Frs Kevin Kerley & John Begg, Kevin & Trish McGrory and Fr Tom Ryan celebrating the Oct 29 anniversary.

'Today the Society of Mary has begun'

A little-known Marist anniversary is commemorated in Brisbane each year by lay Marists, Kevin and Trish McGrory.

To their Stafford Heights home on Oct 29 they invite local Marist Fathers to celebrate the formation of the first community of the Society of Mary in 1824.

On that day Frs Pierre and Jean-Claude Colin were joined at the presbytery of Cerdon, eastern France, by Fr Etienne Declas, prompting Pierre Colin to write to the bishop of Belley, Raymond Devie, advising him of this significant event: 'Today the Society of Mary has begun'.

Sydney Alliance City Assembly

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S&L group finalised

Marist Asia-Pacific's 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' group pause for a group photo at Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, NSW, where the 10-week program is now under way.

Visa issues delayed the whole group's coming together for some weeks.

The course has launched into a variety of lifestyle issues, medical checks and spiritual direction opportunities for the 11 Marist missionaries from Oceania and the Philippines pictured left and below.

Interfaith seminar in Brisbane

Marist theologian, Fr Gerard Hall SM, took his 'Interfaith Relations & Dialogue' class from Australian Catholic University to the Multi-Faith Centre at Griffiths University, Brisbane, for their recent 'Who is my God' seminar.

The group included ten Nigerian seminarians (at Holy Spirit Seminary, Banyo, Qld) and a Holy Spirit Sister from China.

Fr Gerard is Associate Professor of Theology at ACU's Banyo campus as well as being a member of the Marist Fathers' Australian provincial council.

Year of Faith under way in the Cooks

Marist bishop of the Cook Islands, Bishop Paul Donoghue SM, reports that the 'Year of Faith' has been officially launched in his far-flung Pacific diocese.

In a packed St Joseph's cathedral at Avarua (Rarotonga) Bishop Paul used the Eucharist's penitential rite to give his people their first blessing for the Year of Faith.

In the liturgy the image of a plant was used symbolising our faith needing to be nourished (water) during the forthcoming year.

MenALIVE in Sydney

Twenty-five men from Sydney and surrounding districts participated in the annual MenALIVE retreat weekend at St Patrick's, Church Hill, NSW, on Oct 20-21.

St Patrick's parish priest, Fr Ray Chapman SM, joined the Brisbane-based team for the weekend, assisted by other Marists for the Reconciliation session, an important element of the weekend.

Three Men ALIVE evening sessions are held each year in addition to the retreat but because of the national movement's growing popularity more may be planned for 2013

Check the MenALIVE website.

Fr Paul Glynn for Tomigaoka

For the next three months Marist missionary and author, Fr Paul Glynn SM, will be caring for a number of Catholic Japanese groups from his base at Tomigaoka parish, Nara Prefecture, Japan.

In addition to assisting the local clergy in their pastoral work, Fr Paul will be accompanying a group of local Catholics to the Fukushima tsunami area bringing relief aid for children orphaned by the disaster. Part of the $25,000 was raised by sales of Fr Paul's books.

He will also be leading a 'Life in the Spirit' seminar for the Catholics of Nara before returning to Australia in mid-January, 2013. Bon voyage, Fr Paul!

Sydney Alliance Catholics gather at St Patrick's

Representatives of Sydney Archdiocese's many groups involved with the Sydney Alliance gathered in the crypt of St Patrick's, Church Hill, Sydney, on Oct 17 to plan their role in SA's forthcoming 'City Assembly'.

The Archdiocese will be well represented at the Assembly in Sydney Town Hall on Oct 28. Ethnic and high school groups will be especially represented at the event which calls for the face of Sydney to be changed for the better.

The evening concluded with Bishop Peter Comensoli presiding at the Eucharist and commissioning of participants.

Blessing of 'Casa Di Maria'

Marist leaders from all over the world were present at the blessing of the Marist International Theologate, 'Casa Di Maria' ('Mary's House') in Rome on Oct 14.

Superior-General, Fr John Hannan, presided at a simple ceremony in the community chapel, with the Eucharist being celebrated in the larger chapel of the adjoining Via Livorno school community.

Participants in the Annual Review Consultation added a significant international dimension to the occasion (see below).

Centenary of St Brigid's, Wynyard

Marist parish priest of Burnie-Wynyard, Tas, Fr Tony Kennedy, reports: 'It's been a very big week in the parish! The centenary of St Brigid's church, Wynyard, coincided with the local Tulip Festival with many visitors in the area.

'Archbishop Adrian Doyle came from Hobart to join Fr Fred Kado and myself as well as our previous parish priest, Fr Bernie McFadyen, and Fr Phil McCormick ( Wynyard, 1991 – 2001).

'I'm sending some pictures, including historical ones. (see below). They tell their own story.

'There has been a wonderful spirit of generosity of spirit and hospitality for this occasion. We are all a bit tired now!'

Marist Youth International launched

From Rome and the Annual Review Consultation (ARC) of the Marist Fathers, assistant-general, Fr Alejandro Munoz, advises the launch of a vocation- and youth-oriented web site, 'Marist Youth International':

'Tomorrow (Oct 12) the leadership group - the Superior General, all the provincials and superiors of the missionary districts, and all the general administration in the Society of Mary - will focus on youth and vocations ministries. The MYI web site will be launched.' 

Click here for Spanish language site (other languages following).

Colin web site close to launching

As the dedicated web site for Marist Founder, Jean Claude Colin, comes closer to launching, many people in the backgound continue their work of developing the site, www.jeanclaudecolin.org.

Sydney Archdiocese's Catholic Communications office staff have played a major part in design and creation of the site, while many others continue to contribute through translations (especially of the 'Fr Colin Leaflet' - now in 47 languages) and as consultants for the web content and its Marist history and themes.

The work of translating the site into French, Spanish and Portuguese has begun thanks to the skills of Frs Francisco Chauvet (Mexico) and Paddy O'Neil (Brazil).

The site will be officially launched on Nov 15 to commence the 'Colin Year' focusing on the Founder and his Cause for Beatification.

S&L walk through history

The Marist Asia-Pacific 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' group were led through the early paths of Marist history in Australia by historian, Fr Peter McMurrich SM, at Hunters Hill on Oct 09.

Examining the many sites of Marist history on the present Villa Maria property -- and the original Villa Maria across Tarban Creek, the group ended with a sharing and prayer in the tiny St Peter Chanel chapel in which some believe that the remains of St Peter Chanel once lay.

'Apostolic retreat' concludes for Tutu novices

Novice Master for the Marist Oceania Province, Fr Boniface Kevon SM, reports a successful conclusion to the novices' 'apostolic retreat' which ended on Oct 08.

The week-long retreat is one of four such periods of prayer and reflection spaced throughout the year as the young men prepare for religious profession in the Society of Mary.

MAP S&L begins

Marist Asia-Pacific's 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' program for 2012 is under way at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill, NSW.

An opening Mass at Holy Name of Mary church on Oct 08 saw the first seven participants present symbols of their Pacific and Filipino culture with intercessions in various languages. Former superior-general, Fr Bern Ryan, presented the group with a copy of the Marist constitutions, published during his term of office..

An orientation session at nearby 'Woodbury Hall' followed, during which participants were presented with their course folders by Oceania provincial councillor and team member, Fr Setefano Mataele, and briefed with an overview of the program by coordinator, Fr Paul Sullivan..

Aussie Marists in Rome

Three members of the Australian province are presently in Rome for finance and leadership meetings.

Provincial, Fr Paul Cooney, is a member of the General Finance Committee and provincial-elect, Fr Bob Barber, is participating in orientation days for new major superiors.

Fr Michael Mullins is facilitating some sessions for both the orientation days and the Annual Review Consultation for major superiors from across the world.

More S&L arrivals

Two more participants in the MAP 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' program have arrived in Australia.

Pictured left are Fr Chris Ganzon SM (Philippines Mission District) and Futunian, Fr Michel Tuvini SM, (Oceania Marist Province) arriving at Sydney international airport on Oct 05.

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First S&L arrivals

The first participants of Marist Asia-Pacific's 2012 'Spirituality & Lifestyle' program have arrived in Sydney. The 10-week program begins on Oct 08.

Pictured at Villa Maria monastery with Fr Kevin Kerley SM (2nd from left)) are Bougainvillean Marists, Frs Simon Dumarinu, Austin Magara and regional superior, Michael Tondikop.

Chanel author visits

English businessman-turned-author, John Rayne-Davis and wife, Wendy, visited the chapel of St Peter Chanel at Hunters Hill, NSW, on Oct 01, while spending some weeks in Australia on the eve of publishing his latest work, 'Saint Peter Chanel, Patron Saint of Oceania',

The York-based couple were keen to inspect the chapel in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery which some believe held the remains of St Peter Chanel in 1859 when the tiny building was part of the nearby 'Priory' complex.

The biography was inspired by John's coming across a sculpture of Peter Chanel's martyrdom in the Marist church at Hull, UK, in 2009. It is due for release in early 2013.

Oxford research

Kiwi Marist and anthropologist, Fr Gerald Arbuckle SM, has left for two months research work in the U.K.

At the Hunters Hill office of RPD (Refounding & Pastoral Development) Fr Gerry has already begun work on his next book and will be at Oxford University to research for the new book entitled: Catholic Identities: Refounding Ministries in Chaotic Times. It is a sequel to an earlier book (1993): Refounding the Church: Dissent for Leadership

Fr Gerry will return to Sydney in early December.