March 2025 - Marist Fathers Australia

March 2025 news

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Full House in Rome

With the arrival of three new student members in Rome, the community of the Marist International Theologate, Casa di Maria, has swollen to its largest size ever with three formators, six deacons and twenty seminarians. Representing fifteen different nations the community reports: 'This diversity greatly enriches the experience of the house, creating a truly international environment. Let us pray for these young Marists, and more vocations to the Society of Mary.'

The community is pictured below with its full complement following Mass celebrated by Assistant-General, Fr Setefano Mataele SM, after recent formal visitation of Casa di Maria. [Mar 30]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports of the first profession of two new Marists in Davao and on the visitation of the Casa di Maria community. Also included is the prayer in preparation of the forthcoming General Chapter. To download click here or go to Members' Page. Chapter prayer (English): click here. [Mar 30]

Launch of new European website

With a group of Marists gathered at La Neylière, France, provincial of the European province, Fr Kevin Duffy SM, officially launched an updated website on Mar 25. The multilingual site reflects the diverse countries of the province: England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain and the Netherlands.

The address of the new website remains https://maristeurope.eu/. It can also be accessed from the Australian District site's 'About Us/Links' [Mar 26]

Above: European provincial, Fr Kevin Duffy, at left, with Fr Declan Marmion. Below: Participating in a prayer of blessing in the languages of the site, from left, Br Faustino Ferrari (Italian), Frs Jean-Marie Bloqueau (French), Angel Anton (Spanish), Andreas Rupprecht (Norwegian), Br Norbert Enste (German) and Fr Jan ter Braak (Dutch).

Professions in Davao

In a Mar 25 ceremony in the chapel of the Marist International Novitiate, 'Eden', Davao, Philippines, two young men took their first vows in the Society of Mary. The new Marists are Alex Tella Nembot (Cameroon) and Maciu Jimi Banicakau (Fiji). Retiring novice Master, Fr David Sanchez , presided at the Eucharist while Asia District Superior, Fr Kevin Medilo, accepted the vows with novitiate staff members, Frs Sione Hamala and Pat Devlin, as witnesses. Scenes from the profession ceremony are pictured below.

Congratulations, Maciu and Alex! [Mar 26]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on Fr David Sanchez' appointed to the Omnes Gentes mission in Turkey, seminarians in the Rome Marathon, Fr Joe Buckley 'Gentleman Joe' and vocations prayer in Europe.

To download click here or go to Members' Page. [Mar 22]

New novices welcomed

In a ceremony on Mar 19 at St Peter Chanel's formation community, Davao, Philippines, the latest batch of Marist novices were welcomed: [Mar 22]

'As we celebrate the solemnity of St.Joseph the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we also express our warm welcome to the new Cerdon international novitiate community at St. Peter Chanel formation house.

'We pray for this new batch of novices that God will guide and help them throughout their vocation journey that they will be steadfast in their discernment and to prosper in their chosen vocation.' [Mar 22]

Above: The novices with newly-appointed formators, Novice Master, Fr Xavier Sariman (5th from right) and Fr Thilo Saft (far left). | The combined communities of St Peter Chanel and Cerdon International Novitiate.

Marist Way prayer

An invitation comes from Marist Laity Australia: 'Please join us for the Marist Way prayer on Monday March 24 at 7.30 pm (Eastern Australian Standard Time). The prayer will go for 40 minutes only.' For the Zoom link click here and for the prayer sheet click here. [Mar 22]

Marist Gladiators

Running through landmarks of the Eternal City, seminarians from the Marist International Theologate were amongst participants in the annual Rome Marathon on Mar 16. The 42 km circuit began and ended in the vicinity of the Colosseum.

Organisers describe the run as 'a route that is unmatched anywhere in the world, starting from the Imperial Forum, with the passage in front of the Colosseum, the Arch of Constantine, you will gaze upon the Palatine and Circus Maximus, you will feel the breeze of the Lungotevere and then again you will pass in front of Castel Sant’Angelo, on Viale della Conciliazione with St. Peter’s Basilica, the Foro Italico and the Mosque, Piazza del Popolo, Piazza di Spagna with the famous Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, the stairways of Santa Maria in Aracoeli and the Campidoglio, the Theater of Marcellus, you will run next to the Circus Maximus, the last km with the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum again in front of you, the final meters with the finish line again at the Imperial Forums.'

Seminarian Joseph Mijares reports: 'Overall I really enjoyed the experience, I sacrificed some time carrying a guy who collapsed between 39-40kms. This moment for me was worth more than finishing.' [Mar 20]

Above, from left: Lachie Bartlett, Joseph Mijares, Eduardo Limon, Fr Ricardo Navarette and David Romero.

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on recent plenary sessions of the General Council, General Chapter preparations and personnel and the international formation report. Go download, click here or go to Members' Page. [Mar 15]

'Journey together in hope'

The theme of Pope Francis' message for Lent, 2025, is 'Let us journey together in hope'. To download, click here. [Mar 14]

Euroinfo

This month's Euroinfo reports on the recent visitation and assembly in Itaty and includes reflections on 'Working alongside Marists' and 'Religious Life and the Challenge of the Future'. To download click here or go to Members' Page. [Mar 14]

Ramadan message

From the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue comes its 2025 message for the month of Ramadan, 'Christians and Muslims: what we hope to become together'. To download click here. [Mar 12]

SM Bulletin

This week's SM Bulletin reports on the reappointment of Fr Kevin Duffy as Provincial of Europe, Fr 'Okusitino Ulupano's election as Rector of Pacifc Regional Seminary, Suva, and a new pilgrim season at Sahagan. To download click here or go to Members' Page. [Mar 08

Mission Newsletter

The autumn issue of Marist Mission Centre's newsletter is now available. To download click here or go to Members' Page. [Mar 05]

District Circular

The latest issue of the Marist Fathers Australia District Circular is now available at the Members' Page. [Mar 05]

Marist News from the Pacific

February's issue of the Oceania News Bulletin reports on ministries and recent events throughout the Marist Province of Oceania. To download click here or go to Members' Page. [Mar 03]

Visit of Fr Peter Chanel

Delivered at birth and named by an Australian Marist Missionary Sister, Bangladeshi priest, Fr Peter Chanel Gomes, paid a special visit on Feb 28 to the chapel honouring his namesake. Fr Peter Chanel, from the Archdiocese of Dhaka, is currently in Australia representing his country at a meeting of Asia-Pacific directors of the Pontifical Mission Society.

Focus of his visit was the tiny chapel of St Peter Chanel in the grounds of Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, said to have held the remains of the saint as relics were being returned to Europe in the 1850s. The original Fr Peter Chanel was part of the pioneer band of Marist missionaries which left France in 1836 for the South-West Pacific. Brutally murdered on the island of Futuna on Apr 28, 1841, he was to become the first saint and martyr of Oceania and of the Society of Mary.

Today's Fr Peter Chanel was accompanied by Parramatta Diocese Deacon Jerome D'Rozario. [Mar 01]

Above: In the grounds of Villa Maria monastery, Hunters Hill, sits the chapel of St Peter Chanel, visited by Fr Peter Chanel Gomes and Deacon Jerome D'Rozario. Below: Inside the chapel, a statue of the Saint | ... and rib bone relic of St Peter Chanel. | Fr Peter Chanel by the John Coburn icon of the Saint now at Montbel, Hunters Hill.

Superior-General's Reflection

In his monthly reflection Fr John Larsen SM urges an approach to the forthcoming General Chapter later in 2025 'with Mary at Pentecost'.

To download, click here or go to Superior-General's page. [Mar xx]