October News

This month:     Tongan anniversary  |  SM Bulletin

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]