September 2018 news
Click here for News 2008 to 2017
Provincial AssemblyThe Australian province of Marist Fathers engaged in a three-day assembly (Sep 25~27) addressing issues raised by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The assembly opened with the sharing of an adult survivor of clerical sexual abuse, setting a mood of empathetic listening in the sessions that followed. Expert speakers led reflections on pastoral, cultural and legal issues. They included Hon Neville Owen and Dame Kathleen McCormack, both with experience of membership of the Papal Commission for the Protection of Minors. The assembly concluded by identifying elements of a provincial response to the Royal Commission issues and with a liturgy including Fr Kevin Bates' 'To Dympna' and a moving Closing Prayer (click on links) [Sep 27] |
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| Above: The assembly addressed by Hon Neville Owen. Below: Dame Kathleen McCormack and Commission journalist, Stephen Crittenden. |
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Australian launch of Colin biographyIn the twilight of Australia's spring equinox Fr Justin Taylor's biography of Marist Founder, Fr Jean-Claude Colin, was launched. Marist Family members gathered at Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, for the Sep 21 event. Sr Noelene Simmons SM hosted proceedings and invited Fr Tom Ryan to introduce his life-long confrere and biography author, Fr Justin Taylor. (Click here for Fr Tom's introduction) For a copy of the book contact ATF Press, 08 8232 2093. Marists contact the Provincial Office, 02 9844 2222 in office hours. [Sep 22] |
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| Above: Marist historian and scholar, Fr Justin Taylor SM, speaking at the Hunters Hill launch of the biography of Jean-Claude Colin. Below: The twilight event was attended by over thirty members of the Marist Family | Fr Tom Ryan SM introducing the author | Publisher, Mr Hilary Regan, of ATF Press, Adelaide. |
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Above: The biography features an easy-to-follow index for each of its twenty-nine chapters and over seventy pages of illustrations. |
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The Davis CourtyardAs a fitting adjunct to the recent anniversaries celebrated at St Patrick's, Church Hill, Sydney, the courtyard of the church was named the 'Davis Courtyard'. On Sep 16 a plaque was unveiled, recounting the pioneering place of William and Catherine Davis in the preservation of the Blessed Sacrament in the colony and the provision of land for the building of St Patrick's. The plaque's inscription is taken from 'The Harmonising Influence of Religion - St Patrick's Church, 1840 to the Present', by Marist historian, Fr Peter McMurrich SM. [Sep 18] |
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| Above: Descendants of one of the brothers of William Davis were present at the unveiling, as were hundreds of parishioners and Marist friends attending the sesquicentenary of Marist presence at The Rocks (see below 'Celebrations continue') Below: The Davis Courtyard nestles amidst the towers of the CBD in the historic Rocks area of Sydney. |
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Celebrations continue
Sydney's Archbishop, Anthony Fisher OP, presided at the public celebration of the Marist Fathers' 150-year-long care of St Patrick's, Church Hill. [See also, below, '150 years of Marists downtown']
The event recalls Archdeacon John McEnroe's request in 1868 that the Marists come to work at the downtown shrine in 'The Rocks' area of Sydney.
A packed church gathered for the midday Eucharist on Sep 16, enhanced by the choir of St Patrick's and an orchestra of brass and string.
Archbishop Fisher unveiled a commemorative plaque near the Grosvenor St entrance to the church and joined the large congregation in the church's crypt for an informal lunch. [Sep 17]
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| Above: Historic St Patrick's church, Church Hill, in Sydney's 'Rocks' district, with its new commemorative plaque marking 150 years of Marist pastoral presence. Below: Marists, visiting priests and the Archbishop process before the midday Eucharist. |
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| Above and below: Full house at St Patrick's for the celebration Mass. |
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| Above: Archbishop Fisher with concelebrants..... and a congregation of young and old, and great ethnic diversity. Below: Musicians-eye view of St Patrick's |
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| Above: Smiling for the camera of the Catholic Weekly, successor of the 'Freeman's Journal' with which Archdeacon McEnroe was so closely connected. Below: Luncheon in the crypt. (Spot the Archbishop). |
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Colin biography deliveredThe long-awaited, definitive biography of Marist Founder, Jean-Claude Colin, was handed over to the Marists in Rome on Sep 12. In a ceremony at the General House of the Marist Sisters, copies of the book were presented to the Superiors-General of the Marist branches, in the presence of publisher, Mr Hilary Regan, ATF publications. The book, 'Jean-Claude Colin, Reluctant Founder, 1790~1875', will be a significant resource in the Beatification process for Fr Colin now underway. A Sydney launch will be held on Friday, Sep 21, at Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill. For details, click here |
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| Above: Superiors-General of the Marist branches with their copy of the biography: Br Ernesto Sanchez FMS, Sr Grace Ellul SM, Sr Georgeanne Donovan SMSM and Fr John Larsen SM | Author, Fr Justin Taylor SM Below: The biography features an easy-to-follow index for each of its twenty-nine chapters and over seventy pages of illustrations. |
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MMC newsletterFor the spring newsletter of the Marist Mission Centre, click here [Sep 11] |
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Our Lady's feast daysFor Marists, two feast days of the Blessed Virgin Mary follow in quick succession. Sep 08 commemorates the Birth of the Blessed Virgin, while Sep 12 celebrates the ancient feast of the Holy Name of Mary, the patronal feast of the Society of Mary. For a simple liturgy for the Holy Name of Mary, click here [Sep 08] |
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Brother Colin's secretResident of the Marist Aged Care Facility, 'Montbel', Hunters Hill, and senior member of the Australian Marist province, Br Colin Campbell SM, 96, has revealed the secret of his years: porridge! As well as being a veteran of World War II (PNG & Bougainville) and half a century in the missionary province of Oceania (Solomons and Fiji), Br Colin is also a veteran porridge-eater. 'I've been having it for breakfast for ninety years', he says proudly. Aware of modern health fads and longevity programs, Br Colin remarks 'I've seen them come and go'. For more on Br Colin's life, click here. [Sep 05] |
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| In the dining room of Montbel, a 6 am ritual sees Br Colin carefully preparing his daily porridge: take rolled oats, moisten slightly, microwave briefly, add milk and yoghurt. Then eat. Br Colin supplements his porridge with a banana and apple. |
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Ecology and dialogueFrom Rome, SM Bulletin announces: 'The Superior General has established the Marist Commission for Ecology and the Marist Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue. The foundation members of the first commission are Frs Donato Kivi (Oceania) (chair) and Peter Healy (NZ). The foundation members of the second commission are Frs Hermes “Larry” Sabud (Asia) (chair), Oscar Ichiba (Australia-Japan), Michael Jacques (Australia-Japan) and Kevin Medilo (Asia). The overall goals of the two commissions are: • “To strive for a higher level of professionalism in missionary involvement through further education, research, teaching, publishing and advocacy” (cf GC 2017, n. 9b.) • To contribute to local life by offering on-going formation, education, seminars and awareness-raising exercises for the local people in the respective areas of the commissions. • To contribute to the living of the Marist missionary vocation more authentically by working within the Society of Mary to help everyone respond well as Marists and Marist communities with the leadership of the respective Commissions. The first steps in the work of the two commissions are due to be on the agenda of Annual Review Consultation in October. The plan is to establish later two other commissions, one for Youth and one for Migrants. The hope is that over time the commissions will expand throughout the Marist world.' Fr Donato is involved in a practical ecological initiative at Marist College, Suva, Fiji. For his report, Another Way for an Ecological Conversion at Marist College Suva, click here.. [Sep 01] Below: Fr Donato Kivi (left) and Fr Larry Hermes Sabud (right)
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Marist news from EuropeFor the latest issue of Euroinfo, click here [Sep 01]
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