Final Vows for Br Willy Melteras

Whilst on mission experience in Australia, Vanuatu-born seminarian, Willy Melteras SM, made his perpetual profession as a Marist at Hunters Hill, NSW, on Jun 29.

The ceremony in Holy Name of Mary church was attended by fellow-Marists including from the Oceania Province and members of the Marist Family.

Br Willy will be ordained deacon in the same church on Jul 13.

Missionary Marists were well-represented at Br Willy's final profession including (above right) Sr Julienne SMSM, Frs Brian Wilson and Paul Glynn ...  /  and Fr John Hill.
Below: Br Willy pronouces his perpetual vows  /  receives his profession cross from vicar-provincial, Fr Peter McMurrich;         signing of the documents by Willy and witnesses, Fr Kevin Kerley and Br Peter Somers;         Parish priest, Fr Kevin Bates, at the organ (Willy is working pastorally with Fr Kevin)  /  parishioners greet Br Willy after the ceremony.

Blessing of Ranong Marist Centre

Fr Gil Casio SM reports on the blessing of the recently-opened Marist Centre, Ranong, Thailand, on Jun 27:

'Today our bishop of Surat Thani Diocese, Bishop Joseph Pratan, is blessing the Marist Centre. There are two bishops from Myanmar (from the Dioceses of Loiko and Meik) as well. 

'The ceremony is attended by Fr Pat Devlin, our District Superior. Fr Kevin Stewart, with Geoff Henry, from the Marist Mission Centre Australia also witnessing the blessing. 

'Other guests include three Thai priests and three Burmese priests, the Catholic networks, the Catholic community in Ranong, friends from Singapore, and the Marist Brothers from Bangkok. Fr Jimmy McElroy and Irish students from St. Mary's College in Dundalk, Ireland are also with us.

'The celebration is a great success and very much alive.'

The Marist Mission Ranong has enjoyed support from Australia's Marist Mission Centre and donors since its beginning almost ten years ago.

Passing of Fr Stan Hosie SM

The Society of Mary mourns the sudden death of Australian Marist, Fr Stanley Hosie SM, on Jun 24 in Santa Monica, USA, at the age of 91.

After work in educational leadership ministry in Australia in the 1960s, Fr Stan moved to the USA to establish the 'Counterpart' organisation providing assistance to emerging nations and peoples of the Pacific.

In 1967 Fr Stan published the first popular biography of Marist Founder, Fr Jean-Claude Colin.   For a full obituary of Fr Stan written by his brother, John, click here.

World Refugee Day feature: 'Myths about refugees and asylum seekers'

World Refugee Day is held every year on Jun 20 as a special day when the world takes time to recognise the resilience of forcibly displaced people throughout the world and the injustices which still stand unaddressed.

The Refugee Council of Australia's 'Myths about refugees and asylum seekers' is now available on our JPIC page.

Willy Melteras at work on the Marist Oceania Province website  /  as a student at Marist College, Suva.

OMP webmaster for final vows and diaconate

Vanuatu-born Marist seminarian and webmaster for the Oceania Marist Province, Br Willy Melteras SM, will make final profession as a Marist later this month and be ordained deacon in July.

The ceremonies will take place in Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, NSW, on Jun 29 (11 am) and Jul 13 (11.30 am) resp.  Br Willy has recently commenced a two-year pastoral placement on the parish staff at Hunters Hill.

His interest in Information Technology dates from seminary days at Marist College, Suva, while his training as webmaster for the Province's revamped website took place in 2012 in Sydney.  The OMP website is one of the first in the Marist world to have links to Facebook, thanks to Willy's interest and initiative. (Click on the images below).

Marist Sisters' assembly & jubilees

Sisters from various parts of the Australian sector of Marist Sisters gathered at the Colin Library, Villa Maria, Hunters Hill NSW for their assembly on Jun 08 & 10.

At nearby Marist Sisters' College, Woolwich, on May 10 the Sisters celebrated golden and diamond jubilee of religious profession of four of their sisters: Srs Veronica Taylor and Marie Clarke (60 years) and Mary Farrelly and Gemma Pearson (50 years). Congratulations, Sisters!.

Help save our Catholic volunteering

PALMS launches petition toForeign Minister. See story and peition text at JPIC page.

Justice & Peace calendar updated

June diary dates now online

Go to JPIC Diary

Consul-General sings praise

During an evening of song and speeches on Jun 03 at Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, NSW, Japan's Consul-General, Mr Masahiro Kohara, spoke -- and sang -- gratetfully of Australlia's relief outreach to his country after the devastating earthquake of 2011.

Lismore's 'Isabella a Capella' choir joined with Japanese 'Inoue' singers to mark 50 years of 'twinning' between the cities of Lismore, NSW, and Nara, Japan, showing a video presentation of their recent tour to Japan and the tsunami-stricken areas.

Above & below:  Scenes from the cultural evening, including speeches from Kohara-san and Fr Paul Glynn SM, singing by the 'Isabella a Capella' and combined choirs, assisted by the Consul-General himself.
The bridge-building work of Frs Tony and Paul Glynn were acknowledged gratefully by Kohara-san.

Web statistics for May

Visitors from 92 countries accessed this website during May on average every 3.1 minutes, peaking on May 26 with 651 visits (every 2.2 minutes).

Some quarterly figures comparing 2013 with 2012 are shown below. Daily site visits and pages opened are shown, along with total 'hits' for each month.

Latest Euroinfo

The European province of the Society of Mary has sent its latest newsletter.

Eventually available from the European Marist website.

Bowraville's Heartbreak

Amy McGuire reports on the 1990-91 murders on NSW's mid north coast

See JPIC

See also 'Get justice for the Bowraville children'