Marist Foundress remembered

We wish our Marist Sisters throughout the world a very happy feast day as they recall their Foundress, Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, born on Aug 29, 1786.

For something of Jeanne-Marie's story and spirit, click here

[Aug 29]

Pacific candidates

Oceania Marist Province web site this week introduces their seven prospective candidates for Marist College in 2017.

Details: click here

[Aug 28]

Latest Provincial Circular

Home Page 'Members only'

[Aug 27]

Fr Paul Glynn with Akiko and Maria / Fr Bob Barber exchanges gifts with the Villa Maria guests

Japanese guests

Maria Sachiko Yamoto and her grand-daughter, Akiko, were guests at Villa Maria recently.

In appreciation for half a century of ministry of Marists in Nara Prefecture, Maria raised $10,000 towards the cost of a replica statue of Our Lady of the Journey, which was presented to the Australian Province some months ago.

This was enough for a second statue which is now being made and which will be presented to the General House of the Marist Fathers in Rome in September. Arigato gozaimas, Maria!

[Aug 26]

Good news from Brazil

Congratulations to Fr Luiz Antonio Maciel SM who was ordained priest by Bishop João Justino in Santa Luzia - Minas Gerais, Brazil, on Aug 06.

[Aug 22].

Colin Cause progress

From Rome SM Bulletin reports:

'This week saw a significant step forward in the formal process of Fr Colin’s beatification. Almost two years ago, in Oct 2014 a petition from Cardinal Barbarin, Archbishop of Lyons, to reopen the Cause at the diocesan level was submitted to the Congregation of the Cause of Saints.

'This and three other Roman dicasteries were required to give their approval. Our Postulator, Fr Carlo Maria Schianchi, (pictured, left) monitored the matter at regular intervals with the Vatican.

The MCC team leaves Villa Maria for Bellambi / ... from left: Kim Evans, Claire Hatchman (Woodlawn College), Mitchell Brown (Holy Spirit College), Krista Bleakley (Woodlawn), Stephanie Ibrahim (Marist Sisters College Woolwich) and Glenn Roff.

MCC team on mission

Another step forward was taken this week by the Marist Charism & Culture group.

Four young teachers from three Marist schools in NSW shared their MCC vision with grade 7 students of Holy Spirit College, Bellambi, NSW.

The team was led by coordinators Kim Evans and Glenn Roff who next month will lead MCC college principals to Rome and the Marist Places in France.

[Aug 19]

Fr Long leaves

Following a guided retreat with theologian, Fr John Thornhill SM, and multiple visits to local Marist activities, Fr Lionel ('Long') Mechavez SM has returned to the Philippines.

Fr Long is director of 'Balay Pasilungan' centre for street kids in Davao, Mindanao, caring for homeless boys from 5 yrs to 15 yrs.

In addition an 'Independent Living Program' caters for vocational skill develeopment for teenagers, while a drop-in centre gives emergency food, shelter and clothing for up to twenty-five homeless youngsters

[Aug 16]

Farewell, Sr Dorothea

Members of the Australian Marist family mourn the passing on Aug 12 of Sr Dorothea (Amy) White SM, (92), a few days before the 71st anniversary of her entry to the Marist Sisters,

Sr Dorothea ('Dot', to her many Marist friends) worked tirelessly in numerous apostolates, including teaching, catechetics, administration, pastoral and aged care.

Working with the Marist Fathers on the team of Star of the Sea parish, Gladstone, Qld, Sr Dorothea recruited and trained an army of lay catechists to service the parish's twenty-two state schools, typical of her generous spirit, availability and skill.

May she rest in well-deserved peace.

[Aug 14]

Adolescence in Burma

Graduates from the Marist-sponsored 'Bridge Program' have produced YouTube video clips depicting what it's like to be an adolescent in Burma (Myanmar).

The 'BP-ers' are amongst students of Australian Catholic University's Thai-Burma border program at Mae Pa, Thailand.

Click below for some of the videos set as an assignment by ACU:
video 1   |    video 2   |   video 3.

[Aug 13]

Reports on Fourvière Bicentenary celebrations from across the Marist world: USA, Oceania, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Asia, Mexico, Peru, Canada and Africa

SM Bulletin: special Fourvière issue

Click here

[Aug 12]

Historical updates for Oceania regions

Fr Michael Fitzgerald SM has provided for Marist Oceania Province's web site new and succinct historical summaries for its eight national regions.

The province's regions include PNG/Bougainville, Fiji, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Wallis & Futuna.

For the updated pages click here for OMP web site and go to the individual regions.

[Aug 10]

Listening to the poor

Latest newsletter from Marist Mission Ranong: click here

[Aug 09]

St Mary of the Cross solemnity

We join in offering "Happy Feast Day" to Josephite Sisters throughout Australia, New Zealand and East Timor as they celebrate the solemnity of St Mary of the Cross (MacKillop).

Mary MacKillop was beatified by Pope St John Paul II in Sydney on Jan 19, 1995 and canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on Oct 17, 2010.

Click for Mary MacKillop Prayer and Mass texts

[Aug 08]

Founder's birthday

On Aug 07, 1790, Jean-Claude Colin was born in the hamlet of Barbery in central France.

A simple cross stands on the site of the Colin home, several kilometres from the village of St Bonnet-le-Troncy were the young Colin was to spend his boyhood.

The nearby forest of Crest became at different times a hiding place for the parish priest sought by revolutionaries, as for Colin's father, Jacques, and later a quiet refuge for the shy Jean-Claude.

[Aug 07]

St John Vianney on prayer

Aug 04 recalls the saintly Curé of Ars, John Vianney, one of the great spiritual guides of his time.

He was also an early member of the Third Order of Mary and a contemporary and close friend of Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin.

For an extract of his teaching on prayer click here.

[Aug 04]

Fourvière messages preserved

The homily of Fr Kevin Bates, preached at the Fourvière Bicentenary Mass at Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, is one of several anniversary addresses available from the Colin web site.

Other messages are the homily of Superior-General, Fr John Hannan, at the Fourvière Basilica, Lyon, and the keynote address of Fr Justin Taylor in Auckland, NZ, both on Jul 23, 2016.

Download from the Colin web site's Fourvière page.

[Aug 03]

Fr John Hill 68 years ordained

Veteran Japan missionary, Fr John Hill SM, was assisted by his cousin, Bishop Bernard O'Grady OP, at an ordination anniversary Mass recently.

The Mass, remembering Fr John's ordination at St Francis Xavier's cathedral, Adelaide, Jul 28, 1948, was celebrated at St Catherine’s Nursing home, Eastwood, NSW, with a number of close family and friends, some travelling from South Australia, Victoria and Queensland to be a part of the occasion. 

Ad multos annos, Father John!

[Aug 03]

Latest 'Act Justly'

Click here for latest issue

[Aug 02]

Australian Marist, Fr Tony Kennedy, at the grave of Fr Jean-Claude Colin at La Neylière

Formators' program concludes

From La Neylière, France, Fr Tony Kennedy reports:.

'The Formators Workshop finished on Saturday evening.  Its purpose was to enhance our skills and ensure better union and consistent standards between the various formation houses of the Society... 

'During the month we spent time hearing about each of the formation houses, the different stages of formation and the challenges of formation ministry, as well as visiting some of the  Marist places. 

'Working with the young people who participated in the Dare To Dream Marist Youth Festival leading to the 200th anniversary of the Fourviere Pledge was one of the highlights of the month.  So was the opportunity to get to know each other and the visible commitment of each to the ministry of formation.'

[Aug 01]

Latest Euroinfo

Fourvière feature from the Marists of Europe. Click here

[Aug 01]

Go to JPIC diary

[Aug 01]