August 2014
 

This page: Last days of ACU exhibition  |  Bavarian discovery  |  Latest Provincial Circular  |  Passing of Fr Frank Callanan  |  Second term for Oceania provincial  |   Volunteers for Ranong?  |  Br Mika rides home  |  Fr Paul Glynn's books  |  Founder's birthday  |  National Vocations Week |  Latest newsletters  |  Social Justice diary for August


The Colin web site (www.jeanclaudecolin.org) is hosted from Australia.
Click here for the latest news and photo of the week.

 

Last days of ACU exhibition

Australian Catholic University's exhibition of photographs of their Thai-Burma border program is open until Aug 30.

The exhibition is being held at ACU's McGlade Art Gallery, Barker Rd, Strathfield, NSW, and includes images of ACU students at the Marist Mission Ranong, southern Thailand.

[Posted Aug 28]

   
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Bavarian discovery

A copy of Fr Jim Esler's doctoral thesis in Canon Law at Rome's Gregorian University was recently uncovered in Passau, southern Germany.

In 1966 the thesis -- 2,587 hand-typed pages -- broke all records for length and weight at the university. Additionally, in defense of the thesis Fr Jim successfully contested the then-current opinions on 'Law and Anaology'.

The rare four-volume copy is now in the care of the Marist community of Passau.

In Sydney this week Fr Jim, 91, expressed pleasant surprise 'I'm glad to know they didn't throw it out!'

(Fr Jim's own copy resides at the bottom of Sydney Harbour, a casualty of careless stevedoring of the 1960's.)

[Posted Aug 25]

 
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Latest Provincial Circular

Available at 'Members only' log-in (Home Page)

[Posted Aug 23]

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Passing of
Fr Frank Callanan

Marists in Australia and beyond mourn the death of Fr Francis (Frank) Callanan SM, in Sydney on Aug 22 after a short illness. He was 91 and a priest for 56 years.

Born in Sydney's 'Rocks' Frank was educated at the local Marist Brothers then worked at the Sydney County Council studying accountancy before army service (1941-46) including tours of duty in PNG and Bougainville.

A keen follower of Thomistic studies at Sydney's Aquinas Academy, Frank was a student, then registrar, handyman and part-time teacher. He spoke with the Catholic Evidence Guild in Sydney Domain on Sundays before entering the Marists at Toongabbie, NSW. Priestly ordination came in 1957 followed by post-graduate studies in theology at Manly.

In his long ministry Fr Frank was college bursar, vocations promoter, school and hospital chaplain and parish priest. In latter years worked in parish supply by day and taught ascetical and mystical theology by night at the Centre for Thomistic Studies. In 2003 Fr Frank retired to Hunters Hill in the Villa Maria then Montbel communities.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Name of Mary Church, Hunters Hill, on Wed, Aug 27, at 1.30 pm, with burial following immediately in the Villa Maria cemetery. May he rest in peace.

[Posted Aug 22]

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Second term for Oceania provincial

Tasmanian Marist, Fr Ben McKenna SM, has been re-appointed as provincial superior of the Oceania Marist Province for a second term of three years. In a province-wide consultation Fr Ben received absolute majority support.

Superior-General, Fr John Hannan, has sent Fr Ben good wishes saying 'You have indisputably won the confidence of your confrères which is a confirmation of your leaderfship over the past three years.'

Congratulations, Fr Ben!

 [Posted Aug 20]

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Volunteers for Ranong?

The Marist mission at Ranong in southern Thailand has established a solid tradition of accepting volunteer workers from other countries.

Recently they have offered another invitation for volunteers to assist in their ministry amongst Burmese migrant workers and their families, supported from its beginning by MMC Australia.

See more at Marist Asia Foundation

 [Posted Aug 17]

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Br Mika rides home

Good news from the Marist retirement community of Maryvale-Montbel, Hunters Hill, NSW, as Br Mikaelel Cilicewa SM returns from ankle surgery riding on a purpose-built scooter.

Montbel community leader, Fr Paul Mahony, reports:
'Mika came home a few days ago after ten days in hospital and rehabilitation.  He had surgery on his right ankle – an injury from boyhood football days in Fiji.  He has this fancy knee-scooter that was a bit of a hit with the confrères at lunchtime. It will be at least a couple of months before he can put weight back onto his ankle.'       Welcome home, Br Mika!

 [Posted Aug 13]

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Fr Paul Glynn's books

Readers of Fr Paul Glynn's books on spirituality appreciate the realism and poignancy of his anecdotal style.

The books of the former Marist missionary call readers to follow Christ more closely and appreciate the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the way of salvation.

Books may be ordered through the Marist Mission Centre web site. Some have been translated into other languages. Comments can be made on 'Fr Paul Glynn's Books' Facebook page

Go to the MMC web site or to 'Fr Paul Glynn's Books' Facebook page.

 [Posted Aug 11]

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Founder's birthday

Aug 07 marks the 224th anniversary of the birth in 1790 of Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin, in the hamlet of Barbery in central France.

Below: Barbery scenes, including the forest where the Colin family hid priests of the Revolution times pursued by anti-Church officials.

For more on the life of Fr Colin click here.

 [Posted Aug 07]

     
       
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National Vocations Week

Enquire about Marist life at: vocations@maristfathers.org.au and learn about the Society of Mary's Founder and spirit: www.jeanclaudecolin.org

<<< click image to enlarge

 [Posted Aug 03]

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Latest newsletters: Marist Laity Australia, Euroinfo

Click here for MLA newsletter and Euroinfo

 [Posted Aug 01]

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Social Justice Diary for August

This month's anniversaries include Hiroshima and Nagasai anniversaries and death of Helder Camara.

Go to JPIC Diary

 [Posted Aug 01]

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