Oceania Chapter begins soonSuperior of Marist College, Bomana, PNG, Fr Lote Raiwalui SM, calls at Brisbane and Sydney en route to the Provincial Chapter of Oceania beginning on Jan 04. Fr Lote is one of the emerging number of local Marists holding leadership roles in the Province which spans eight countries of the South-West Pacific. In 2009 Marist College, Bomana, will hold a record twenty-four seminarians. Australian Province's vicar-provincial, Fr Bob Barber, will be a representative at the two-week Chapter to be held at Pacific Regional Seminary, Suva, Fiji.. |
 |
| TOP |
 |
Twilight Christmas at Villa Maria Parishioners of Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill-Woolwich, NSW, gather in the grounds of historic Villa Maria monastery to celebrate the Eve of Christmas. Parish priest, Fr Kevin Bates SM, presides at the open-air Eucharist attended by hundreds of parishioners - and a donkey! |
|
| TOP |
Dec 30   |
'Montbel' |
Pouring begins The pouring of concrete foundations begins two days before Christmas. |
Dec 23  |
   |
Dec 18 |
Progress reviewed |
| TOP |
Monthly inspection tours of the 'Montbel' site allow local Marists and friends to see the development of the facility. |
  |
   |
|
| TOP |
 |
Mission Centre celebration Staff and supporters of the Marist Mission Centre gather for an end-of-year celebration on Dec 16 at the MMC office, Hunters Hill, NSW. The Mission Centre continues to support the international missions of the Society of Mary as well as development projects in the Asia-Pacific region. |
| TOP |
Marist Sisters' 100 years
|
|
|
|
A large crowd of laity, Marist Sisters, Missionary Sisters, Priests and Brothers filled St Charles Borromeo church, Ryde, on Dec 07 to celebrate one hundred years of the Marist Sisters' presence and mission in Australia. Local leader, Sr Grace Ellul SM welcomed all to the liturgy led by Fr Michael Whelan SM. The Sisters reflected on a century of missionary work in various states of Australia. |
| TOP |
Three Marist ordinations in Suva On Dec 06 three Marist deacons were ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Suva, by Archbishop Petero Mataca.
|
 |
The new priests are Frs Mikaele Marisi, Iosefo Brandon Nakavulevu and Donato Kivi, pictured, right, with Marist Oceania Provincial, Fr Paul Donoghue SM, before the ceremony. |
 |
Fr Mikaele Marisi had been a deacon for 18 months and during the past year has taught at St. John's College Cawaci. Fr. Mikaele is from the parish of Holy Cross Wairiki on Taveuni.
Fr Donato Kivi has just completed his studies at Marist College Suva. He is from the parish of Sacred Heart, Levuka on the island of Ovalau.
Fr Iosefo Brandon Nakavulevu has just completed his studies in Good Shepherd College, Auckland. Fr Iosefo is from St.Peter's parish, Namosi on Viti Levu. A long serving missionary from England, Fr. Joseph Brandon who served many years in Namosi is the source of the name of this new priest.
|
| TOP |
|
Visit of Secretary-General After a short holiday break in his home province of Australia Fr Tony Corcoran SM returns to the General Secretariate of the Marist Fathers in Rome. As well as looking after the affairs of the secretariate Fr Tony liaises with several Vatican congregations in his role as Procurator-General to the Holy See. He also oversees regular news bulletins from the Society of Mary's international headquarters to all corners of the Marist world. |
| TOP |
'Montbel': foundations take shape |
Dec 16   |
Dec 05
|
Ground works reach areas of bedrock on the upper level of the site. |
| TOP |
Dec 05  |
Concrete footings will soon be poured on the lower level of theMontbel site. |
Dec 01   |
Ground work is well advanced at the Hunters Hill site for the Marist aged care facility
due for completion in late 2009.
|
  'Montbel' will be contsructed at two levels Foundation markings have commenced |
| TOP |