August News

Peter Chanel visitors

Led by their principal, Armando Gagliardi, eight staff members of St Peter Chanel’s primary school, Deer Park, Victoria, visited Villa Maria monastery precinct on Aug 20. The school in Melbourne’s western suburbs was once in the pastoral care of the Marist Fathers in St Paul’s parish, West Sunshine.

Former pastor of St Paul’s, Fr Pius Jones SM, came from Brisbane to host the Deer Park group, the second such visit and becoming an annual pilgrimages to local Marist places in Sydney. One important site is the historic St Peter Chanel chapel in the Villa Maria monastery grounds. The group is pictured below during their visit. [Aug 20, 2026]

Above: The Deer Park group in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery and near the chapel of St Peter Chanel. | A moment of prayer in St Peter Chanel’s chapel. | Exploring the monastery grounds. Below: With parish priest, Fr Michael Carroll SM, at St Peter Chanel’s church, Woolwich. | Historic photographs in Villa Maria monastery.

Above: At the mission cemetery of Villa Maria. Below: A visit to Holy Name of Mary church. | Pilgrims and their journals. | Farewell at Woolwich ferry.

Bougainville’s 125 years of faith

Australian Marists, Fr Harry Moore SM, and Sr Margaret Tisch SMSM, were amongst the many gathered to celebrate 125 years of Catholic faith in Bougainville. Pictured below are scenes from some of the events including a welcome to Fr Harry Moore and the re-enactment of missionaries arriving on Pokpok island in August 1901. [Aug 19, 2026]

MCC concludes

The 2026 Marist Charism & Culture immersion concluded on Aug 07. Seventeen participants from five Marist-founded schools in NSW and Tasmania concluded their experience with Mass in Holy Name of Marty church, Hunters Hill, and the presentation of certificates. Scenes from the immersion are pictured below. [Aug 07, 2026]

Above: MCC team members, Loretta Parker (left) and Glenn Roff with Marist Way co-leader, Cathy Larkin. | Team members, Chris Comerford and Greg Colles. | Fr Gerard Hall SM during a presentation. | Presentation from staff of Cerdon College, Merrylands. Below: An outdoor session. | Concluding Mass with Fr Gavin Foster SM. | Presentation of certificates by Br Michael Green FMS.

Founder’s birthday

On Aug 07, 1790, in the tiny hamlet of Barbery in central France Jean-Claude Colin was born. He was to be acknowledged as the founder of the Society of Mary. Orphaned before the age of five, the shy Jean-Claude was to emerge as the leader of the Marist project, advisor to Popes and model of a unique way of living Mary’s spirit in the revolution-torn world of his time. [Aug 07]

Above: Near the birthplace of Jean-Claude Colin: the forest of Barbery where the Colins would hide their parish priest from militant revolutionaries… and where a shy Jean-Claude would later take refuge for times of solace. | Inscription on the memorial marking the birth place of Jean-Claude Colin, Barbery, France | ‘Forget-me-not’ flowers growing at the foot of the Barbery memorial. | Venerable Jean-Claude Colin: detail from the portrait by Antoine Tollet, ca 1927.

Historic walkabout

Led by Marist writer and historian, Fr Peter McMurrich SM, on Aug 03 participants of the Marist Charism & Culture group explored historic buildings in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill. They are pictured below on the heritage-listed site on the first day of their week-long immersion experience. [Aug 06, 2026]

Above: Holy Name of Mary church. | Villa Maria monastery. Below: Woodbury Hall. | Path to mission cemetery. | Colin Library and Piquet Centre.

Above: St Joseph’s chapel. | Mission cemetery. | Memorial plaque. Below: St Peter Chanel’s chapel.

Charism & Culture immersion underway

The annual Marist Charism & Culture immersion week commenced at Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, on Aug 02. Staff members from five Marist-associated schools will spend the week exploring Marist spirituality, history, charism and culture. The colleges represented are St John’s College, Lismore, NSW, Marist Sisters College, Woolwich, NSW, Holy Cross College, Bellambi, NSW, Cerdon College, Merrylands, NSW, and Marist Regional College, Burnie, Tas. [Aug 02, 2026]

Above: Marist District Superior, Fr Gavin Foster SM, welcomes the group to Villa Maria. | MCC team member, Glenn Roff, at the introductory session in Villa Maria’s Woodbury Hall.

Fourvière celebrated

On Jul 23, 1816, twelve Marist aspirants climbed the hill of Fourvière overlooking the city of Lyons to the ancient chapel of the Blessed Virgin. Here, for centuries, Catholics had sought the intercession of Mary for their future dreams. The youthful group solemnly pledged to establish the Society of Mary as soon as they could.

Several celebrations marking the Fourvière Pledge anniversary in the Marist world are pictured below. [Jul 31, 2026]

Above: Entertainment from the ukulele group of Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill, NSW, Australia, led by Fr Aliki Langi SM. | Marist Family members gather in Davao, Philippines. | Students and staff of Marist College, Suva, Fiji.