October News

MCC Pilgrimage

Senior staff members of several Marist schools participated in the Marist Charism and Culture Pilgrimage to Rome and France in September/October. The MCC provides opportunities for immersion in Marist history and traditions which established schools founded by the Marist Fathers and Marist Sisters in Australia. This includes the pilgrimage experience glimpses of which are pictured below. The group was assisted in France by Fr Jimmy McElroy SM and Sr Teri O’Brien SM. [Oct 19]

Above: Pilgrims gather in the sanctuary of the cathedral of Le Puy, France, where the first inspiration to form the Family of Marists was received. | At Lavalla, pilgrims sit at the table fashioned by Founder of the Marist Brothers, St Marcellin Champagnat. | A visit to the church of Coutouvre near the birthplace of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, Foundress of the Marist Sisters,
Below: Beside the basilica of Fourvière, in Lyons, France, is the ancient chapel of the Blessed Virgin where the pioneer Marist aspirants pledged to form the Marist Family in 1816. | Pilgrims enjoy a meal at Innimont, one of the mountain parishes of the Bugey and venue of the first Marist missions in the 1820s. | Cross at the hamlet of Le Barbery commemorating the birthplace of the Society of May’s Founder, Ven Jean-Claude Colin.

Above: A visit to the Marist Sisters in Rome. | Sunset at La Neylière, resting place of Jean-Claude Colin.
Below: With the community of Casa di Maria, the Marist International Theologate, Rome.

SM Bulletin

From Rome, this week’s SM Bulletin reports on movements of the General Council, EAPI engagement and new websites from New Zealand. To download click here. [Oct 16]

Holy Spirit and Fr Colin

In his latest essay on Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin, Fr Tom Ryan SM investigates the action of the Holy Spirit in three key areas of our lives as Marists and its flowering in the virtue of magnanimity. To download the essay, The Holy Spirit and Jean-Claude Colin: The Person, The Group and The Church, click here. It is also amongst ‘Contemporary Writings’ on the Colin website: click here. [Oct 16]

Euroinfo

The latest issue of Euroinfo reports on ‘Farewell to Sainte-Foy-Les-Lyon’, ‘Come & See’ weekends and the 190th anniversary of Lycée Saint-Vincent. To download click here. [Oct 10}

SM Bulletin

This week’s SM Bulletin reports on the final profession of five Marist seminarians in Rome and on the presence of several Marist Fathers, including Fr Ray Chapman, at the Marist Brothers’ Third Age program at Manziana, Italy. To download click here. [Oct 09]

Jubilarians honoured

Following the District Assembly which concluded on the morning of Oct 09, six Marist jubilarians were honoured at a Mass and luncheon at Montbel, Hunters Hill. They are Frs Paul Pidcock (70 years ordained), Gerard Hall, Paul Mahony and Andrew Murray (50 years), Michael Carroll (40 years) and Oscar Ichiba (25 years).

Fr Gerard presided and preached at the Eucharist in the chapel of Montbel while at the luncheon Fr Peter McMurrich spoke of the jubilarian each of whom was present with the exception of Fr Oscar Ichiba, in Japan. Master of Ceremonies was Fr Jim Carty, while Fr Michael Whelan spoke acknowledging Fr Peter McMurrich‘s 24 years of service to the provincial, now district, council.

Congratulations to each of our jubilarians! [Oct 09]

Above: Fr Gerard Hall SM presides at the jubilee Eucharist assisted, from left, by Frs Michael Carroll, Paul Pidcock and Paul Mahony… | … in the company of fellow Marists in Montbel’s chapel.

Below: From left, Frs Jim Carty | Peter McMurrich | Michael Whelan | Luncheon at Montbel. | Chef Peter, son Jake and Montbel’s manager, Kerrie Sanders. | Jubilarians, from left, Frs Paul Mahony, Gerard Hall, Paul Pidcock, Andrew Murray and Michael Carroll.

District Assembly begins

The Marist Fathers’ Australian District Assembly commenced on Oct 08 with a gathering of Marists at Hunters Hill. The Assembly reviewed the received ARC (Annual Review Consultation) in Rome and activities within the District and considered planning for the coming years. It will conclude on Oct 09 with reports from the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation committee, Marist Mission Centre and Holy Name of Mary parish before celebrating a Mass and luncheon for this year’s jubilarians. [Oct 08]

Above: District Business Manager, Andrew Biddle, addressed the Assembly | Video message from Superior-General, Fr Declan Marmion SM. Right: Other speakers included, from left,
District Superior, Fr Gavin Foster SM, session chairman, Fr Kevin Redmond SM, Professional Standards officer, Ms Kathleen Fleming and Oceania Provincial, Fr Lote Raiwalui SM.

Young Marists’ events

Ordinations to the priesthood and diaconate and final professions have marked the steps of a number of young Marists in recent weeks. Pictured below are scenes from ordination ceremonies in Fiji and Cameroon and the perpetual profession of five Marist seminarians in Rome.

Above: The priestly ordination of Fr Peter Carde Matakarawa SM in Sacred Heart cathedral, Suva, Fiji, on Sep 12. | with Archbishop Peter Loy Chong.
Below: The ordination of Frs Joseph Arnaud Ondoua SM and Lewis Kum Mvo SM by Mgr Emmanuel Dassi Youfang at St Anne’s parish, Obili, Yaoundé on Aug 01.

Left: The ceremony of perpetual profession of Hansford Mane SM, David Emmanuel Romero Vences SM, Eduardo Limon Gutierrez SM,
Manuele Botabua SM and Joseph Ortiz Mijares SM, in Rome on Oct 03.

Above: The five finally-professed seminarians | Their community of Casa di Maria, Rome.
Below: New intake of Marist aspirants at St Peter Chanel’s scholasticate, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Trustworthy Accompaniment

A new book. Trustworthy Accompaniment: Contemplative Stance, Contextual Awareness, and Spiritual Direction, from Fr Stephen Truscott SM is the second of the Fullness of Life Centre’s series.

The books are now available for purchase on Amazon in both paperback and eBook format. For the Fullness of Life website click here. [Oct 04, 2026]

Oceania Newsletter

The latest issue of the Marist Oceania Province‘s newsletter reports on recent events throughout the Pacific. To download, click here. [Oct 03]

Novitiate news

From ‘Eden’, the Marist International Novitiate in Davao, Philippines, comes their second newsletter for 2026. The heavily-pictorial publication (139 photos in its 15 pages) records many aspects of the life and formation of the novices and their intercultural experiences. To download, click here. [Oct 03]

Tongan anniversary

A group of Sydney’s Tongan Catholics visited Hunters Hill on Oct 01 as part of the 50th anniversary of their community. They were led by His Eminence, Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, bishop of Tonga and Niue, who blessed the grave of Fr Cyril Butler SM, Marist missionary in Tonga, who died in 1991 and is buried in the Villa Maria mission cemetery. Fr Cyril established the Tongan chaplaincy in 1976.

The cardinal was accompanied by Fr ‘Ita, Fr Falakiko Afu and two other visiting priests from Tonga who were former chaplains to the community.

Parish priest, Fr Michael Carroll SM, welcome the group and assisted at a wreath-laying ceremony at Fr Cyril’s grave. [Oct 02]

Above: The group gathers in the mission cemetery after the blessing of Fr Cyril Butler’s grave.

Left: The cardinal and Tongan Catholics outside Holy Name of Mary church and near a memorial stone blessed by Bishop Armand Olier SM, bishop of Tonga, in 1905.

SM Bulletin

This week’s SM Bulletin reports on the Annual Review Consultation where Major Superiors from the Society of Mary’s various units comes together with members of the General Council to review and plan. To download, click here. [Oct 02]