January 2023 news

   This page:    Colinian Renewal begins     |     Conscience, Virtue and Worship     |     SM Bulletin      |     New provincial for Oceania     |     Chapter groups      |     SM Bulletin     |     Fr Lou Molloy's ashes interred     |     Euroinfo     |     Oceania Chapter underway     |     Bugey missions anniversary     |     Asia District Chapter begins     |     Vocations news from Africa     |     Christian Ngoura, deacon     |     Reflection from the Superior-General     |     Six new Marists     |     New Year at Montbel

Colinian Renewal begins

On Jan 20 an international group of seven Marists gathered at La Neylière, France, to begin the latest Colinian Renewal program. Led by Australian, Fr Ray Chapman, and Fr Donato Kivi (Fiji), the five-month course will include lectures on Marist themes with opportunities for prayer and contemplation and visits to the places of Marist origins. An Ignatian-style retreat at Nemi, Italy, will precede a ‘Bugey camino’ at the end of the renewal period.

From La Neylière comes the request: 'All those who are participating in the program would be very grateful for your prayers!'                              [Jan 25]

Conscience, Virtue and Worship

In his latest book, Conscience, Virtue and Worship, Fr Tom Ryan SM explores theological perspectives based on the conviction that 'conscience does not stand alone: it needs to be nourished and guided by virtues and strengthened by prayer together with worship in a faith community.'  For more on Conscience, Virtue and Worship, go to the Generis website: click here.                            [Jan 24]

SM Bulletin

The latest SM Bulletin reports on the start of the Colinian Renewal Program in France, Oceania's new provincial and the outcomes of its recent Provincial Chapter. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Jan 24]

New provincial for Oceania

As the provincial chapter of the Marist Oceania Province neared its end, Fr Milikiade Rayalu was elected to replace Fr Setefano Mataele as provincial superior. Fr Kiade has held the post of vicar-provincial whilst Fr Sete has recently become an assistant-general and part of the Marist international leadership team in Rome. We wish Frs Kiade and Sete well in their new apppointments.                              [Jan 18]

Below: Frs Milikide Rayalu and Setefano Mataele.   |   With Superior-General, Fr John Larsen, at the conclusion of the provincial chapter in Suva.

Chapter groups

From Fiji and the Philippines, Chapter delegates from the Province of Oceania and the District of Asia have sent an interesting contrast in group photos. A member of the General Administration has been present with each group: Superior-General, Fr John Larsen, in Suva (seated, middle row) and  Assistant-General, Fr Ben McKenna, with the Davao group (back row, second from right) .                                 [Jan 16]

SM Bulletin

From Rome, the first SM Bulletin for 2023 reports on the religious profession of six new Marists, Christian Ngoura's diaconate ordination and the Chapters of the Province of Oceania and the District of Asia. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Jan 13]

Fr Lou Molloy's ashes interred

Following a memorial Eucharist at St John's College, Woodlawn, on Jan 06, the ashes of Fr Lou Molloy were interred in the cemetery of East Ballina, NSW. Longtime friend and confrere, Fr Gerard Hall SM, presided at the Mass and later with family members at a simple ceremony at the grave of Fr Lou's parents, Patrick and Nellie Molloy.

Fr Lou, who died at Ballina on Nov 09, was a former rector of St John's College. May he rest in peace.                           [Jan 13]  

Euroinfo

From Paris, in addition to the provincial's regular message, this month's Euroinfo reports on the Olivos community in Madrid, volunteer awards in London, Epiphany traditions and the province's new communication commission.  To download, click here or go to Members' Page.                               [Jan 13] 

Oceania Chapter underway

The Provincial Chapter of the Oceania Marist Province has begun in Fiji. One of its early sessions coincides with the Jan 10 anniversary of the entrustment in 1836 of the missions of the southwest Pacific to the Society of Mary by the mission-minded Pope Gregory XVI. The first Marist missionaries left for Oceania on Dec 24 of that same year.

The anniversary is marked by Marists throughout the world who offer Mass for the Society of Mary on this day, especially for the work of the Oceania missions. For the leaflet, 'On Whatever Distant Shore', click here.                                    [Jan 10]

Bugey missions anniversary 

Jan 09 marks the anniversary of the first parish mission endeavour by the pioneer Marist Fathers when Frs Jean-Claude Colin and Etienne Déclas strode from the presbytery of Cerdon high in the Bugey mountains of eastern France to climb to the village of La Balme. This was to be the first renewal mission to be preached by the infant Society of Mary.

The La Balme mission, from Jan 09 to 25, 1825, was preached in the depths of a Bugey winter and followed by many more in subsequent decades as the Catholic Church recovered from the assaults of the French Revolution.

Marist historian and biographer, Fr Justin Taylor SM, describes the beginning of the mission in chapter 7 of 'Jean-Claude Colin, Reluctant Founder': click here  For a brief a summary of the mission venture: click here and for images of the Bugey iin winter (from the 2021 Colin calendar) click here.                                    [Jan 09]     

 Below:  St Amand's church, La Balme, little changed since the 1825 mission.     |     Young artist's impression of Frs Colin and Déclas clmbing from Cerdon.

Asia District Chapter begins 

Vocations news from Africa

Fr Guy Roger Assogoma SM has sent updates on the vocations ministry in the Marist District of Africa. Newsletters in English and French tell the story of current initiatives throughout the District.   Click for Echo de l'Anneé des Vocations Maristes (EN & FR) and December Bulletin (EN).                       [Jan 08] 

Christian Ngoura, deacon

In a Jan 07 ceremony at the Marianist General House, Rome, Cameroonian Marist, Christian Ngoura, was ordained deacon by Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria, Prefect of the Discastery of the Doctrine of Faith. A second ordinand was Marianist, Luis Gonzalez.

Scenes from the event are pictured below, including Marist International Theologate rector, Fr Tony Kennedy, calling the candidates forward (below, left) and after the ceremony (bottom, right). Congratulations, Reverend Chris and Luis!                              [Photos, Clinton Kube SM]     [Jan 08]

In the first of his monthly reflections for 2023, Superior-General, Fr John Larsen SM, looks back on his recent visits to Marists in the Pacific, pondering what the pioneer missionaries might have thought and how modern Marists 'on the shifting sands of our own times' might view their mission. For the reflection click here or go to Superior-General's page.                              [Jan 07]

Six new Marists

In a ceremony on Jan 05 at the shrine of Our Lady of Grace in Castiglion Fiorentino, Tuscany, Italy, six young men made their first vows as members of the Society of Mary in the presence of many members of the Marist Family. Congratulations to Hansford Mane (Solomon Is), Manuele Botabua (Fiji), Zulu Serop (Bougainville) David Vences and Eduardo Gutierrez (Mexico) and Joseph Mijares (NZ)..

New Year at Montbel

For the first time since Covid-19 restrictions, the community of Montbel welcomed members of the Marist Family's professed branches to a New Year celebration on Jan 05.

Fr Paul Mahony SM welcomed Marist Sisters, Missionary Sisters and Marist Brothers to the Hunters Hill event, pictured below.                                  [Jan 06}