January news

Colin calendar:  2021

This page:    SM Bulletin     |     Ritual of Lament     |     Young Citizen of the Year     |     Cycling for children     |     SM Bulletins     |     Ranong report     |     Two new Marists     |     Marists and sustainability     |     Pioneer mission anniversary     |     First Euroinfo     |     Senegal ordination     |     Archbishop Paul Martin     |     GCCM calendar     |     Aquinas Academy courses

SM Bulletin

Ritual of Lament

This event, postponed in 2020 because of the pandemic, has been rescheduled to Mar 20, 2021 and will be held Emu Valley Rhododenron Gardens, Romaine, Tasmania. For details click here.                                [Jan 28]

Young Citizen of the Year

Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill, proudly notes the selection of one its youthful parishioners, Oliver Gardiner, as Young Citizen of the Year for the local district.

The parish reports: 'Congratulations to Oliver who frequently sings in the choir and who plays the drums at some of our big Masses and who has received the Young Citizen of the Year for Hunters Hill in recognition of his amazing efforts volunteering in the community.'                               [Jan 27] 

Cycling for children

Latest newsletter from the Marist Mission Centre promotes Br Charlie Randle's annual 'Cycling for children' ride around the environs of Brisbane. Young Marists from the International Theologate in Rome will do likewise in and around the Eternal City.  For MMC Newsletter: click here.                          [Jan 26]

SM Bulletins

The first SM Bulletins for 2021 report on ordinations, professions and new novices (Jan 15) and on Bishop Paul Martin's appointment to Wellington and review of ministries in Mexico (Jan 22).   Click for:  Jan 15 and Jan 22 or go to Members' Page.                              [Jan 22]

Ranong report

From Ranong, southern Thailand, Fr Frank Bird SM sends the annual report of the Marist Asia Foundation. Its thirty pages offer a comprehensive summary of a challenging year spent among Burmese migrant workers and their families during the pandemic. Fr Frank gratefully notes the presence of Australian Marist, Fr Kevin Redmond, (pictured below surrounded by Ranong students and with Fr Frank) whose extended stay will shortly end as he returns to Australia for the start of the new mission venture at Marayong, NSW. 

For the MAF report: click here.                            [Jan 15)

Two new Marists

From Davao, Phlippines, the Marist Mission District of Asia reports on the Jan 09 profession of two young men at the Marist International Novitiate: 'Congratulations to Charles Sangul SM (Vanuatu) and Peter Carde Matakawara SM (Fiji) who made their first religious vows to the Society of Mary at Cerdon International Novitiate in Davao today.

'May God grant them the grace they need to follow Christ more closely and to bear the name of Mary.'

Yes, congratultions to Charles and Peter ! (pictured below, seated, with members of the novitiate staff and Mission District of Asia)                                [Jan 11]

Marists and Sustainability 

Superior-General, Fr John Larsen's first reflection for 2021 focuses on practical issues of sustainability. Speaking of 'ecological conversion' it is accompanied by a 'Sustainability Covenant' developed by the Marist Ecological Commission and adopted by the General Council of the Society of Mary as a model for Marist communities worldwide.

Click for:   Superior-General's reflection     |     Sustainability Covenant     (The Sustainability Covenant is also at JPIC and on the  Members' Page  / 'Other documents')

For earlier reflections by Fr John Larsen, go to the Superior-General's page: click here.                            [Jan 09]

Pioneer mission anniversary

On Jan 09, 1825, Frs Jean-Claude Colin and Etienne Déclas strode from the presbytery of Cerdon high in the Bugey mountains of eastern France to climb to the village of La Balme. This was to be the first renewal mission to be preached by the infant Society of Mary.

The La Balme mission, lasting for three weeks in the depths of a Bugey winter, was followed by many more in subsequent decades as the Catholic Church recovered from the assaults of the French Revolution.

Marist historian and biographer, Fr Justin Taylor SM, describes the beginning of the mission in chapter 7 of 'Jean-Claude Colin, Reluctant Founder': click here 

For a brief a summary of the mission venture: click here and for Bugey images from the Colin calendar for 2021 click here.                           [Jan 09] 

First Euroinfo

From Paris the editorial team of the Marist European Province send their first issue of Euroinfo for 2021. They comment: 'As we open a new year filled with hope, we share news from our province that speak of God’s enduring presence in our midst.  May our lives also reflect God’s Love as we continue to do Mary’s work in Europe! The Province of Europe wishes you all a Happy New year! “. Click here for Euroinfo No 148  or go to Members' Page                            [Jan 06]

Senegal ordination

Superior of the Marist Mission District of Africa, Fr Albert Kabala SM, reports on the ordination of Fr Stev Youssouph Youm on Jan 02 at the Marial Shrine of Popenguine in Dakar, Senegal. Fr Stev was ordaied by the Archbishop of Dakar, Mgr Benjamin Ndiaye.

Fr Albert says: 'Fr Stev is working in our School as vice-principal and curate in our Marist parish of St Josephine Bakhita.

'This morning we started our assembly in Senegal with confreres. The spirit is very good. We continue to count on your prayers.

'In Yaoundé, the second group for the novitiate has started from the 1st January. They are five of them: two are from Sénégal and three from Cameroon.'

Congratulaitons, Fr Stev !                                 [Jan 05]. 

Archbishop Paul Martin

In news from the Vatican on Jan 01, the Marist bishop of Christchurch, NZ, Most Rev Paul Martin SM, has been appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Wellington, NZ, effective immediately.

We congratulate Archbishop Paul on this very significant appointment where he will assist Cardinal John Dew in New Zealand's metropolitan diocese.

For the Vatican report, click here.                             [Jan 01]

GCCM calendar

Christina Leaño, associate director of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, announces the first of their monthly calendars for 2021 For details, click here.                              [Jan 01]

Aquinas Academy courses

Sydney's Aquinas Academy announces: 'Welcome to a brand new year at Aquinas Academy featuring Courses new and old, designed to help us understand and better ourselves and the world we live in.

Courses will include:

'The Soul is a Lonely Hunter', 10am - 12noon, 3 February for 4 Wednesdays, Elizabeth Guy PhD in Poetry and Politics

'Catholic Social Teaching - A Historical and Theological Overview', 10am - 12noon, 4 February for 4 Thursdays, Robert Gasciogne D.Phil., D.Theol. 

'Developing Your Own Spirituality, Unit II', 6pm - 8pm, 4 February for 4 Thursdays, Michael Whelan SM PhD and Marie Biddle RSJ MA MTh

For more details of these and other courses go to the Aquinas Academy website.                                   [Jan 01]