No: 5 Nov 2013

ProvincialProvincial CircularCircular No.5 Nov, 2013

Provincial’s letter I would estimate that, on a few oc- horizon major changes in the Society casions, we had at most 1 – 1½ fel- described in detail. What CS13 dele- lows in the group who held contrary Dear Confreres gates approved in both reviews views to the rest. On these rare mo- were a series of goals and then a ments when differences arose it was I have just arrived back from attend- number of recommendations or never on a big issue which threat- ing the Council of the Society (CS13) strategies. ened to destabilise the meeting. This in Dublin. I consider it a great privi- is not saying that good discussion lege to have attended this meeting No toothless tiger and differing points of view were not on behalf of the Province. Don’t be misled and feel that these part of the meeting. There was plen- recommendations are very innocent ty of good constructive debate. It A great meeting and no more than a toothless tiger. was the experience of our facilita- While I have very little experience in They are very significant and will tors that guided us and helped us to being part of gatherings at this level, enable the Superior General and the keep moving forward. like most of you, I have attended so GC to make really big calls and bring many workshops, assemblies, and about substantial changes when Critical to the SM and its future the like, I can be quite critical of the these are needed. Over the next Probably the main work of CS13 whole business and very hard to four years some major things will be focused around the Reviews of Gov- please when it come to meetings. foreshadowed out of these reports ernance and Finances within the CS13, however, was a great meeting which will be for the next General Society. Both Reviews were asked and I am truly delighted to have Chapter to implement in 2017. for at the last General Chapter and been a part of it. over the last three years especially CS13 recognised a number of times have been seriously pursued by the The meeting was well planned. The that governance of the Society, with GA. We are probably more aware of hosting region of Ireland could not its annual meeting of the Superior the governance review because we have been more hospitable or help- General, his GA, and the major Supe- were all invited to take part in it on a ful. The conference centre where we riors, now gathering for an annual couple of occasions at regional stayed (Emmaus) was modern, well meeting (ARC) in Rome, is much meetings, but it is good to keep in appointed, and very comfortable. more collegial in leadership, anima- mind that both reviews are critical Catering at the centre was excellent. tion, and management of the Socie- to the Society and its future. Our meeting facilitators, Mick Mul- ty than it was in the past. This im- lins and John Honner, did a superb portant modern feature of the Soci- Some will look at the two finalized job. ety will only get stronger. documents to come from the re-

views and express disappointment However, in my view, the mix of the Apart from dealing with the Govern- that they don’t clearly see on the participants and the matter of the ance and Finance Reviews many Council may have been the elements that made the meeting so successful.

Never on a big issue In meetings like CS13 it is common to get opposition and resistances surfacing in many quarters and on many questions which prevent a group from being able to gel and arrive at a successful outcome.

Locked Bag 5002 Gladesville NSW 1675 (3 Mary St, Hunters Hill) Australia Tel: (61) 2 9844 2222 Fax: (61) 2 9816 1737 [email protected] www.maristfathers.org.au

other vital issues came before CS13 Fraternally the Marist community at Gladstone a number of times. Because of space as from 1/1/2014; I will not go into them here. Later Bob Barber sm, Provincial “official” reports will inform us Oct 29, 2013 Paul Mahony is appointed commu- about how issues such as laity, for- nity superior for Montbel/Maryvale mation and ministries developed at Hunters Hill as from 1/1/2014; and emerged from the process of CS13. Except if you are of a really Kevin Redmond is appointed parish cynical bent I am confident that they priest of Star of the Sea parish, Glad- will excite you very much. stone (Qld) as from 1/1/2014.

Assistants General One significant thing to come from Personnel of CS13 was the re-election of the same General Council for the next Harry Moore: In recent weeks Harry has been doing a much-appreciated four years: Frs. Larry Duffy (VG), Provincial Diary Kevin Duffy, Lote Raiwalui, and locum at St Patrick’s, Church Hill, while Ray Chapman is on annual Alejandro Muñoz. The General, Fr  Nov 07-08: Red Bend College, John Hannan, has flagged that they leave and Jim Harding is recovering Forbes (Marist Bros. Schools) from surgery. He recently had a call may be the same team but they may  Nov 12-13: Lane Cove Visitation not necessarily be in the same posi- from + Michael Kennedy, bishop of  Nov 13: Investiture of Tony Biddle Armidale, who is currently also ad- tion and doing the same things in (Cathedral House, Sydney) the future. ministering Wilcannia-Forbes dio-  Nov 14: Morning tea at Hunters cese. The bishop was looking for a Hill for new papal knight I hope all have had a chance to see priest for the parish of Hay for what-  Nov 18: Towards Healing Panel ever time the priest could manage. the 1 page communiqué, “Statement (10.30-12.30am) of Commitment”, that the CS issued Harry couldn’t oblige, but told the  Nov 19-20: Provincial Council bishop he’d sniff around. Anyone last week. Some confreres will dis- Meeting miss it as being “too much like a interested in making Hay while the  Nov 23-24: Burnie Parish Farewell motherhood” sentiment. That is a sun shines could have a word with Weekend pity. This statement must be read Harry.  Nov 24: Holy Spirit College Annual and prayed over. It is telling us what Mass for the deceased the Society’s leadership wants of Tony Corcoran: The General Admin-  Nov 27: Committee for Ageing each one of us. istration has requested an extension (11am-12.30pm) of Tony’s contract as secretary-  Nov 29: Ordination of Willy To make a big impact general; this was readily agreed to Melteras (Hunters Hill) We are a “small” congregation, by the Australian province, and we  Dec 03: Provincial Finance Com- which each day is getting smaller in congratulate Tony on the recogni- mittee (10.30am) number, but is still able to make a tion which the extension gives in  Dec 04-05: Lismore community big impact. This will only happen if regard to his competence and dedi- visitation & ACM meeting with we are more focussed, more overtly cation. bishop Marist, more international, more  Dec 07: S&L Program concludes collegial, working more closely with Willy Melteras: Willy will be or- (Villa Maria) the laity and are more courageous. dained to the presbyterate by arch-  CS13 were really convinced of this. Dec 12-14: St Patrick’s, Church Hill, bishop Julian Porteous at Holy Name visitation of Mary church, Hunters Hill in a If any of us are not prepared to be a  Dec 17: Provincial Council Meeting ceremony commencing at 6pm on fair dinkum Marist, part of the team Friday, 29 November. We congratu- and committed to live as CS calls us, Appointments late Willy on his call to ordination. then we must move aside because The following appointments for Gerald Arbuckle: Gerry left for the we are blocking the Society which 2014 were recently announced: wants to move ahead. For my part, I United States and places beyond on 25 September. While overseas he will be putting my energy into sup- Fred Kado is appointed a member of porting those who really want to will give the keynote address to the the parish staff at St Patrick’s, Canadian Health Association Assem- follow the call of CS13 and allow our Church Hill, as from 1/1/2014; “small” Society to make an impact. bly, Toronto; present the Louis Luzbetak Memorial Lecture, CTU, Aliki Langi is appointed superior of

Chicago; and give lectures for the Gavin Foster will continue as a Institute of Religious Formation, member of the Villa Maria commu- Chicago. Then it’s off to Oxford as a nity in 2014. During next year he will Research Academic Visitor for two complete his Clinical Pastoral Educa- months. Gerry returns to Australia tion qualification, and assist with on 29 November. In Gerry’s absence chaplaincy duties at St Joseph’s col- Gavin Foster has been manfully en- lege, Hunters Hill. deavouring to keep the water up to the flower garden in front of the RPD headquarters at Villa Maria. Deaths John McMillan: John died in Royal Paul Glynn was in Canberra on the North Shore hospital, Sydney, on weekend Oct 26-27 to join in anni- Wednesday 9 October. He had previ- versary celebrations for the sister ously had surgery for a fractured city relationship between Canberra hip, following a fall at Montbel on and Nara, and to view the special September 5. His Mass of Christian exhibition at the Canberra Museum Burial was held at Holy Name of and Gallery. Paul’s brother, Tony, Mary church, Hunters Hill, on Friday, was a strong promoter of the sister 18 October. Peter McMurrich pre- city concept, and his role in the Can- Jim Carty: Jim successfully complet- sided in the absence of the provin- berra-Nara linking was recognised in ed the Camino pilgrimage walk on cial, and Kevin Bates delivered a fine the exhibition and the anniversary 23 October, while somehow manag- homily, which comes with this Circu- celebrations. ing to find the time and energy to lar as an attachment. The delayed maintain an entertaining daily blog funeral date accommodated the Paul Pearce and Ron Nissen have while on the journey. At journey’s circumstances of family members both returned to Villa Maria after end he heaped praise on the quality wishing to travel to Sydney for the leading pilgrimage groups in Italy of his boots, which saved him from funeral, and the availability of our and the Holy Land in the September- blisters, while others around him funeral director. October period. While overseas Ron were continually laid low by “severe continued to maintain the currency and debilitating blisters”, which of our website, with new entries were susceptible to infection, some- several times each week, and more times even leading to hospitalisa- frequently when there was breaking tion. Fellow pilgrims fell by the way- news. side through injury, the lure of local Ron worked in Rome to prepare fleshpots, sundry taverns, loss of Colin material for CS13 before direction, and a general lack of well- spending a short time in France re- being. But Jim soldiered on and won searching material for a kind of the prize. It’s good to have Jim back, ‘Lonely Planet guide for Marist pil- and we congratulate him on a won- grims’. derful achievement. Dr John Roughan died in Honiara on 24 October. He was an American Marist Father who went to the Solo- mons, left the Society and married and has since lived an exemplary life in the Solomons working for devel- opment. Confreres with links to the Solomon Islands will recognise his name.

Fr Roland Bernier SM d.12.09.2013. Waltham, USA (American Province)

Fr Robert Lang SM d.22.09.2013 Ste Foy-les-Lyon, France (Europe Province)

Fr Luis Maldonado SM d.28.10.2013. Puebla, Mexico (Mexican Province) 3

Sick

Jim Harding has bounced back well following neck surgery in early Sep- tember to relieve arthritic pain in his hands and fingers. His return to the confessional box at St Patrick’s is imminent.

J.V.Walsh: John had a fall on Sep- tember 11 and sustained a fracture of his lower femur. Following surgery at Royal North Shore hospital he transferred to Longueville Private hospital, where he is currently recovering, prior to physio and rehab.

th th Br Mika Cilicewa: Mika will come Maryvale from 15 – 20 Septem- Unfortunately, with Paul Glynn to Sydney shortly for ankle surgery ber. Most of the participants came (60th), Jim Carty (50th), Luke Holohan at the Mater hospital on 15 Novem- from the Hunters Hill communities (25th), and Mick Jacques (25th) all ber. He will be completely immobi- but seven came from interstate or overseas at the time of the celebra- lized for 3 months of recovery and from overseas. It was a particular tions they had to be remembered in will stay at Maryvale/Montbel dur- blessing to have Ichiba san with us. prayer and toasted in absentia. The ing this period. We wish Mika all the jublarians who were present were best for a successful surgical proce- Age makes it difficult to sit for long Syd Nugent (60th), John Begg (50th), dure. periods and more frequent “pit Br Colin Campbell (60th Prof) and stops” are apparently an inevitable Mika Cilicewa (40thProf.) News consequence of getting older. Poor hearing is also a hassle for some as At Mass John Begg was principal

they get older. A good number of celebrant and Bob Barber preached Marist retreat 2013 our more senior confreres remarked the homily. Fr David Kennerley sm, Provincial- on these situations when they spoke Elect for New Zealand, was the re- of doing a retreat these days but Once again Avacardo Caterers pro- treat master for the Australian Prov- they were quick to say how delight- vided a nice meal for us. Mick ince Retreat this year. David is well ed they were that they could partici- Whelan’s toast to those jubilarians known to us having been Novice pate in the Province retreat and get who were present was a sensitive Master to our younger confreres David’s great insight and reflections. tribute to these men who had given and in recent years lived and ran Perhaps with age the wisdom comes much in the mission. novitiates for the Society here in and assists one to be able to recog- Sydney. nise the signs of the times. Kev Stewart was okay as MC but he

had a terrible (not naughty, just Twenty-seven confreres took part in The province is particularly grateful hopeless!) joke that he shared with this year’s retreat that was held at to David for honouring his promise the group, taking away something and not using what would have been from his otherwise ordinary perfor- a legitimate excuse to get out of mance. However, most who attend- giving us a great retreat opportunity. ed the dinner had already forgotten Kevin’s joke by the end of the even- Jubilarians’ Mass and dinner ing because in replying on behalf of Thirty-seven Marists attended our the jubilarians, John Begg told a par- annual prayer and thanksgiving able, a very long one, that was a event honouring the confreres who howler! Things threatened to turn celebrated a Jubilee this year. As has ugly for a moment but when Beggy been the practice in recent times the finally remembered the punch line Jubilarians’ Mass and Dinner was the slightly inebriated crowd quiet- held on the last night of the Annual ened. The attempt, by one anony- th Province Retreat, this year the 20 mous confrere, to equate John September, in the Hunters Hill Begg’s ability as a story-teller with Church and Parish Hall. John Worthington was unkind and completely uncalled for.

Spirituality & Life Programme: This Sesquicentenary of the St Joseph sit-down meal in the Villa Maria din- year’s programme commenced at Chapel: On Tuesday, 15 October, we ing room. The occasion was also an Villa Maria on Monday, 7 October; commemorated the 150th anniver- opportunity to welcome the S&L initially with 9 starters, with a 10th sary of the building of the St Joseph participants to Sydney. In associa- participant arriving in the second chapel, situated in the Villa Maria tion with the anniversary of the week of the programme. The pro- grounds. This was the first building chapel, two sculptured wall gramme is being directed by Paul erected by the Marists on their new mountings were commissioned for Sullivan, and Pio Fong from the Oce- Villa Maria site, with design and con- the chapel from local sculptor, Dan ania province. struction by Claude Joly sm. Around Dominguez: one depicting St Joseph 50 invited guests (Hunters Hill and with the child Jesus, and the other CS 2013: By the time this Provincial other Sydney Marists; S&L partici- an image of Mary, the mother of Circular hits the streets, CS 2013 will pants; parishioners and friends) Jesus. The St Joseph sculpture was be well and truly done and dusted. gathered at 5pm at the chapel for a paid for by the estate of Tony King’s Bob Barber returned home from brief liturgy, followed by drinks on brother, Paul. Dublin on Monday, 28 October. Ben the back cloister. Claude presented McKenna, Provincial of Oceania, and to his Marist confreres as somewhat Ron Nissen has designed an engag- Pat Devlin, District Superior of the severe and aloof, so it is unclear ing pamphlet which tells the story of Philippines, both spent time in Syd- whether he would have approved of the chapel, and a copy is enclosed ney on their way back to their re- the pre-dinner drinks. We went with this Provincial Circular spective missions. ahead anyway, and then enjoyed a Burnie Parish: On the weekend of 19/20 October, the archbishop of Hobart announced that John Gir- dauskas will be the new parish priest of the Burnie/Wynyard parish, while at the same time having re- sponsibility for the parish of the West Coast (incorporating Queens- town, Zeehan, Rosebury, and Stra- han). On the last weekend of No- vember, Feast of Christ the King, the Burnie/Wynyard parish is marking its transition from Marist administration, and this will be an opportunity to formally welcome their new par-

5 ish priest, prior to the handover at a takeaway pizza. Guaranteed pron- the end of December. A good num- to fast service!! Advertising ber of confreres who have worked in NSW Working with Children Check: Burnie will be travelling south for Maryvale/Montbel: Job advertise- Thanks to all the NSW based con- that weekend. ments have recently been placed for freres who have forwarded copies of a full-time manager’s position based their WWCC clearances to the pro- Tony Biddle: Congratulations to at Montbel, which may eventually vincial office. For confreres working Tony, who is about to be made a also incorporate the management of in the archdiocese of Sydney, copies Knight of the Order of St Sylvester Villa Maria. The provincial has re- of these have now been forwarded for his distinguished services to the cently met with the Villa Maria and to the Sydney chancery. Just a re- Church in the archdiocese of Sydney. Maryvale/Montbel communities, minder that anyone currently hold- The investiture will take place at and with our employees at those ing faculties in Sydney archdiocese Cathedral House on Wed, Nov 13: communities, signaling the possibil- must provide their clearance to the Garry Reynolds, Bob Barber, and ity of management changes, and provincial office for sending on to Peter McMurrich will represent the consideration being given to engag- the chancery. Faculties will be with- province and hopefully bring back ing contract services for catering and drawn from any priest who has not some photos. The honour is richly cleaning at both places. It is ex- furnished a WWC clearance as at deserved, and will coincide with the pected that job interviews will take 31/12/2013. conclusion of many years of dedicat- place early in November. ed and extremely competent service Queensland Blue Card: Again, by Tony, most recently as province Parched Earth: for 3 months Sydney thanks to all the Queensland based manager, and before that as busi- has had no significant rain, com- confreres who have forwarded de- ness manager at CTU. The day after bined with some early season hot tails of their Blue Card to the provin- the investiture, the new papal knight days. The result is that the Villa Ma- cial office. will be feted by confreres, friends, ria grounds are looking increasingly and supporters at a special morning dry and heat stressed. The grass is Notice to Individual Subscribers: If tea at Hunters Hill. turning white, and is starting to you receive an individual copy of this make a “crunch” sound when Circular (as opposed to copies sent For those interested in the medal walked on. We’re hoping for a sig- to communities and works), you worn by Knights of St Sylvester, our nificant turnaround in the weather may prefer to have your copy research team came up with the before much longer. emailed as a PDF attachment rather following: The current decoration or than receive it through the mail. This cross of the Order is a gold cross of Holy Name of Mary Church: Every may appeal particularly to people white enamelled surface, in the cen- decade or so the ongoing rising overseas. tre of which is impressed the image damp problem in Holy Name of Anyone wishing to change their sta- of St. Sylvester, surrounded by a blue Mary church needs attention. So at tus to email recipient can contact: enamelled circle bearing the inscrip- the moment work is under way on vicarprovin- tion in letters of gold SANC. SYLVEST- the lower stones of the walls to try [email protected] and we’ll ER P. M. On the obverse, in the cen- and arrest the deleterious effects of do the rest. tre, are the Papal tiara and crossed the moisture buildup and the corro- keys with the date of the Order's sive salts which the moisture carries. Royal Commission into Institutional restoration under Gregory: From time to time weekday Masses Child Abuse MDCCCXXXXR, and that of the Pius X will have to be held in the chapter renovation, MDCCCCV, impressed in hall adjoining the church, but Sun- The Royal Commission is currently characters of gold upon a blue circle. day Masses, weddings, and funerals operating on a number of levels: it The ribbon of the decoration is black will be able to proceed as normal has held a limited number of public silk with three narrow red stripes. while the work continues. hearings; it is conducting private The star or badge is the cross of the interviews with victims who wish to Order attached to a silver star. Publications tell their story of abuse; it has pub- And for those wanting to know a lished three “Issues Papers” inviting little about the clobber worn by public submissions on particular Congratulations to Gerry Arbuckle Knights of St Sylvester, here’s the topics; it is active in conducting in- on the publication of his new book, drill: The official uniform is a black vestigations and research; it has Catholic Identity or Identities, Litur- coat ornamented with one row of issued “Notices to Produce”. gical Press, 2013, paperback. Way gilt buttons, black velvet, gold- back in the 1990s we referred to embroidered collar and cuffs, black So far 6 Catholic dioceses/ Gerry’s fecund pen, and 5 books gold-striped trousers, a bicornered archdioceses have been issued with later that description is even more cocked silk hat with a cockade of the “Notices to Produce”: Rockhampton, apposite, though the advent of the papal colors. Just the thing when Brisbane, Wollongong, Bathurst, computer means that it’s not quite going to the bank, or even picking up Bunbury, and Geraldton. These units literally true. are required to surrender all docu-

6 ments in their possession relating to  Financial Report Council Discussed institutional child abuse.  Vocations and Formation issues; Items on the agenda for the Septem-  Future planning Maryvale/ ber meeting of the Council included: Because the Marist Fathers have Montbel worked or still are working in the  Professional Standards and To-  Donation of $5000 to the Pacific dioceses/archdiocese of Rockhamp- wards Healing Matters Regional Seminary, Suva, for their ton, Brisbane, and Wollongong, we  Staffing of Gladstone parish. have been expecting to receive a ruby anniversary parallel “Notice to Produce” in rela-  Approval of expenditure for sculp- tion to those three areas. Similarly, tured wall mountings for St Joseph Provincial directory when and if other Catholic dioceses Chapel  Construction of a columbarium in Paul Cooney’s official email address are served with Notices, we would in Rome is: expect parallel Notices to be served association with the Villa Maria cemetery [email protected]. Contact on us if we worked in those dioces- him for an interest free loan, or free es.  Herston: possibilities for the future  Marist Youth Leadership Camp, financial advice.

It may be, and is probably likely, that 2014 individual religious orders will also be served with their own Notices, requesting all the documentation Combined JP event they have in relation to child sexual Marist Justice & Peace groups from abuse for all their works throughout Villa Maria parish, the Marist Sisters Australia. and the Marist Fathers combined to host an afternoon event at the parish So far Catholic Church units and hall on Oct 19. agencies have not featured in public hearings of the Royal Commission. The afternoon was introduced by Sr However, in December the Royal Vivienne Goldstein SM and parish Commission will hold public hearings priest, Kevin Bates. Keynote speak- in Sydney in relation to the Church’s ers were Prof Louise Newman from Towards Healing process; and early the Centre for Developmental Psy- next year a particular (and so far chiatry & Psychology at Monash Uni- unnamed) religious order will be the versity, Vic, and Abdi Aden, Somalian focus of public hearings. refugee, arriving in Australia in the

1990s as a youing teenager. The Catholic Church’s Truth, Justice, and Healing Council is acting as a Girls from Monte Sant' Angelo school conduit between the Royal Commis- gave first hand reflections of their sion and the various Church agen- 'detention cage' experiences at cies, dioceses, and religious orders, school, simulating the plight of de- for the assessment and production tained asylum seekers. of documents. The TJH Council, through its lawyers, Gilbert & Tobin, is reviewing and assessing material held by each Church unit, and as necessary, making that material available to the Royal Commission.

A flyer from the Truth, Justice, and Healing Council is attached with this Provincial Circular. Apologies to Marists who work elsewhere than in Sydney, in that all the quotes in the attached flyer are from Sydney met- ropolitan bishops. There are variants of the flyers, targeted to various areas of Australia, so that the epis- copal statements are adjusted to match wherever the flyers are dis- tributed.

Bilgola General Currumbin & Bilgola The self-contained flat at Bilgola is Administration Flats available for Marists to book for an extended holiday, a retreat, or an 2015 Marist Renewal: The General Currumbin extended period of study. Bookings Administration has advised of a Mar- The self-contained flat at Currumbin are made through the provincial ist renewal program, to be held at La is available for bookings for Marists office. Neyliere, France, in the first 6 and their families. Bookings are months of 2015, for confreres fluent made through the provincial office. There are currently no bookings held in either French or English. The focus for this facility of the renewal is to assist men to Current Currumbin bookings deepen their conversion and bind Nov 03-16: Jim Hargrave Enclosures them more closely to the mission of Dec 01-06: Tom Ryan guests the Society. It can be described Dec 15-22: John Thornhill  Homily for John McMillan (Kevin broadly as a creative retrieval of the Jan 01-14, 2014: Michael Carroll Bates) second novitiate of Fr Colin, which Jan 15 – Feb 12: Tom Ryan  Clergy Life & Ministry: Information consists of a five-month period of Feb 13—20: Maintenance Bulletin No.97 withdrawal from full-time active (refer Tom Ryan)  Truth Justice & Healing Council ministry. It is aimed at Marists who Feb 04 – 10: Kevin Stewart flyer are about 10 years forward of their Jun 29 – Jul 19: Bob Barber  Review of Government Document final profession, and provincials and (CS2013) district superiors are invited to sub- Booking of Currumbin Nov 30 – Dec  Statement of Commitment mit names for consideration. 01 incl: For Fr Mark Walls sm and (CS2013) team conducting the Marist Youth  St Joseph’s Chapel pamphlet Council of the Society 2013: Many Leaders camp at Woodlawn in early confreres would have watched the December. All upstairs area is YouTube audio-visuals from Dublin, booked – not the flat. and read the regular news bulletins. Attached with this Circular are two Booking of Currumbin Feb 04-10 important documents which incl.: both the flat and the upstairs emerged at the end of the meeting: area in use for meeting (refer Kevin Review of Government Document Stewart) and Statement of Commitment.