January news

This page:     Pacific news     |     CPR begins     |     'Beauty, rich and rare     |     Testimonial for Fr Peter McMurrich     |     Monastery runaround     |     Aged Care booklet online     |     New page for Superior-General     |     The Breakthrough     |     Five new Marists     |     Marist news from Europe     |     Fr Jim's 'new evangelisation'     |     Superior-General's reflection     |     Timo's story

Pacific news

Latest issue of the Marist Oceania Bulletin now available. Click here or go to Members' Page.                                [Jan 31].

CPR begins

At La Neylière, central France, the latest Colinian Period of Renewal has begun. Led by Fr Ray Chapman SM, participants in the five-month program include fellow-Australians, Frs Paul Mahony and Michael Jacques, while Fr Ben McKenna represented the General Council of the Society of Mary as the program commenced.

Fr Ray reports: 'The Renewal got off to a wonderful start today (Jan 25) with celebration of the Eucharist based on the theme, "the Holy Spirit will come upon you". Fr Ben McKenna was the celebrant and three languages were used in the liturgy: French, English and Latin. 

'Some of the community from around Pomeys and St Symphorien-sur-Coise joined the Renewal participants and the Marist community in what was truly an international event and asked for God's gracious blessing upon those who are participating in the program. 

'Fr Ben presented each participant with a copy of Reluctant Founder.(biography of Jean-Claude Colin). This will be an invaluable resource to aid reflection and prayer over the next few months. 

'Earlier a letter was read from the Superior General, Fr John Larsen SM, giving warm encouragement to the participants and the assurance of his prayers. The Eucharist concluded with the Salve Regina.'

                              [Jan 27]

Above: La Neylière, venue for the Colinian Period of Renewal and resting place of Marist Founder, Ven Jean-Claude Colin     |     Four Australian Marists at the opening of the CPR, from left, Frs Paul Mahony, Ray Chapman, Ben McKenna and Michael Jacques.

Below: Fr Ray Chapman with La Neylière's Fr Jimmy McElroy and Assistant-General, Fr Ben McKenna, at the grave of Fr Colin.   |   District of Asia participants, Frs Gil Casio and Lionel Mechavez, holding their copies of the Colin biography     |     La Neylière's regular Sunday Eucharist and Mass of Welcome. From Fr Ray: 'The Marists were welcomed in a delightful ceremony during our Sunday Eucharist. All of the community from around La Neylière who usually come for the Mass gave them a very warm and friendly welcome. The differences in languages were no barriers!' 

Beauty, rich and rare

'Our land abounds in nature's gifts...'  Happy Australia Day!                            [Jan 26] 

Testimonial for Fr Peter McMurrich

Sydney-based Marists gathered on Jan 24 to honour retiring vicar-provincial, Fr Peter McMurrich SM.

During the Montbel, Hunters Hill, testimonial dinner Fr Peter was honoured by three of the provincials he had served over twenty years as vicar or provincial council member.

After a short break Fr Peter will take up an appointment at the city-centre shrine of St Patrick's, Church Hil, Sydney..                       [Jan 24]  

Above: Fr Peter McMurrich hears appreciative speeches from Frs Jim Carty, Bob Barber and present-provincial, Fr Tony Corcoran. 

Below: Fr Peter's response   |   pre-prandial gathering   |   M.C., Fr Gavin Foster, thanks caterers, Cindy and Melissa.

Monastery runaround 

Two hundred participants in 'Orienteering Australia's' Sydney Summer Series trotted to and fro through the scenic grounds of Villa Maria monastery on Jan 22.  Runners, young and old, appeared too intent on course directions to fully enjoy the picturesque grounds, recently greened by a day's solid rain.                          [Jan 23] 

Aged Care booklet online

The Marist Fathers' Australian Province 'Information on Health and Aged Care' booklet is now online on the Members' Page.

With illustrated reflections, the booklet comprehensively treats vision and policies for aged care in the province.                             [Jan 21]

New page for Superior-General

Under the 'Contacts' tab (see menu, above) there is a new page link for the monthly reflections of Superior-General, Fr John Larsen SM.

Published early each month, Fr John's reflections are now available from the beginning of 2018. The single-page reflections, thoughtful and often challenging, focus on a wide range of topics, some seasonal, others flowing from Fr John's visits to Marists and their missions throughout the world.

To go the page, click here.                             [Jan 13]

The Breakthrough

Chapter 13 of Fr Justin Taylor's biography 'Jean-Claude Colin, Reluctant Founder' is entitiled 'The Breakthrough', describing the period (1834-36) leading up to the Society of Mary's approval by Rome. A turning point came when mission-minded Pope Gregory XVI entrusted to the Society of Mary the missions of the south-west Pacific. Jan 10 marks the anniversary of this event in 1836.

For details of the biography, click here.                              [Jan 10]

Five new Marists

In a ceremony at the Marist International Novitiate, Davaio, Philippines, on Jan 08, five young men took their first vows ain the Society of Mary. The event was attended by a large group of local friends and lay Marists, as well as MICs (Marist Interested College students) from St Peter Chanel's community in Davao.

The newly-professed Marists will continue their studies at the International Theologate, Rome, and at Pacific Regional Seminary, Suva, Fiji.                              [Jan 09]

Marist news from Europe

The latest Euroinfo announces a new focus: on coming rather than past events in the Marist provice of Europe.

To download, click here.                       [Jan 08]

Fr Jim's 'new evangelisation'

At 96 years of age, Fr Jim Esler SM, is discovering a new ministry of evangelisation at the Southern Cross Aged Care facility, Marsfield, NSW.

Visited recently by Marist Assistant-General, Fr Ben McKenna, Fr Jim shared the growing opportunities he finds in his retirement setting for living the Gospel among staff and fellow residents. 'For example', he remarked, 'every morning several of the nursing staff come to me to begin their working day with a blessing.'

Still an avid reader and correspondent, Fr Jim celebrated 64 years of priesthood on Jan 04.

He is pictured below congratulated by Fr Ben on his anniversary day                              [Jan 06]

Superior-General's reflection

Fr John Larsen's monthly reflection encourages Marists to follow 'a different way' after the example of the Magi.  Go to Members' Page.                            [Jan 04]

Timo's story

Timothy Ehklokweh ('Timo' to his friends) is now an Australian citizen. Born in Karen State, Myanmar, in 1988, Timo's story reflects the success of the Marist Mission Centre's sowing seeds of hope, education and development along the Thai-Burma border for over twenty years.

Following his citizenship ceremony on Dec 18 in Brunswick, Melbourne, Timo commented: 'I especially want to thank MMC for being such a great support when we had nothing to live on or study with in the refugee camp. MMC offered great influences to me and helped a lot of young Karen to grow up with faith and education. Thank you, thank you!'

The images below tell something of Timo's story....                               [Jan 02] 

Above: A smiling Timo becomes an 'Aussie'   |   .... with his wife, Su Su.

Below: Timo as a 15-yr-old at MMC Hostel, Maera Moo refugee camp on the Tha-Burma border, 2004. Sent by anxious parents from his home village in Karen State, Myanmar, to the safety of Maera Moo, Timo began primary school at the camp, moving to high school during his MMC Hostel years.   |   ...with his sister, Lu Lu Paw, at MMC Hostel, 2005   |   ... learning music from Hostel carer, Paul Heh Htoo Moo, himself a product of MMC's Leadership & Management program at Mae La refugee camp. MMC funded several L&M centres in the border camps of Mae La, Mae Khong Kha, Mae La Oon and Mae Hong Son.

Above: Timo with fellow hostel students during MMC's scholarship program 2005. The refugee youth could choose English language, music or art skill development.    |    Hostel students (Timo, second from left) helping MMC's 'The Other Half' program visitors at Maera Moo camp.

Below: Timo and hostellers with TOH 2004.   |   MMC's 'Chanel House' project in Maesot, Thailand, 2006, saw Timo (front centre) in an initiative encouraging self-study and online research. All 'Chanelians' are now resettled in Australia, Canada and USA.