Fr Jim with 2013 and 2017 camino boots

Fr Jim's blog

Fr Jim walks for Wilai

Days after his 78th birthday, Fr Jim Carty SM leaves for France to resume his marathon 'camino' walk, this time to raise funds for the Wilai Foundation, caring for hundreds of stateless children in S.E. Asia.

'Wilai' is the name of one such stateless Burmese child whose plight inspired Fr Jim to co-found the Foundation.

In 2013, Fr Jim walked 800 km from St Jean Pied de Port to Santiago, Spain. Now he will begin at the traditional starting point of Le Puy, France, trekking 740 km through the mountains of the south-west to the Pyrénées.

To learn for about the Wliai Foundation and to sponsor Fr Jim's 'Walk for Wilai', click here

[Aug 29]

Muriel's ACU visit

Aug 25 saw a visit to Australian Catholic University's North Sydney campus by Muriel Valles as the guest of Prof Michael Ondaatje (Head of the National Shool of Arts) and ACU Fellow, Maya Cranitch, former head of the Thai-Burma online program.

Muriel is a graduate of both the Marist-sponsored 'Bridge Program' and Thai-Burma border course. She is currently on exchange studies from the Hong Kong Institute of Education at Wollongong University.

[Aug 28]

Golden jubilees, home and away

Two Australian Marists celebrated fifty years of priesthood in simple celebrations recently, one in Sydney, another in Rome.

Former Superior-General, Fr John Jago, SM, marked his jubilee with confrères, family and friends at 'Montbel', Hunters Hill, while fellow jubilarian, Fr Tony Corcoran SM (present Secretary-General of the Society of Mary) celebrated at 'Monteverde', Marist General House in Rome.

Congratulations, Fr John and Fr Tony!

[Aug 23]

Vocation camp at Bujumbura

From the Marist Mission District of Africa comes news of their recent vocation camp.

Eighteen young men from the Democratic Republic of Congo and from Burundi gathered at Bujumbura on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Burundi.

The District's formation community is at Yaoundé, Cameroon, before students move to the International Marist novitiate, Davao, Philippines, and International Theologate, Rome.

[Aug 21]

Lomeri workshop

Australian Marist, Fr Andrew Murray, played a key role in the recent Teacher's Workshop for members of the Oceania Marist Province.

The inservice, held at the Marist Brothers' novitiate, Lomeri, Fiji, for teachers from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands was facilitated by Fr Andrew (pictured, far right, back row).

Oceania provincial, Fr Ben McKenna notes, 'Andrew has been a key player, doing the review in 2016, attending our Chapter this year and now organizing the workshop with Fr Pio.'

Full report on the Oceania Marist web site: click here

[Aug 16]

Urban evangelisation and Marists

Following the Marist City Centre Mission seminar and leadership conference in May, Fr Martin McAnaney (Marist European provincial) has sent a stimulating reflection, 'Urban Evangelisation and the Marist Charism Today'. Click here

Australia's city-centre pastoral team of St Patrick's, Sydney, was represented at the May event by parish priest, Fr Michael Whelan, and Sr Fidelis McTeigue SM.

PS: Australian provincial, Fr Bob Barber, features on this week's blog (Aug 13) on Marist City-Centre Churches ministry. Click here

[Aug 15]

Grand birthday

Villa Maria parish priest, Fr Kevin Bates SM, celebrated part of his birthday on Aug 13 tinkling the ivory of a 'baby grand'.

The piano was a recent gift to the aged-care community of 'Montbel', Hunters Hill, and takes pride of place in one of the community's key gathering spaces.

Happy Birthday, Fr Kev -- and welcome Baby!

[Aug 13]

Marist Brothers celebrate 200 years

St Patrick's cathedral, Parramatta, was the venue for the Aug 12 Sydney celebration of the Marist Brothers' Bicentenary.

Father (now Saint) Marcellin Champagnat established the first community of Brothers in Lavalla, France, on Jan 02,1817.

Members of the Marist Family joined the Brothers, their schools staff, students and lay associates for the celebration Mass with Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, assisted by Marist Fathers' provincial, Fr Bob Barber.

[Aug 12]

'Act Justly' for Aug-Sep

'Homelessness, near and far' -- from the Justice & Peace Office of Sydney Archdiocese. Click here

[Aug 08]

'The quiet boy from Beaujolais'

As the French Revolution was breaking out, Jean-Claude Colin was born on Aug 07,1790, in the hamlet of Barbery in central France.

He would later become Father and Founder of the Society of Mary.

For the first part of his life story, 'The quiet boy from Beaujolais', click here and for a simple liturgy, click here.

Happy 227th birthday, Fr Colin !

[for Aug 07]

Patron of priests

The saintly Curé of Ars, St John Vianney, whose feast day is Aug 04, is remembered as the patron of parish priests, thanks to his extraordinary devotion in pastoral care and Reconcilation.

John Vianney was a contemporary, fellow-student and close friend of Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin. He was also a member of the Third Order of Mary.

Inaugurating the Year of Priests in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI wrote a letter to all priests. Worth re-reading. Click here.

[Aug 04]

Unwelcome visitors

The Refugee Council of Australia has released a powerful report on the experience of those attempting to visit immigration detention centres in Australia. Click here

[Aug 03]

Marist historian, Fr Peter McMurrich, leads the MCC group on a walking tour of the Villa Maria property  /  MCC leader, Glenn Roff, introduces Fr Peter

Exploring Marist Charism & Culture

Another group of staff from Marist-founded schools is taking time out to explore Marist charism and culture.

The week-long inservice at Villa Maria, Hunters Hill, has brought together teachers and ancillary staff from Marist Sisters Woolwich (NSW), St John's College, Lismore (NSW), Marist Regional; College, Burnie (Tas) and Holy Spirit College, Bellambi (NSW).

The group is facilitated by MCC leaders, Glenn Roff and Kim Evans, and being addressed by speakers from various branches of the Marist family.

[Aug 02]

Marist news from Europe

Click here for the latest Euroinfo.

[Aug 01]

10,000 'likes' for Fr Colin

The number of 'likes' for the Facebook page of Jean-Claude Colin has topped ten thousand.

The Colin Facebook page, managed in Australia, is a companion to the main Colin web site, www.jeanclaudecolin.org.

Facebook demographics indicate a wide range of countries and ages showing recurring interest in the page. Click here for the page (Like it if you like it)

[Aug 01]

Social Justice diary for August

JPIC: click here

[Augl 01]