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Ranong reportFrom Ranong, southern Thailand, Fr Frank Bird SM sends the annual report of the Marist Asia Foundation. Its thirty pages offer a comprehensive summary of a challenging year spent among Burmese migrant workers and their families during the pandemic. Fr Frank gratefully notes the presence of Australian Marist, Fr Kevin Redmond, (pictured below surrounded by Ranong students and with Fr Frank) whose extended stay will shortly end as he returns to Australia for the start of the new mission venture at Marayong, NSW. For the MAF report: click here. [Jan 15) |
Marists and SustainabilitySuperior-General, Fr John Larsen's first reflection for 2021 focuses on practical issues of sustainability. Speaking of 'ecological conversion' it is accompanied by a 'Sustainability Covenant' developed by the Marist Ecological Commission and adopted by the General Council of the Society of Mary as a model for Marist communities worldwide. Click for: Superior-General's reflection | Sustainability Covenant For other languages (Spanish, Italian and French), go to the JPIC Blog: click here. For earlier reflections by Fr John Larsen, go to the Superior-General's page: click here. [Jan 09] |
New Year contemplationFrom Rome Fr Ben McKenna introduces this week's JPIC Blog: 'Our blog this week is an invitation to begin our Journey into 2021 with a contemplative heart, one with God, to play our part in healing our wounded world.' Go to the Blog: click here. [Jan 05] |
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Dadirri - the deep springThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Australian indigenous woman, Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann, who offers a listening experience for Christmas. Go to the Blog: click here. [Dec 22] |
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World, Church and MaristsThis week's JPIC Blog follows a recent gathering in Rome of a Laudato Si circle. Fr Ben McKenna was there. Go to the Blog: click here. [Dec 14] |
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Ranong graduationsThis week's JPIC Blog features the recent ACU graduation of immigrant youth at the Marist mission, Ranong, Thailand. Go to the Blog: click here. [Dec 07] |
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Māori dialogueIn this week's JPIC Blog Fr Phil Cody SM reflects on years of dialogue with the Māori people of Aotearea/New Zealand. Go to the Blog: click here [Nov 30] |
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Border updateThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Brownsville, Texas, where Fr Tony O'Connor SM gives an update, 'Which soul of the nation?', on life, ministry and COVID-19 on the Mexican border. Go to the Blog: click here. [Nov 23] |
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Oceania legacyFrom Rome, Assistant-General, Fr Ben NcKenna SM, sends the weekly JPIC Blog with this comment: 'The blog is going up on 15th November: the anniversary of Françoise Perreton, a pioneer of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (SMSM) leaving France for Oceania in 1845. Thirty years later, on 15th November 1875, Jean-Claude Colin, Marist Founder, went to his eternal reward. Their legacy lives on...' Go to the Blog: click here [Nov 16] |
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Laudato Si in actionThis week's JPIC Blog is from Fr Jim Duffy SM who reports on the initiatives of Our Lady of the Assumption parish, Atlanta, USA. Go to the Blog: click here. [Nov 09] |
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Fr Olivier's dialogue with IslamThis week's JPIC Blog comes again from Toulon, France, where Fr Paddy O'Hare reports on the work of Fr Olivier Laurent with Christian-Islamic dialogue. Go the Blog: click here. [Nov 03] |
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Ecological education at ToulonThis week’s JPIC Blog comes from Fr Paul Walsh SM, Toulon, France, about the crucial role of education of young people in ecological awareness and practices. Go to the Blog: click here. [Oct 27] |
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Marist ecology at TutuFr Petero Matairatu SM is the director of the Marist Training Centre, Tutu, Taveuni, Fiji, In this week's JPIC Blog he describes the ecologically-sensitive developments amongst the young farfmers and failies of Tutu. Go the the Blog: click here. [Oct 19] |
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Caring for the CooksThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Bishop Paul Donogbue SM, Rarotonga, Cook Is, about the people's response to Laudato Si. Go to the Blog: click here. [Oct 12] |
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Sin is in the airFr Kevin Bates' weekly reflection for Holy Name of Mary parish is a perceptive look at modern world trends, corporate and human behaviour. Click here. [Oct 10] |
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Peace through inter-religious encounterFrom Rome Fr Kevin Medilo SM shares his experience of inter-religious dialogue in this week's JPIC Blog. Go to the Blog: click here. [Oct 06] |
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Street boys' pandemic studies
From Davao, southern Philippines, Fr Lionel ('Long') Mechavez SM reports in this week's JPIC Blog on Balay Pasilungan's street kids studying through the pandemic. Go to the Blog: click here. [Sep 29]
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A second creationThis week's JPIC Blog is educationalist Fr 'Aisake Vaisima's reflection on Marist education as a 'second creation', according to the mind of Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin. Go to the Blog: click here [Sep 21] |
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Pandemic in BoliviaThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Fr John Hopkison's 75th birthday letter reflecting on living through the pandemic in Bolivia. Go to the Blog: click here. [Sep 15] |
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Marist education , 'a new creation'This week's JPIC Blog features the insights of Fr Cyr Avaligbe SM, former manager of the Institution Mariste Jean-Claude Colin de Ndiakhirate, Dakar, Senegal. Go to the Blog: click here. [Sep 07] |
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Respect for the planet's resourcesIn a short but moving video, Pope Francis forcefully speaks out against acts of “looting” against God’s creation and calls on all people to take action to protect God’s gifts “today, not tomorrow, today.” For the video, click here [Sep 04] |
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Season of CreationIn the spirit of Pope Francis' Laudato Si and from the Global Catholic Climate Movement, program manager for Asia Pacific, Cheryl Dugan, encourages worldwide participation in the five-week Season of Creation commencing today. Download the handy guide: click here. [Sep 01] |
Hope facing no hopeThis week's JPIC Blog, from Fr Tony O'Connor SM, Brownsville, Texas, is the moving story of asylum seeker, Rodrigo. Go the the Blog: click here. [Aug 31] |
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Australia's dodosThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Fr Jim Carty, commenting on Australia's increasing loss of biodiveristy.. Go to the Blog: click here. [Aug 24] |
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COVID initiatives in AfricaIn this week's JPIC Blog, from Yaoundé, Cameroon, and the Marist Mission District of Africa, Fr Albert Kabala reports on a range of creative initiatives during the pandemic. Go to the Blog: click here. [Aug 17] |
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Give it a goThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Browsville, Texas, and Fr Tony O'Connor SM, with the experience of the pandemic on the USA-Mexico border. Go to the Blog: click here. [Aug 12] |
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This Fragile GlobeFollowing the Beirut explosion and in the midst of the COVID pandemic, Fr Kevin Bates' reflects on the fragile state of our world. Click here [Aug 07] |
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From Hope CathedralThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Norway, where a friend of the Marists, Elisabeth Golding, reflects on Pope Francis' Laudato Si letter on World Environment Day. She speaks from Oslo's 'Cathedral of Hope', itself constructed from waste materials collected on Norway's shores. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jul 27] |
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Tutu's traditionThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Fr Isaia Wairoga SM, director of the Marist Rural Training Centre, Tutu, Fiji, maintaining a long tradiion of empowering the young farmers and families of Taveuni . Go to the Blog: click here. [Jul 20] |
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Black lives matter: Australia-PacificThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Marist Associate, Rev Ross Flint, Tasmania. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jul 06] |
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Senegal's street kidsThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Dakar, Senegal, reporting on the ministry to street kids of Fr Roger Kasiama SM, director of the Marist Ministry of Family and Social Reintegration for Children in Street Situations. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jun 29] |
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Saturday sandwichesThis week's JPIC Blog is from Br Ivan Vodopivec SM, a member of the Marist community of Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, London. He describes their outreach to provide simple meals for the homeless on Saturdays - and Fridays, too. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jun 23[ |
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Refugee WeekFor the range of events during Refugee Week during the Year of Welcome 2020, click here. |
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Home ecologyThis week's JPIC Blog features the continuing environmental work of Fr Donato Kivi SM, rector of Marist College, Suva, Fiji. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jun 16] |
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Rosemary's WayAt its recent meeting the Marist Family Committee for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation moved to promote the award-nomnated documentary, 'Rosemary's Way', depicting the extraordinary assimilation ministry of Rosemary Kariuki amongst migrant and refugee women in Australia and their welcome by Australian communities. Former Marist Laity leader, Maria Baden, (pictured below, far right) features in some parts of the documentary which is currently part of the Sydney Film Festival. Go to the website: click here. View trailer: click here. [Jun 15]. |
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Prison and COVIDIn this week’s JPIC Blog Sr Carlotta Calle Remaicuna, SMSM, describes from Peru how the COVID-19 pandemic has added to the problems that prisoners face. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jun 08] |
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Reconciliation, AUS-USA, a common needIn the wake of violence in Minneapolis, USA, and during Reconciliation Week in Australia, Fr Jim Carty, in this week's JPIC Blog, reflectis on the common need for reconciliation in both Australia and USA. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jun 01] |
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Laudato Si and the 8-year planThis week's JPIC Blog from Rome links to resources for an 8 year plan inspired by Laudato Si. Fr Ben McKenna says: 'I would recommend a slow, reflective read, which will flow into practical plans: personal, communal, and institutional.' Go to the Blog: click here. [May 29] |
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Global prayer at noonAs a climax to the Laudato Si 5th anniversary week, Catholics across the globe will be united in spirit and bring solidarity to the world in a shared moment of prayer at noon local time on May 24. Participants may register here and click here to download the Common Prayer. [May 23] |
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A story I don't want to tellFrom Brownsville , USA, Fr Tony O'Connor SM sends this story... Mike Seifert has lived in Texas border communities since 1989. In 2017 he became Border Advocacy Strategist for the ACLU of Texas. Here is the story he did not want to tell. click here. [May 19] |
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Practical ideas for Laudato Si weekIn this week's JPIC Blog Sr Catherine Jones SMSM writes from Notre Dame de France, London, with practical ideas on how to observe Laudato Si week. Go to the Blog: click here. [May 18] |
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Laudato Si weekPope Francis invites us to mark the fifth anniversay of his monumental letter on the care for our planet, 'Laudato Si' with a week of special prayer and reflection, May 16-24. For the comprehensive program suggested by the Australian Jesuits, click here and here. For Pope Francis' video message, click here. [May 15] |
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Faith bigger than fearThis week's Monday JPICC Blog from Rome is from Fr Tony O'Connor SM on the USA-Mexican border. Facebook and food bank during COVID times. Go to the Blog: click here. [May 12] |
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Post-COVID, a new normal?In this week's JPIC Blog, Rev Ross Flint ponders what a new normal might be after the pandemic. Go to the Blog: click here. [May 05] |
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A hunger pandemicIn this week's JPIC Blog, Fr Jim Carty points to the pandemic of hunger paralleling the COVID-19 outbreak. Go to the Blog: click here. [Apr 28] |
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Earth Day's 50th anniversaryPope Francis has devoted his weekly audience on Apr 22 to marking the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Go to the text: click here. [Apr 23] |
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Pope's pandemic commissionThis week’s JPIC Blog records Pope Francis' latest initiative to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Go to the Blog: click here [Apr 21] |
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Border TriduumThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Fr Tony O'Connor SM on the USA/Mexican border. Go to the Blog: click here. [Apr 14] |
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Street kids' responseThis week's JPIC Blog comes from Davao, Philippines: the response of Balay Pasilungan's youngsters. Go to the Blog: click here. [Apr 08] |
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Pope Francis prays for the worldThis week's JPIC Blog is the Holy Father's recent 'Urbi et Orbi' message. Go to the Blog: click here. [Mar 30] |
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Jaime's rooftop gardenDuring Rome's pandemic lock-down, Mexican Marist seminarian, Jaime Perez Martinez SM, has used time to restore abandoned garden plants and reflect on their new lease of life. Indeed, Jaime, a student at Casa di Maria, the Marist International Theologate, points to how much life can flow from these restricted times. Good on you, Jaime! A fine use of lock-down time. For Jaime's reflection, 'Principles of Death, Principles of Life', click here. [Mar 28] |
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Corona and climateFrom New Zealand, in this week's Monday Blog, Fr Peter Healy SM shares about Maori culture and the connections between corona and climate. Go to the Blog: click here. [Mar 23] |
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Pandemic - poems and prayersWith the spread of COVID-19, thoughtful reflections, poems and prayers, are emerging as well. Click below for:
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Lenten carbon fastCatholic Religious Australia's calendar for the Lenten carbon fast is available, click here. (Apologies to CRI for the late uploading.) [Mar 10] |
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Coronavirus - a faith responseIn this week's JPIC Blog from Rome, Fr Ben McKenna reflects on the current crisis through the eyes of faith. Go to the blog: click here. [Mar 09] |
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Down Under under attackThis week's JPIC Blog is Australian Marist, Fr Jim Carty's, sober comment on the ecology and climate of his homeland. Go to the Blog: click here. [Mar 02] |
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Br Paul's letter from ThailandThis week's JPIC Blog is a letter from Marist Brother Paul Murphy FMS working with undocumented migrant children in Thailand. Go to the Blog: click here. [Feb 26] |
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After the firesIn two of his regular weekend reflections, Fr Kevin Bates SM, officers thoughtful challenges in the aftermath of recent fires and floods. Click for: After the fires, unfinished business and Too much excess. [Feb 22] |
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Beloved AmazonThis week's JPIC Blog from Rome taps into Pope Francis' post-synodial exhortation, 'Querida Amazonia - Beloved Amazon'. Go the Blog: click here, For the full text of 'Beloved Amazon', click here. [Feb 18] |
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BP20 under way |
The latest in the ongoing series of 'Bridge Programs' commenced in early February. Twelve young adult 'BP-ers' from various parts of Myanmar and Thailand have begun a twenty-week journey of D.I.Y. assignments geared to prepare them for entrée to higher education and employment. BP began in 2011 as a consequence of the Marist Mission Centre's involvement with Burmese refugee camp hostels and the establishment of Australia Catholic Universty's online diploma course.on the Thai-Myanmar border. The Bridge Program is led by a team of former-BP-ers who upload assignments to the BP website and coordinate many of the program's activities including regular Skype video sessions. [Feb 14] |
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Above: Participants in BP20 | Masthead of the Bridge Program website. Below: Skype video sessions are integral to the Bridge Program in developing English language skills. | BP's signature image of a refugee youngster crossing a camp bridge into the future. | The Coordinating Team of BP20. |
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WIHWIn this week's JPIC Blog, Fr Larry Sabud SM prepares for World Inter-Faith Harmony Week. Go to the Blog: click here. [Feb 11] |
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Caring for the green mountain'Villa Santa Maria', the General House of the Society of Mary, is located in the 'Monteverde' ('green mountain') district of Rome. The Marist community keeps an active ecological eye on the grounds and its groves of fruit trees, terraces and lawns. Assistant-General, Fr Ben Mc Kenna, (pictured below, watering can in hand), took photos of the recent tree-lopping at 'Monteverde' on the heights overlooking the city of Rome. See also 'The greening of Rome' (May 2019): click here [Feb 06] |
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Fr Luigi's wellIn this week's JPIC Blog, from Cameroon, Africa, Marist missionary, Fr Luigi Savoldelli SM, describes a life-giving initiative . Click here. [Feb 04] |
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Unusual kindnessIn this week's JPIC Blog from Rome, Fr Tony O'Connor shares moving stories of the experiences of his flock on the US-Mexican border. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jan 28] |
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Laudato Si and the Marist FamilyThis week's JPICC Blog from Rome features the Marist Family's planning for 2020's events surrounding Laudato Si. Go to the Blog: click here. [Jan 17] |
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