July 2024 news

Death of Fr Jim Harding SM

In his 100th year, former Pacific missionary and doctor, Fr James Harding SM, died peacefully on Jul 24 at Southern Cross Aged Care, Marsfield, NSW. A Marist priest for 64 years, he had just been anointed and was in the company of fellow Marists on the eve of the feast of his namesake, St James.

One of the several ex-servicemen joining the Society of Mary after World War II, Fr Jim taught in Australian Marist schools before spending most of his missionary life in the Pacific islands of Bougainville and Fiji.

For a summary of his life, click here. May he rest in well-deserved peace.                             [Jul 24]

Catholic Care's 30 years

The link between the Marist Fathers and local health care sevices was noted at a Hunters Hill ceremony on Jul 23. As Catholic Health Care marked its thirty-year anniversary, celebrations were held at St Anne's Nursing Home and St Joseph's Aged Care Hostel. Both faclities were developed by the Sisters of St Joseph, originally invited to the area by the Marist Fathers.

Congratulations, Catholic Health Care, and thank you, Sisters of St Joseph!                                [Jul 24]

Bangladeshi bishops' visit

Two bishops from Bangladesh visited Hunters Hill on Jul 23 to acknowledge the contribution of the Marist Mission Centre to the needs of disadvantaged people in their country. Archbishop Bejoy D'Cruze OMI (Archdiocese of Dhaka) and Bishop James Boiragi ((Khulna Diocese) were accompanied by Deacon Jerome Rozario (Parramatta Diocese) and members of Sydney's Catholic Bangladeshi community, Dominic Perera and Lochon Halsona.  

Marist District Superior, Fr Tony Corcoran, welcomed the guests on behalf of MMC director, Fr Paul Sullivan. Also present were Sr Jenny Clarke SMSM, former missionary in Bangladesh and member of the MMC Advisory Board, MMC staffer, Anne Martinus, and former MMC directors, Frs Jim Carty, Ron Nissen and Kevin Stewart.

The guests enjoyed a tour of the Villa Maria monastery and grounds before lunch with the Maryvale/Montbel community.                              [Jul 24] 

Anniversary of the Fourvière Pledge

Helping at Marayong

Solomonese Marist, Fr Dennis Levi SM, has arrived in Australia to spend two months assisting the international community at Marayong in Sydney's west. Fr Dennis is on a summer break from the Angelicum University in Rome where he is pursuing post-graduate studies in Theology. Welcome, Fr Dennis!                              [Jul 22]

Fr John Larsen in the Philippines

Superior-General, Fr John Larsen SM, has recently concluded a journey to Mindanao in the southern Philippines, visiting Marist communities in Davao and Digos. including the International Novitiate and St Peter Chanel's formation community.                               [Jul 21]

Sydney's Fourvière Camino

For a second time the Fourvière anniversary celebrations were hosted by Marist Laity Australia, recalling the pledge by Marist aspirants in Lyons, France, on Jul 23, 1816. Once again the event on Jul 21 took the form of a Marist Camino from Bradfield Park, Milson's Point, with camino walkers crossing Sydney Habour Bridge before gathering in the crypt of St Patrick's, Church Hill.

After lunch and a Fourvière presentation, the group was transported by bus for the concluding session in the parish hall at Hunters Hill where senior members of the Marist Family were gathered.                                [Jul 21]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on the New Caledonia church fire, South America's District Chapter and the Superior-General's visit to the Philippines. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                                 [Jul 19]

Euroinfo

From Paris, the latest Euroinfo reports on Notre Dame de France's twenty-five years of refugee service, new leader for Ireland's Marist education body and young people at La Neylière.  To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Jul 12]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on retreats, assemblies and chapters in USA and Asia and on the newly-released selection of works of the late Fr John Thornhill SM. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Jul 12]

St Peter Chanel

On Jul 12, 1803, in the hamlet of La Potière, near Montrevel-en-Bresse, France, Peter Chanel was born to Claude-François Chanel and Marie-Anne Sibellas, their fifth child. Three more siblings were to come. A few days later, Jul 16, in the main parish church of Montrevel, baby Peter was baptised. 

La Potière is not far from the mountains which separate France from Switzerland. Claude Chanel was a farmer. He had some sheep and a few cows and grew some crops as well. His wife, Marie-Anne, was not a well-educated woman. She could neither read nor write, but had a very strong Catholic faith. They had three children before a fourth one died, so when she found herself pregnant a fifth time Madame Chanel dedicated the child in her womb to the Blessed Virgin Mary. A healthy baby boy was born and they called him Peter.

Years later, when Peter heard about what his mother had done, he added the name Mary, and became Peter Mary Chanel. Later still, he chose the confirmation name of a young Jesuit saint whom he admired very much: St Aloysius Gonzaga. And so we have Peter Aloysius Mary Chanel.        

Also in July, twenty-four years later, on Jul 15, 1827, Peter Chanel was ordained priest by Bishop Alexander Devie in the provincial city of Bourg-en-Bresse, soon to join the infant Society of Mary and become one of its first missionaries -- and its first martryr and saint. 

For a short history of St Peter Chanel, click here.  For 'A Marist reflects on St Peter Chanel', click here                        [Jul 12] 

Fr Bernie's 60th

Congratulations to Fr Bernard McFadyen SM celebrating the 60th anniversary of priestly ordination on Jul 11. Several members of the community of inner-city shrine, St Patrick's, Church Hill, joined Fr Bernie's confreres at Maryvale/Montbel, Hunters Hill, for a celebratory luncheon, while District Superior, Fr Tony Corcoran, presided at Mass at Montbel to mark the anniversary and Fr Michael Whelan offered St Patrick's midday Eucharist for Fr Bernie.                                [Jul 11]

Thornhill book launch

In a simple ceremony on Jul 07 at Montbel, Hunters Hill, the recently-published selection of texts of the late Fr John Thornhill SM was launched.

Fr Tom Ryan, editor of the selection, 'The Church, the Gospel and Culture', spoke of the background to the texts and District Superior, Fr Tony Corcoran, officially launched the publication.

For more on the book and its availability, click here.                            [Jul 08]

NAIDOC week begins

Observed annually from the first Sunday in July, this year's National NAIDOC week begins on Jul 07.

The NAIDOC website gives this background to the week: 'On 26 January 1938, while many Australians celebrated the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet, a group of over 1,000 Aboriginal people gathered at Australia Hall in Sydney to call for full citizenship status and laws to improve the lives of First Nations people. As one of the first major civil rights gatherings in the world, this day became known as the Day of Mourning.

'Since then, National NAIDOC Week has grown to become both a commemoration of the first Day of Mourning as well as a celebration of the history, culture and excellence of First Nations people.' 

To download the NAIDOC toolkit, click here.                                [Jul 07]

Fourvière today

In his monthly reflection Superior-General, Fr John Larsen SM, invites Marists to ponder the relevance of the Fourvière spirit in their lives today.  To download click here or go to Superior-General's page.                              [Jul 05]

Visit of Fr Ambrose

Bougainvillean Marist, Fr Ambrose Kakatai, has stayed briefly with the Maryvale/Montbel community, Hunters Hill, en route to Rome. Fr Ambrose visited Canberra on Jul 02 for a visa to Italy where he will join an international group of twelve Marists for a month-long program of Marist Studies. The course will be held at Casa di Maria and led by Fr Tony Kennedy.  Bon voyage and happy studies, Fr Ambrose.                                  [Jul 05]

Above:  Fr Ambrose and Montbel's image of Pacific martyr, St Peter Chanel SM.   |   ... with the Maryvale/Montbel community.   |   ... with former MMC director and Maryvale resident, Fr Jim Carty SM.

Casa di Maria Newsletter

From the Marist International Theologate, Rome, Fr Tony Kennedy has sent the latest newsletter.  Having completed their academic year students of the Casa di Maria community have begun their summer vacation with pastoral experiences and holidays at home for some.

To download, click here.                                         [Jul 05]

SM Bulletin

From Rome, this week's SM Bulletin reports on General Administration movements, Fr Juan Carlos' Canon Law graduation, NZ Chapter and schools' staff retreat in Detroit.  To download click here or go to Members' Page.                             [Jul 01]