September News
This month: SM Bulletin | Death of Fr Dylan Hatobu SM | On the air for 20 years | First Professions remembered | Fr Gavin leaves for Rome | Living Water | SM Bulletin | Companion Along the Way | Blessing at Buka | Euroinfo | Brothers’ Jubilees | Holy Name of Mary celebrations | ‘Love Protects’ | Holy Name of Mary | Superior-General’s reflection | Imprints | Season of Creation planning | SM Bulletin | MMC newsletter
SM Bulletin
This week’s SM Bulletin reports on the orientation program for new major superiors (pictured below), meeting of the General Finance Committee in Rome, school books for Dakar and two young Marists’ further studies in Rome. To download click here. [Sep 25, 2026]
Death of Fr Dylan Hatobu SM
Marists of the Pacific region mourn the sudden, but peaceful passing of Fr Dylan Hatobu SM, 47, at the Marist mission, Wainoni Bay, Solomon Islands. Fr Dylan was a guest of the Australian Marist province from 2019 to 2021 while he studied at Australian Catholic University in Brisbane pursuing advancement in education to which he was passionately committed. Born in Bougainville, PNG, he had been a Marist priest for ten years.
For the release from the Archdiocese of Honiara click here. May he rest in peace. [Sep 24, 2026]
Above: With Fr Paul Mahony SM during a Sydney visit in 2019 | presiding in Brisbane in 2021 at a memorial Mass for the late Sir Michael Somare | being farewelled in Dec 2021 on the eve of returning to the Oceania province.
On the air for 20 years
From Tarija, Bolivia, Brisbane-born, Fr John (‘Hoppy’) Hopkinson SM, sends glimpses of the activities of the Misioneros Maristas throughout 2026. These include Hoppy and team (pictured below) during one of the weekly radio broadcasts of Tejiendo Redes (Weaving Networks), now entering its 20th year having produced over 1,000 programs reaching to the south of Bolivia and far north of Argentina. [Sep 25, 2026]
Below: Scenes from the 25th Zonal Encounter of the ‘CEBs’ (Base Church Communities} of Misioneros Maristas’ former mission of La Mamora
Left: The community of Misioneros Maristas on pilgrimage to Santa Marta, Colombia, the first diocese to be erected in the New World of the Americas. Here at the cathedral of Santa Marta the Maristas renew their commitment to continue their commitment today in a new evangelisation, inspired by the recent encyclicals of Popes Francis & Leo,
First Professions remembered
On Sep 24 the Society of Mary recalls the religious profession in 1836 of the first Marists and the election of Jean-Claude Colin as its first Superior-General. The event, taking place in the chapel of La Capucinière, Belley, France, followed the approval of the priests’ branch of the Society of Mary by the mission-minded Pope Gregory XVI. [Sep 23, 2026]
Above: The chapel of La Capucinière pictured ca 2012. It has since been taken over by local authorities as a library annex. | Ven Jean-Claude Colin, pictured in 1866, thirty years after his election as Superior-General of the newly-approved Society of Mary.
Fr Gavin leaves for Rome
On Sep 20 District Superior of Australian Marist Fathers, Fr Gavin Foster SM, left for Rome where he will join major superiors of the Society of Mary in the Annual Review Consultation. While in Rome he will participated with other recently-appointed leaders in an orientation program to support his role in the Australian District. Bon voyage, Fr Gavin, pictured below in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill. [Sep 22, 2026]
Living Water
The theme of the Marist Family JPIC’s Season of Creation reflection for 2026 was Living Water. Twenty members attended the Sep 19 event at Holy Name of Mary parish hall, Hunters Hill.
JPIC leader, Sr Grace Ellul SM, opened the session with Fr Paul Mahony SM as participants were invited to listen, pray and reflect on the vital gift of water and the care we take for our common home. Scenes are pictured below. [Sep 22, 2026]
SM Bulletin
This week’s SM Bulletin reports the ordination of Fr Peter Carde Matakarawa SM in Suva, International Marist Youth meeting 2027 in Seoul and Pax Christi Nonviolence conference in Rome. To download click here. [Sep 18, 2026]
Companion Along the Way
From the Fullness of Life centre, Perth, W.A., comes word of new books to be published in coming months by authors Fr Stephen Truscott SM and Celia Joyce MPS: ‘There are times when a life still looks whole from the outside, yet inwardly something has shifted. What once nourished begins to lose force. The old way can no longer be inhabited without strain.
‘A Companion Along the Way: Bearings for the Inner Journey offers contemplative company at that threshold. Taking the Southern Cross, long used for navigation in southern skies, as its guiding image, Stephen Truscott presents the inner journey as a way of finding direction under changing skies. Moving through disturbance, breaking open, reorientation to a deeper centre, fidelity when clarity fades and homecoming in ordinary life, he offers readers a thoughtful companion to the slow work of becoming more truthful, more deeply gathered and more able to live from a steadier centre.
‘Grounded in the Christian contemplative tradition and open to readers who stand in mixed relation to formal belief, this is a book for those seeking depth under conditions of plurality, uncertainty and spiritual hunger. It offers a way of living with greater honesty, greater gatheredness and less fear before the mystery in which our lives participate and which, within the Christian horizon, is trusted as the presence of God.’
For the Fullness of Life website click here. [Sep 18, 2026]
Blessing at Buka
Recently returned from Bougainville Sr Margaret Tisch SMSM writes: ‘In the VIP Lounge at Buka airport about to leave for Port Moresby, Francesca, my ex-student and the member for the Central Parliament in PNG, performed the cleansing ceremony and asked their ancestors to bless and protect Fr Harry Moore and me as we leave the shores of Bougainville.’ Both Marists, pictured below, are former missionaries in Bougainville and attended its 125th anniversary celebrations of the Catholic church and its missions. [Sep 18, 2026]
Euroinfo
September’s issue of Euroinfo reports on the provincial retreat, leadership in Marist education and ‘returning to our roots’. To download click here. [Sep 18, 2026]
Brothers’ Jubilees
Twenty-two Marist Brothers were honoured at jubilee celebrations in Sydney on Sep 13. Eight were present at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, N.S.W: Brs Anthony D’Arbon, David Hayes and Barry Lamb (70 years professed as a Marist Brother), Brs Francis Hough, Andrew Moraghan and Peter Stewart (60 years) and Br Kevin Wanden (50 years).
Following Mass in the College chapel, led by St Joseph’s College chaplain and District Superior of the Marist Fathers, Fr Gavin Foster SM, Provincial, Br Darren Burge, spoke of each jubilarian and his contribution to the mission of the Church over so many decades. Congratulations, Brothers! [Sep 13, 2026]
Holy Name of Mary celebrations
Marists celebrated their patronal feast day, Sep 12, in many parts of the world. Some are pictured below: Holy Name of Mary outdoor parish Mass in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, NSW, Australia. | Marist Family gathering in Davao, Philippines. | Marist Laity in Futuna. [Sep 13, 2026]
‘Love Protects’
This year Safeguarding Sunday is held on Sep 13 with the theme Love Protects. Selected readings remind us that real love is not passive goodwill. Rather it actively shields the vulnerable, tells the truth, and never lets silence stand in for safety. Defending the rights of vulnerable people is integral to our Christian faith.
On Safeguarding Sunday we pause to remember the tragedy in our past and pray for those whose lives have been harmed that they might find lasting healing and peace. For readings and prayers click here. [Sep 12, 2026]
Happy feast of the Holy Name of Mary – Sep 12
Superior-General’s reflection
From Ireland Fr Declan Marmion SM, Superior-General, reflects on the feast of the Holy Name of Mary, patronal day for the Society of Mary. To download click here. [Sep 10, 2026]
Imprints
The latest issue of Imprints of Ven Jean-Claude Colin includes a report on the 125th anniversary of Marist presence in Bougainville as well as new intentions for intercessory prayer through Fr Colin. To download click here. [Sep 08, 2026]
Season of Creation planning
The Marist Family Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation committee met recently at Hunters Hill to finalise details for the forthcoming Season of Creation event. They are pictured below during their Aug 29 meeting. The Sep 19 reflection afternoon with its theme of ‘Living Water’ will be held in the parish hall of Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill, commencing at 2 pm. For further details click here. [Sep 05. 2026]
SM Bulletin
The latest SM Bulletin reports on Canada’s transition from Province to District, ‘Season of Creation’, candidates for perpetual profession and a retreat in Samsun. To download click here. [Sep 05. 2026]
MMC newsletter
The Spring issue of the Marist Mission Centre newsletter reports on projects in Bangladesh, Cambodia and the Philippines. To download click here. [Sep 05, 2026]
