Happy Slam final

On Jan 31 Marists and others watched the conclusion of this year's Australian Open Tennis tournament.

Congratulations, Novak! Good effort but better luck next time, Andy.

[Jan 31]

Congratulations and welcome

From the Marist International Novitatiate, Davao, Philippines, novice-master, Fr Fernando Ingente SM, sends photos of the latest group of young men to make their Marist profession.

At the same time the novitiate welcomes a new intake of novices. Twelve nationalities are represented in the combined groups and novitiate formators.

[Jan 29]

Fr Olé with MMC acting-director, Tony Biddle / .. with Sarnelli's enthusiastic footballers

Sarnelli and MMC

In a recent visit to the Marist Mission Centre, Thai Redemptorist, Fr Puwanai (Olé) Tantikun CSsR, expressed the gratitude of the Sarnelli Mission, Nongkhai, Thailand, for MMC's continuing support.

Founded by Mr Mike Shea CSsR, Sarnelli Mission provides care for hundreds of HIV-affected youngsters along the Mekong River.

MMC supports Sarnelli's outreach program to families in rural areas.

[Jan 29]

Happy Australia Day!

Revered images

[Jan 26]

2015 web stats

For www.maristfathers.org.au visits, hits, you-name-it, , all edged upwards during 2015.

'Hits' don't tell the whole story...but there were just on 6,000,000 of them for what they're worth, up a million on 2014.

More significant are the numbers of daily visitors and the pages they open.

To look more closely at the 2015 figures: click here and for 2014 here.

[Jan 24]

Marist Mission Centre changes

After three terms as Director of MMC and several recent years of review and future planning, Fr Kevin Stewart SM is moving on from the Mission Centre.

The Provincial Council has asked Tony Biddle, Papal Knight and the province's former business manager to complete this review and suggest future directions for MMC.                  

[Jan 19]

Welcome home, Fr Paul Cooney / New Bursar-General, Fr Paul Martin

Fr Paul Cooney returns

Bursar-General of the Society of Mary, Fr Paul Cooney SM, has stepped down for health reasons from his Rome-based position and returned to Australia.

Superior-General, Fr John Hannan, has praised Fr Paul's contributon:
'He has done a very fine job and contributed greatly to the life and workings of the general administration and to the general house community.'

At the same time Fr Hannan announced the appointment of Kiwi Marist, Fr Paul Martin SM, as the new Bursar-General as of Mar 01. He is currently assistant provincial in the New Zealand province.

[Jan 17]

Inauguration of Marist Charism and Culture group

Key representatives of schools founded by the Marist Fathers and Marist Sisters met at Hunters Hill on Jan 15.

MCC's inaugural meeting explored practical ways of deepening the Marist spirit amongst school personnel including immersion programs and pilgrimages to the places of Marist origins.                  [Jan 16]

Anniversary of mission entrustment

On Jan 10, 1836, mission-minded Pope Gregory XVI entrusted the missions of the south-west Pacific to the fledgling Society of Mary. The first Marist missionaries left for Oceania on Dec 24 of that same year.

The anniversary is marked by Marists throughout the world who offer Mass for the Society of Mary on this day, especially for the work of the Oceania missions.

[Jan 10]

Arriving at Sydney airport on Jan 03, from left, Frs Puwanai (Olé) Tantikun, John Fallon, Peter Pattarapong and Peter John Sriprapha / at St Mary's cathedral Sydney

Hospitality reciprocated

Marists in Sydney were able this week to return some of the hospitality shown to Marists by Redemptorists in Thailand since the 1970s.

Three Thai priests, Frs Puwanai (Olé) Tantikun CSsR, Peter Pattarapong CSsR and Peter John Sriprapha CSsR, accompanied by Fr John Fallon (Atlanta, Georgia), have been the guests of Villa Maria community, Hunters Hill.

Fr Olé has helped successive groups of young Australians in Thailand on exposure experiences as well as being an I.T. consultant for Marists.

In addition to Sydney's sights, the group included calls on local Redemptorists and a visit to Canberra.

[Jan 10]

Fr Jim Esler / his famous doctoral thesis

Fr Jim Esler: diamond years

This week Fr James Esler SM celebrates sixty years of Marist priesthood.

Known for his brilliance in legal studies at Sydney University and Rome's Gregorian University (where his doctoral thesis in Canon Law holds records in erudition and size), Fr Jim taught moral theology to generations of Marist seminarians during the turbulent 60's, 70's and 80's.

He lives in sprightly retirement at Maryvale/Montbel, Hunters Hill, NSW. Congratulations, Fr Jim!

[Jan 08]

A smiling Kerrie in her new (Montbel) / and old (Villa Maria) office.

Managerial moves

Villa Maria's house manager, Kerrie Sanders-Perry, has moved next door to assume similar responsibilities with the Maryvale/Montbel community, succeeding Margaret Ploskodniak, who ended her position in December.

Assuming her new position on Jan 04, Kerrie will oversee operational aspects of the modern retirement facility for senior Marists, bringing ten years' of experience from her Villa Maria days.

Villa's loss is Montbel's gain.

[Jan 04]

Another year, another term...

At Montbel's New Year's Day luncheon two new beginnings were celebrated.

Firstly, another year in the life of Br Peter Somers SM (birthday: Jan 01), and next, a second 3-year term commencing for Australian provincial and vicar-provincial, Frs Bob Barber and Peter McMurrich.

Congrats all round, confrères!

[Jan 02]

Frs Bob Barber and Peter McMurrich commence a second term of province leadership.
They haven't aged at all.

Latest 'Euroinfo' newsletter includes 150th anniversary of London centre and European provincial-elect..... click here

[Jan 02]

This month's anniversaries include Pope Gregory XVI's entrustment the Oceania missions to the Society of Mary (Jan 10, 1836) / establishment of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy established in Canberra (Jan 26, 1972)

Go to JPIC diary

[Jan 02].