July news

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This page:    Passing of Fr John Thornhill     |     International novitiate newsletter     |     Passing of Sr Margaret Purcell SM     |     Fourvière Pledge remembered     |      Fr Dylan visits     |     Farewell, Fr Chris     |     Fourvière preps     |     Dublin sighting     |     Pacific, USA Marist news     |     Congrats, Br Steve     |     Today's Marist     |     Theologate news     |     Superior-General's reflection     |     Interesting discoveries     |     Passing of Fr Ed Keel     |     Fourvière invitation     |      News from all over     

 

 

Passing of Fr John Thornhill

Australian Marists and the worldwide Marist Family mourn the death of Fr John Thornhill SM on Jul 28 at Southern Cross Aged Care, Marsfield, NSW, aged ninety. He had been a Marist for seventy years and a priest for sixty-three.

Acknowledged as one of Australia's leading theologians, Fr John was a prominent member of the Australian Province's formation staff for many years and in 1980 was appointed to the International Theological Commission and later to the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission. His popular Emmaus series website offered visitors reflections on a range of theological and spirituality topics, while a compendium of his works was recently published on the web as 'The Life work of Fr John Thornhill'.

In recent years Fr John was a member of the Maryvale/Montbel community at Hunters Hill, NSW, before moving to the Marsfield facility.

For a profile of his life, click here.  May he rest in gentle peace.                   [Jul 29]

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International novitiate newsletter

From Davao, Philippines, comes the second bulletin for 2019 of the Cerdon Marist International Novitiate, 15 pages of interest and colour.

Along wiith the formation team, each of Cerdon's seven novices offers a reflection on some aspect of their novitiate experience in well-written and engaging articles.

Download sections here:  pp 1-10   |  pp 11-15                        [Jul 26]

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Passing of Sr Margaret Purcell SM

Marist Sisters throughout the world, with the whole Marist Family, mourn the passing of their former Superior-General, Sr Margaret Purcell on Jul 22.
Sr Margaret died peacefully at the Mater Hospital, Sydney, after some years of retirement at the Southern Cross Aged Care facility, Marsfield, and Marian House, Woolwich. Earlier this year Sr Margaret had celebrated seventy years of Marist life. She had been Superior-General of the Marist Sisters from 1974 to 1984.  May she rest in well-deserved peace.                    [Jul 23]
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Above: Sr Margaret, with present Superior-General, Sr Grace Ellul in 2017.   Below: Earlier this year, Sr Margaret (front, far left) celebrating her seventy Marist years with Sisters at Haberfield, NSW   |     ... with fellow jubilarians at Villa Maria in June.
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'... for the greater glory of God and the honour of Mary the mother of the Lord Jesus,
we make known our sincere intention and firm will of consecrating ourselves, as soon as ever it is opportune,
to founding the most holy congregation of Mariists.'
(from the Pledge of Fourvière, Jul 23, 1816)

Fourvière Pledge remembered

One hundred members of the Marist Family gathered at Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, on Jul 21 to commemorate the promise to form the Society of Mary. The original pledge was made at the shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière, Lyons, France, on Jul 23, 1816.

This year's event was hosted by the Marist Brothers and attended as well by Marist Sisters, Missionary Sisters, Fathers and Laity.

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Above: Marist provincials, Br Peter Carroll introducing the event and Fr Tony Corcoran presiding.  Below:   Scenes from the Eucharist, including participation by Marist Brothers, Sisters, Missionary Sisters and Laity.    |      'Al fresco' afternoon tea beside Holy Name of Mary church.                     [Jul 22]
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Fr Dylan visits

Student at Australian Catholic University's Banyo campus, Fr Dylan Hatobu SM, was recently in Sydney for a short break from his Education and History courses.

Originally from Lemanmanu, Bougainville, Fr Dylan is a member of the Marist Oceania Province, and is currently part of the Marist House of Welcome community, Paddington, Brisbane. He pictured below with Fr Paul Mahony at the Maryvale/Montbel community, Hunters Hill. Enjoy your break, Fr Dylan !                   [Jul 21]

(Fr Dylan was also at Fr Chris Ketsore's Brisbane farewell.... see below)

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Farewell, Fr Chris

Bougainvillean Marist, Fr Chris Ketsore SM, was recently farewelled after five years as a member of two Marist communities in Brisbane, Qld.

Fr Gerard Hall reports: 'Fr Chris arrived in Australia in 2014 to study at ACU where he completed a double degree (Bachelor of Teaching / Bachelor of Arts) graduating in 2017.

'After some time with the Marist community at Herston, he became a founding member of the Marist House of Welcome with Hayden Kennedy and myself in Paddington/Rosalie in 2015. From mid-2016 till mid-2019 he was teacher-chaplain at Marist College, Ashgrove.

'Fr Chris was heavily involved with the PNG & wider-Pacific communities including presiding and/or providing music for their liturgies. He was a dynamic presence in all these communities and is particularly praised for the wonderful contribution he made as teacher-chaplain at Ashgrove. Fr Chris has now returned to his native Bougainville.'

Present at the farewell were two recently-committed members of the Marist Laity, Paulo Rezende and Hayden Kennedy.  Thank you, Fr Chris and farewell.                    [Jul 20}

Below: Fr Chris Ketsore (fourth from right) with Marist Fathers, Brothers and laity at his farewell at Paddington.     |    Founding members of the Marist House of Welcome, Fr Chris, Hayden Kennedy, Fr Gerard Hall
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Fourvière preps

Resources are available to prepare for the annual celebration of the Fourvière Pledge to form the Society of Mary (see invitation, below) .

Click to download: Fourvière Liturgy booklet     |     Fr Gerard Hall's Paraliturgy honouring Our Lady of Fourvière leaflet    |     Fourvière and the Pledge to form the Society of Mary leaflet     |     Fourvière bookmarks - set of five, use single- or double-sided                     [Jul 20}

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Dublin sighting

Australian Marist Assistant-General, Fr Ben McKenna, was sighted in Dublin this week, visiting the Coolock community. He is pictured with former superior-general, Fr John Hannan, and Fr Joe Rooney, former member of the Australian province's mission in Nara, Japan.                  [Jul 17]
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Pacific, USA Marist news

For the latest bulletins from the Marist provinces of Oceania and USA, click here:   Oceania   |   USA                     [Jul 17]

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Congrats, Br Steve

Christian Brother, Steve Morelli, is one of two teachers of Australian Indigenous languages who are joint winners of the Patji-Dawes Award, the nation's premier award for achievement in teaching languages other than English.

Br Steve is well known to Australian Marists through his collaboration with the Aborignal Catholic Ministry in the Macksville-Bowraville-Kemspey region.

In recent years he compiled a dictionary and grammar of Gumbaynggirr, co-developed courses up to Certificate III level, and co-edited the Gumbaynggirr Yuludarla Jandaygam Gumbaynggirr Dreaming Story Collection.  Yes, Congrats, Br Steve!                    [Jul 11]

Below: Br Steve Morelli    |   Flashback: In 2013, Br Steve with indigenous friends at Macksville and co-worker, Br Mika Cilicewa SM (second from left)   |    ... with the late Fr Bern Ryan SM, former Marist superior-general and member of the ACM team with Br Steve.

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Today's Marist

From the Marist USA province comes their Spring issue of Today's Marist.

To download, click here:  pp 1-12   |   pp 13-24

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Theologate news

From Casa Di Maria, the Marist International Theologate community in Rome, comes their latest newsletter.

Edited by Fr Tony Kennedy, and with contributions from the multi-lingual seminarians, it offers first-hand glimpses of life at Casa Di Maria.

Click here for : pp 1-7   |   pp 8-15                     [Jul 08]

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Superior-General's reflection

Fr John Larsen's July reflection is available at the Members' Page.                    [Jul 06]

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Interesting discoveries

Rector of the Marist International Theologate, Fr Tony Kennedy, has arrived in Australia for a few weeks of leave - with interesting discoveries along the way.

Fr Tony left Rome in June for a formators' conference in Washington, DC. 

He reports: 'While there I was surprised to see a deer slowly walking down the street where I was staying with the Marists. I saw lots of squirrels too. In the bookshop at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception I found two books by Australian Marist Fr Paul Glynn sm. I managed to find the name of an American Marist, Fr Robert Brett, at the Vietnam War Memorial. He was a chaplain with the Marines who was killed at Khe Sanh in 1968. It was strange to see many familiar sights from TV and the movies as I walked around the city.'

Fr Tony is now spending some family time at Gunnedah, NSW. Welcome back, Fr Tony.                   [Jul 05]

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Above: Fr Tony Kennedy at Washington's Immaculate Conception national shrine   |    Marist Fr Robert Brett's name at the Vietnam memorial
Below: Fr Paul Glynn's books on sale at the national shrine   |   one of Fr Tony' new friends   |    Fr Tony at Villa Maria, Sydney, en route to Gunnedah.
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Passing of Fr Ed Keel

Marists throughout the world mourn the passing on Jul 02 of American Marist, Fr Edwin Keel.

Well known as a promoter of the Marist Laity, Fr Ed also worked in a variety of ministries including teaching in the minor seminary near Philadelphia; working with collegiate seminarians in New Orleans and Atlanta; and rector of the Marist scholasticate in Washington DC. In recent years he served in the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption, Atlanta, Georgia.  May he rest in peace.

For Fr Ed's valuable compilation of Marist texts: First section (pp1-130), click here  |  Second section (pp131-267), click here  and for his 2012 article 'Mary's devotion'. click here.                              [Jul 03]

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Fourvière invitation

Members of the Marist Family and friends are invited to again mark the anniversary of the Fourvière Pledge recalling the promise of the pioneer Marists on Jul 23, 1816, to form the Society of Mary.

This year's celebration will commence with Mass at Holy Name of Mary church, Hunters Hill, on Sunday, Jul 21, 2 pm, followed by refreshments in the parish hall.  Click here.                  [Jul 02] 

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News from all over   

Bulletins and newsletters from near and far in the Marist world are regularly available on this website. Most are found on the Members Page.

Download the latest from here:

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