Euroinfo features Colin retreat

July's issue of the Marist European province newsletter reports on their recent retreat led by Fr Damien Diouf SM on the theme 'Marists, sons of Jean Claude Colin - following the pioneer of our vocation, a man of faith'.

For July Euroinfo click here

'Human beings, not political pawns'

Australia's peak body for religious congregations, Catholic Religious Australia, has spoken out on the government's new hard-liner policy on asylum seekers.

CRA President, Sr Annette Cuncliffe RSC, cites Pope Francis' words and prayer during his recent Lampedusa visit. Go to JPIC

Fourvière bookmarks

Simple bookmarks remembering the pledge of the Marist aspirants on Jul 23, 1816, to form the Society of Mary, are available from the Fr Colin web site.

In five languages the bookmarks can be downloaded then printed from the Resources / Stationery page of the site. Click here.

Coffee shop's 12th birthday

On Jul 23 St Patrick's Courtyard Coffee Shop. Church Hill, Sydney, celebrated 12 years of service.

Staffed by volunteers (including some from its beginnings) the shop caters for Mass and novena-goers at the downtown city shrine as well as passers-by and tourists.

The coffee shop is housed in what was originally the 1876 chapel of the Sisters of Mercy renovated as part of the St Patrick's refurbishment in the late 1990's. Some regulars quip: 'When we have a cuppa there we get extra grace!'

Brothers lead Fourvière celebration

One hundred members of the Marist Family -- Sisters, Brothers, Laity and Priests -- attended the annual celebration remembering the Fourvière promise by Marist aspirants on Jul 23, 1816.

This year it was the Marist Brothers' turn to organise. Br Tony D'Arbon (pictured left) began with a reflection on the Fourvière heart and Mother of the Church icon, with its inclusion of the four Marist founders. The Fourvière pledge was renewed by all during the Mass.

Australian formator for Suva

The Marist International weekly bulletin has announced on Jul 19 that there will be an Australian Marist joining the Oceania Province formation team in 2014:

'At the request of the Superior General, the Australian province has released Fr Tony Kennedy for the ministry of formation within the Society of Mary. Tony will join the staff of Marist College, Suva, Fiji, the formation house of the Province of Oceania, in 2014 as a member of the formation team.

'In order to orientate himself and meet up with the College personnel he will be making a short visit to Suva in the coming weeks. At present Tony is the Parish Priest of Burnie, Tasmania.'

We wish Fr Tony every blessing in his new appointment.

Br Kieran Geaney farewelled

Marist Brothers of the Australian Province, family members and scores of long-term friends turned out in force on Jul 19 to farewell Br Kieran (Colin) Geaney FMS at St Joseph's College chapel, Hunters Hill, NSW.

Br Kieran was anointed and died peacefully on Jul 15 at St Anne's Nursing Home, Hunters Hill. He had suffered a massive stroke 29 years ago after a distinguished ministry of leadership in education.

As a respected visiting lecturer at St Peter Chanel's Scholasticate, Toongabbie, NSW, Br Kieran taught catechetics and theology to Marist seminarians over a number of years. He was also a co-founder of the now-regular Fourvière celebrations of the Marist Family in Sydney.

Lay Marist, Meta Truscott, with her son, Fr Stephen Truscott SM

75 years of Lay Marist life

Fr Stephen Truscott SM reports that his mother, Meta, is celebrating 75 years as a professed member of the Third Order of Mary.  Meta is a resident of Mary Crest Retirement Centre in Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, and celebrated her 96th birthday on Jun 03.

On Jul 20, 1937 Meta joined the Third Order together with her mother and sister. Meta was professed in July 1938 and took the name, Sr Prosper. Meta says, “I wish I had ‘ous’ added to the end of it!'   Fr Tim Minehan SM had established the Third Order in the Glenlyon Chapel, Ashgrove, Brisbane, in 1932

An avid diarist, Meta has written a daily diary since she was 16. She quips, “When I get to heaven, I hope that I do not have to rewrite the lives of the saints!”

Aquinas Academy web site

Recent work on the web site of Sydney's Aquinas Acamedy means readier access to course programs, news and the Academy's rural retreat, 'Nazareth'.

Click here for the web site

Jubilarians celebrate at Villa Maria

Returning from a recent CEPAC meeting, Bishop Paul Donoghue SM joined Marists at Villa Maria monastery community on Jul 16 as the 'July jubilarians' celebrated their respective anniversaries. He is pictured (left) with Fr Paul Glynn SM (60 years).

Bishop Paul this week marked the second anniversary of his episcopal ordination as bishop of Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The six local jubilarians totalled 308 years of priesthood.

Willy Melteras ordained deacon

In a ceremony at Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, NSW, on Jul 13, Bishop Julian Porteous ordained Marist seminarian, Willy Melteras SM, to the diaconate.

Many parishioners, fellow-Marists and other friends joined in the liturgy to support Vanuatu-born Willy who is engaged in pastoral ministry at Hunters Hill for two years.

Willy is also webmaster for the Oceania Marist province's web site, www.maristoceania.org.  Members of the Oceania province attended the Mass along with former missionaries from the Pacific and Asia.

Memorial Mass for Fr Stan Hosie

Marists, family members and friends came together at Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, NSW, on Jul 10 for a Mass remembering Fr Stanley Hosie SM who died in the U.S. on Jun 24.

Fr Stan's brother, historian John Hosie, presented the eulogy recalling the colourful figure of his older brother and his outstanding life and ministry of education and development support.

A luncheon at Villa Maria monastery followed the Mass.

Fr John Thornhill  /  the late Fr Jean Coste

Coste's Marist imagery revisited

Australian Marist, Fr John Thornhill SM, has published a valuable addition to contemporary studies on the Founder of the Society of Mary, Jean-Claude Colin.

The 90-page book, 'A Contemporary Reading of Foundational Marist Images', captures the key Colinian insights and mature thoughts of French Marist historian, the late Fr Jean Coste SM.  The four key images are 'The whole world Marist', 'I was the support of the Church', 'From inside the house of Nazareth' and 'Unknown and hidden'.

In his foreword Fr Thornhill acknowledges the critical work of research and editing done by Canadian Marist, Fr Gaston Lessard SM.

The book is available from the Provincial Office, tel +61 2 9844 2222.

Latest provincial circular

July newsletter uploaded. Go to 'members only' log-in, Home page

Next Kiwi provincial

Members of the New Zealand province of Marist Fathers have chosen Fr David Kennerley SM as their next provincial in an election process of successive steps and extraordinarily close voting . He will succeed present provincial, Fr Brian Cumming.

In September Fr David will come to Sydney to lead the annual retreat of the Australian Marist province. In 2004 he was the novice master of the Marist international novitiate at Ermington, NSW, and is no stranger - indeed a welcome face - to local Marists.

Congratulations, Fr David!

Statistics update

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Latest Euroinfo

The European province of the Society of Mary has sent its latest newsletter (page 1   page 2)

Other news available from the European Marist website.     .