News - Marist Fathers Australia

August 2025 news

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Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross

O God, source of all goodness, who have shown us in Saint Mary a woman of faith
living by the power of the Cross, teach us, we pray,
by her example to live the gospel in changing times
and to respect and defend the human dignity of all in our land.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

Collect of the Mass of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Aug 08.

Euroinfo

Marist news from Eurrope. To download the August issue of Euroinfo click here or go to Members' Page. [Aug 08]

Charism and Culture week

In a tradition extending over a decade members of Marist school staffs (see below, Immersion week begins) spent a week at Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, exploring the charism and culture of the Marist Family. The immersion experience concluded on Aug 07, anniversary of the birth in 1790 of the Founder of the Society of Mary, Ven Jean-Claude Colin. [Aug 07]

Above: Fr Peter McMurrich SM leads the immersion group on a walking tour of the historic grounds and buildings of the Viilla Maria precinct. | Sr Vivienne Goldstein SM was one of the program's visitng presenters on Marist themes. Below: Groups plan final day presentations reflecting their hopes for further development of Marist charism and culture in their schools. | An immersion participant connects with local inhabitants of Villa Maria.

Above: Fr Gerard Hall SM presides at a concluding Eucharist in Holy Name of Mary church.. | Presentation of certificates by MCC team leader, Glenn Roff, and Br Michael Green FMS. Below: Celebratory dinner at a local restaurant brings the immersion week to an end.

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

Below: Near the birthplace of Jean-Claude Colin: the forest of Barbery where the Colins would hide their parish priest from militant revolutionaries... and where a shy Jean-Claude would later take refuge for times of solace. | Inscription on the memorial marking the birth place of Jean-Claude Colin, Barbery, France | 'Forget-me-not' flowers growing at the foot of the Barbery memorial.

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]

Above: MCC team member, Glenn Roff, during the opening session of the immersion at Villa Maria on Aug 03.

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]