for Peace in Iraq from Sep 12 to 21. Please pass on this message to our friends, family and those in your community.'

Click here for the novena.

 [Posted Sep 12]

Holy Name of Mary feast

Sep 12 is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary.

Marists throughout the world celebrate this day as a solemnity, the patronal feast of the Society of Mary.

Feast day downloads:
'O Mary my Queen' prayer
Pope St John Paul II's prayer to Mary Immaculate  
History of the devotion to the Most Holy Name of Mary 

 [Posted Sep 12]

Yes's and No's

Starting with Jean-Claude Colin's 'Three No's', Oceania Marist provincial, Fr Ben McKenna SM, offers a thoughtful reflection to Pacific confrères, drawing also on recent 'No's and Yes's' from Pope Francis.

The reflection has been published on the Jean-Claude Colin web site in leaflet form. To download click here.. 

[Posted Sep 10]

Mittagong retreat

Priests and brothers of the Australian Province have gathered at the Marist Brothers' retreat centre, The Hermitage, Mittagong, NSW, for their annual retreat.

Leading the group is Marist Brother, Robert O'Connor FMS, inviting retreatants to walk with Mary through the Scriptures over their quiet days in the peaceful rural setting.

A special welcome to Kiwi Fr David Moore SM who crossed the ditch to join Australian confrères for the week.

 [Posted Sep 09]

Spring Marist Mission newsletter

Latest news on where the donor dollar is going.

Click here for newsletter
or go to MMC web site.

 [Posted Sep 05]

Above: Fr Ron Nissen (1998-2007), Fr Jim Carty (1990-1995), Sr Vivienne Goldstein SM, (1995-1997) and Fr Kevin Stewart (2007-) / 'Honorary director' and long-standing MMC volunteer, John Burton, (third from left) was also part of the consultation.

MMC directors meet

Experience spanning twenty-five years of the Marist Mission Centre was pooled at a meeting on Sep 02 as part of MMC's review and planning processes

Present director, Fr Kevin Stewart SM, called his predecessors together at MMC's Hunters Hill office to tap into their combined insights and experience as the Centre's present and future place in the mission of the province is considered.

 [Posted Sep 02]

Web statistics for 12 months

For our number-lovers, click here for a glance at the past 12 months web visit figures.

New Zealand, Germany, Brazil, Italy, Thailand and Fiji continue to be top visitors. Good taste.

 [Posted Sep 01]

Social Justice Diary for September

This month's anniversaries include the first indigenous woman's election to Federal Parliament and the death of the last known Tasmanian Tiger.

Go to JPIC Diary

 [Posted Sep 01]

Latest Euroinfo newsletter

European Marist province reports on French and Spanish holiday camps and a 100th birthday.    Download the latest issue here

 [Posted Sep 01]