NEWSLETTER OF THE AUSTRALIAN MARIST COMMUNITY new lands WEBPORTAL: australianmaristcommunity.com.au VOL 21: 2 March 2015 What are you giving up? Marist Association update This was the question being fired around the dinner table last week. Tuesday Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter for the Year of the before Ash Wednesday. Kids loaded up with immediate ideas and teachings Consecrated Life, suggested that religious ‘look to the past from RE classes– some of them helpful. The discussion was a moment when with gratitude, live the present with passion, and embrace the the normally quiet and private narrative of our faith life had burst through future with hope’. It is a statement that applies to many facets the pack and was unashamedly front and centre. What are you giving up? of life, and is well worth pondering. It captures succinctly I tried to deflect the question and throw a curve ball by suggesting that we three different doors through which people are joining the might not give up anything, but rather take something on over Lent. Bad Marist Association. Many express enormous gratitude for luck Dad. Nice try. Get over it. What are you giving up? There was no point the direction and support they have received from the resisting. In the first place we went around the table remembering what we Marist community, and for the life that has flowed from the had given up last year. It was illuminating, particularly for discovering that practice of Marist spirituality, in the past. Looking back at the I my eight year old daughter had given up Maltesers last year, and when positive impact that ‘Marist’ has had on their life, galvanises questioned by her siblings admitted, with a smile somewhere between their conviction to choose to deepen their commitment to triumph and guilt, that she doesn’t like them! Br Mark O’Connor picks up its life and mission in coming years. Other people speak of this question with a thought provoking reflection on giving up the ‘Older the here and now, the present, as shaping their decision to Brother’ syndrome. join the Association. The energy and purpose they get from their hands-on experience of working alongside young people Click here to read the article inspires them to explore how they can help carry forward Marist life, mission and spirituality. For others, joining the Marist Association is about growing a disposition of hope in the future. They are looking to experience further the life- giving message at the heart of the gospel, and are deliberately seeking the Association as a way of both practicing and nurturing their faith in the context of a Marist community. Click here to read an update for the Marist Association On the horizon - Regional Gatherings May we all be brought In the calendar window of May – July, people have into our wilderness, joined the Marist Association or have expressed interest to join, will be participating in a Regional be still, Gathering. There are 20 such regions across Australia. Local Coordinators for the Marist Association will and let the things of God be collaborating to propose a suitable date, time touch our heart. and venue. The program for these gatherings has been designed to be for a maximum of three hours, including a shared meal together. Lenten Reflection Fr Michael Casey, reflecting on the fact that he had lived through many Lenten Seasons, posed this question at St Ambrose Parish on Ash Wednesday: “How do I make this Lent fresh, challenging, prayerful and spiritually nourishing?” In Hosea 2:14 , God says of his people Israel: “I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak to her heart.” May we all be brought into our wilderness, be still, and let the things of God touch our heart. Brisbane Honoring those awarded for 1. Cath Collier, Marist College Ashgrove outstanding contribution to 2. Michael Druce, Marist College Ashgrove Marist education or to Marist 3. Tom Kruger, Burdekin Catholic High School ministry 4. Eve McCormack, Marish College Ashgrove At each of the Marist Ministry Mass & Dinners held in Brisbane, 5. Peter McWhirter, parent, Marish College Ashgrove Melbourne & Sydney at the end of 6. Diarmuid O’Riordan, St Peter Claver College Riverview 2014, individuals were recognized 7. Megan Pettiford, Trinity College Beenleigh for their outstanding contribution 8. John Pierce, St Mary’s Catholic College Casino to education or another aspect of 9. Sam Puglisi, Mt Maria College Petrie Marist life and mission across the Province. A deep sense of gratitude 10. Mark Stower, Mt Maria College Mitchelton and appreciation was extended to 11. Geraldine Swindells, St Peter Claver College Riverview all recipients, who had all in their 12. Derek Worden, Mt Maria College Mitchelton own way, had gone over and above Sydney in their work and life to serve those in their area of ministry. 1. David Buckley, Australian Marist Solidarity Whilst normally contextualized 2. Sue Dein, St Gregory’s College Campbelltown in ordinary circumstances, and 3. Leonie Flynn, John Therry Catholic High School simple surrounds, the stories 4. James Gray, St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill Melbourne of these people were rich and 5. Ray Holmes, Trinity College Auburn 1. Margie Beck, Province inspiring. We take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of 6. John Kelly, Mount Carmel Catholic College Varroville 2. Phil Billington, Province those who received awards, whose 7. Julia Lederwasch, St Francis Xavier’s College Hamilton 3. John Cadd, Sacred Heart College Senior names are listed: 8. Carmel Luck, Marist College Canberra 4. Peter Centra, Catholic College Sale 9. Chris Maley, Marist Youth Care 5. Peter Collins, Catholic College Sale 10. Tony McDonnell, Marist College North Shore 6. Matt de Jong, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Alice Springs 11. Chris Morrissey, Marist College Canberra 7. Michael Kenny, Assumption College Kilmore 12. Christine Robertson, Marist College Canberra 8. Robert Tarraran, Lavalla Catholic College Frank Hough returns to Australia been in this position for the past Fons Van Rooij has been enjoying Dennis Cooper writes from from PNG at the end of February. two years and is much appreciated a break with family since his return Manziana that the mid-life renewal He first went to Madang in PNG for his thorough work and advice. from Timor Leste in late January. program is going ahead as planned. in 1987 to be responsible for two This included the production of In March he will be in Samoa There were only three starters scholastics studying at Divine a new policy for the Bishops of working as a consultant with Br registered at the beginning of the Word Institute as it then was. This PNG and Solomon Islands on child Siaosi, the Principal of St Joseph’s year! There are now eight: six appointment followed on from protection. Frank himself was Alafua. In April he will head off to brothers from African countries, his special training as a formator interviewed by media, including Hawkestone Hall for a sabbatical. one Filipino and a Marist Father in Rome at the Rulla program. He Radio Australia, on its launch. All of the Australian Brothers at from Tonga who has been 12 years went on to work as a formator in Our thanks and appreciation to MAPAC – Peter Rodney, Bryan in Solomons. The program now the Lomeri novitiate and at MAPAC Frank for his years of dedicated Davis and Bill McCarthy – will be runs for three months every two Manila for extended periods. He service to the District and taking home breaks at different years, starting mid-March. Dennis Heard was on the staff of the Formators’ formation. As mentioned before, times over the next couple of is headed to the UK for a retreat program at Valpré in France 1996- he is the last in a long line of months. Bryan has been invited and short program before then. 98 and ran a formators’ program Australian Brothers to live in to Sri Lanka as he heads home Greg McDonald travelled to in Port Moresby for two years Melanesia. to stay after six and a half years. Timor Leste recently for a week the virtually solo. At two moments, in Frank will be in the community at Ray Arthur has been at MAPAC to prepare the ground for an the late 90s and 2007, he worked Westmead. He will take a break recently for a handover with Bryan immersion open to young men on at the John Berne school as a latest before taking up a position in our in his work as formator there. Ray the contact program. counsellor. Professional Standards Office at will move there from Westmead in Terry Heinrich spent a few weeks Frank continued to be a Drummoyne. May. in Sydney recently for medical buzz? formation consultant for various On his return to Australia in April check-ups. He has now returned congregations in PNG while Bryan will spend some time in fit and well to Cambodia. working at Divine Word University Brisbane with his mother and then for two years from 2011 before move down to Sydney. He will be the Bishops asked him to be based at Lidcombe initially before the National Director of Right taking a sabbatical. Relations in Ministry (Professional Standards) for the whole Church, based in Port Moresby. He has Association You would remember that last Members of the Marist Association Team Developments year we received support from at Cronulla (10th and 11th February) the Superior General and General discussing ways of strengthening Br Emili, Superior General, and Br Council for us to proceed as a sort connections between members of the Michael Green visited the Vatican of ‘pilot project’ for the Institute.