June 2026 news

Fr John Larsen's visit

Former Superior-General of the Society of Mary, Fr John Larsen SM, is visiting Australia following several months of 'R&R' in his native New Zealand.

Arriving at Hunters Hill on Jun 08, Fr John spent a week with Marist confreres and family before leaving for ten days at Santa Teresa mission, Northern Territory. After this he will spend three months at the newly-established Marist mission in Turkey before accompanyng Marist Brothers on their 'Third Age' experience at Manziana, Italy.

Fr John will then join the St Peter Chanel formation community in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

He is pictured below at Villa Maria monastery with his sister, Gabrielle Milne, and seminary classmate, Fr Gavin Foster. Bon voyage, Fr John.                                  [Jun 15]

House of Welcome's 25 years

For a quarter of a century the House of Welcome has been part of thousands of stories of welcome in Western Sydney offering housing, safety and community to people seeking asylum and refuge. In an ethnically diverse gathering on Jun 12 hundreds came together at Granville, Sydney, to celebrate HoW's 25th anniversary.

A special feature was the gallery (pictured below) of staff, volunteer and supporter testimonies capturing the spirit of the HoW across the years. These included Fr Jim Carty SM, co-founder of the House of Welcome.

Several other members of the Marist Family JPIC Committee were present at the event which began with speeches from Cumberland City's mayor and HoW and St Francis' Social Services personnel. A simple meal, prepared by refugee catering graduates was served by senior school students from local Catholic colleges.                             [Jun 13]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on visitation and chapter in Canada, Norwegian youth support for Burundi school and Oceania's Council of the Province.

To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Jun 12]

Fr Mark blesses Mary's Garden

Well-known to Australian Marists, Fr Mark Kenney SM featured in a recent issue of the USA Marist Province's e-Bulletin reporting on the blessing of 'Mary's Garden' in the rectory precinct of Marist School, Atlanta.

The blessing and dedication of the garden was held during Alumni Weekend 2026. As Alumni Chaplain of Marist School Fr Mark led the ceremony (pictured below) after an Alumni Mass in late April.

The e-Bulletin observes: 'The ceremony highlighted the renewal of a cherished campus space for prayer, reflection, and quiet connection. Mary’s Garden will continue to be a sacred space and a shared achievement for the Marist community. It reflects the beauty of thoughtful design and the enduring mission of Marist School to form the whole person in the image of Christ.'

Fr Mark spent a number of years teaching Scripture in Sydney and Suva, Fiji, prior to taking up his present position in Atlanta.                          [Jun 12]

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

'This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father from whom every fatherhood, in heaven or on earth, takes its name. 
In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith,

and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God's holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth;
so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God.

Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; 
glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.'

From the Mass of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart [Eph 3:14-21]                                    [Jun 12]

Euroinfo

The June issue of Euroinfo features vocations promotion in Toulon, Donore Avenue centenary and Marist Family in Italy.

To download click here or go to Members' Page.                               [Jun 09]

JPIC formation in Suva

During the Oceania Marists' Council of the Province in May Fr Ben McKenna SM led a session focussed on Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation issues in the light of recent Chapter statements and decisions. The presentation was aimed at identifying and clarifying Marist Mission priorities for the Pacific province.

Fr Ben is pictured below (centre, back row) with CoP members. To download his presentation slides, 'Past, Present and Future',  click here.                            [Jun 09]

The Art of Weaving Communion

In his latest reflection Superior-General, Fr Declan Marmion SM, focusses on Marist education and the setting up of the Marist Educational Pathways working group.

To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Jun 06]

Champagnat Day

Jun 06 marks the anniversary of the death in 1840 of St Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers, and one of the pioneer Marist aspirants gathered at the shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière, Lyon, France, in 1816.

The newly-ordained Champagnat pledged to play his part in forming the Marist Family, soon establishing what is now the world-wide congregation of the Marist Brothers..

Happy feast day to all our Marist Brothers!                  [Jun 06]

Fr Hoppy Down Under

After five flights from Tarija, Bolivia, and across the Pacific Marist missionary, Fr John (Hoppy) Hopkinson SM, arrived in Sydney on Jun 03 for a month's vacation Down Under.

Fr Hoppy is well-known and widely apprerciated in Central and South America for his 40-year ministry amongst CEBs (Basic Ecclesial Communities). After some days with Marists at Hunters Hill he will spend holiday time in coastal NSW and with family in Brisbane, Qld.

Bienvenido de nuevo, Fr Hoppy!                             [Jun 05] 

MMC Newsletter

The Winter issue of the Marist Mission Centre newsletter reports on projects in the Solomon Islands and the Philippines. 

To download click here or go to Members' Page.  To donate to the Marist Mission Centre click here.                            [Jun 02]

Magnifica Humanitas Pastoral Kit

To accompany Pope Leo's Magnifica Humanitas the Dicastery for Integral Human Development has provided a pastoral kit to assist understanding and continuing conversation on the encyclical. To download the pastoral kit, click here.  For the encyclical istelf, click here.                             [Jun 01]

SM Bulletin

The latest SM Bulletin reports on General Administration movements, Magnifica Humanitas and the final profession of Robert Badjeck.

To download click here or go to Members' Page.                                 [Jun 01]