August 2025 news

The Quiet Boy from Beaujolais

Aug 07 marks the anniversary of the birth in 1790 of Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin, in the tiny hamlet of Barbery, central France. Orphaned before the age of five, the shy Jean-Claude was to emerge as the leader of the Society of Mary, advisor to Popes and model of a unique way of living Mary's spirit in the revolution-torn world of his time.               [Aug 06]

• For 'The Quiet Boy from Beaujolais' click for: scrolling  |  printing
• For a children's 'Story of Jean-Claude Colin', click here.   
• For 'Reluctant Saint ?', a summary update on the Cause for his Beatification, click here.   
• For a 'Liturgy remembering Jean-Claude Colin', click here 
• For 'A pictorial life of Jean-Claude Colin' click here

OMP newsletter

From Suva, Fiji, the Oceania Marist newsletter reports on happenings throughout the Pacific Province. To download click here or go to Members' Page.                              [Aug 05] 

'CEBs' revisited

From the community of Misioneros Maristas, Tarija, Bolivia, Fr John ('Hoppy') Hopkinson SM, reports on a recent visit to the former mission of La Mamora and the Basic Church Communities (CEBs) established by Fr Hoppy and his team. (see captions, below)                                [Aug 05].

Above: 'Marist team with the animators of the St Francis CEB, high up (3000 metres) in the Andean mountains where the condors majestically fly overhead.'  |   Marist team with the CEBS of Río Negro, another from our former La Mamora mission.'

Below: 'Hoppy giving the blessing at the conclusion of that CEBS meeting whose agenda focused on a group reflection on the theme of “solidarity” in relation to the upcoming presidential elections and the preparation for the zonal CEBS encounter in late August where the CEBS of the La Mamora zone will celebrate their silver jubilee [25 years].  The CEBS of this zone were founded and formed by the Marist team and continue to be accompanied by them.'

Immersion week begins

The annual Marist Charism and Culture immersion began at Hunters Hill on Aug 03. Staff members from five Marist-associated schools will spend the week at Villa Maria monastery exploring Marist spirituality, history, charism and culture.

The colleges represented ae 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 04]

JPIC meets

A new member of the Marist Family Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation committee, Sr Judith Lythall SM,(pictured below, far left) was welcomed to the group by Sr Grace Ellul SM at its meeting on Aug 02 at Hunters Hill.

Agenda items included development of a Marist Family JPIC website, preparation of a statement on domestic violence, planning for a 'Season of Creation' event on Sep 14 and a possible reflection on the forthcoming Bishops' Social Justice Statement for 2025.

As the 80th anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings occur in coming days, Fr Jim Carty spoke of the distribution of Fr Paul Glynn's epic book, 'Song for Nagasaki'.                              [Aug 04]