When asked recently for factors that had enabled her to live beyond 100, she thought that her regular meditation and prayer was a factor. "It gives you greater peace of mind. I meditate a little at night. I say the Three Hail Mary's in the morning for the perseverence of the just and the Hail Mary's at night for the conversion of sinners. I love the Rosary. We had the Rosary at home. I still say it."

Josie said she was "eating well, sleeping well with good dreams."

Josie joined the Third Order of Mary just after the new St. Mary of the Angels was opened in the 1920s. Fr. Mahoney asked her to play the organ for Benediction at the meetings and she did that for sixty years. "I got an electric shock and nearly died when Fr. Stewart said we would have no more meetings. They were starting to renovate the building." The meetings were held elsewhere.

Officially recognised by the Church for being organist for seventy years at the catherdal, she told us how as a young girl in Denniston, the famous coal mining town on the hill above Westport, she used to play for the silent movies. "You know - Charlie Chaplin."

Mercy Sisters Bernard and Mother Mother Josepha were her wonderful teachers. "We were lucky to live when we did. We dressed up for The Ball, dancing till midnight!" (I did not tell her that these days that's about the hour when young people go out to begin dancing!)

She had seven sisters and two brothers, one of whgom was Marist Father Dan Milligan.

After leaving the West Coast, her family ran a hotel in Wellington's upper Cuba Street called "The White Swan" but which, she laughingly recalled, was locally nicknamed "The Dirty Duck".

Josie Milligan is an inspiration to all. Her faith, her hope, her joy in life and her confidence in God are displayed naturally and encouragingly. Her zeal for life is a real indication that her deep spirituality is a contributing factor to her longevity. The two eighty-plus year olds who visited her that day in Mercy Rest Home, Upper Hutt, certainly agree, eager for the next meeting of the Third Order of Mary, to which Josie has belonged for nearly a century.

While the spiritual mission is no longer housed in Karori, it is beginning to take root in Thorndon at 78 Hobson Street and continues to encourage people in their journey with Jesus to the Father.

The Living Wells course operates as some participants live in apartments nearby and attend as "day students". They tell me they enjoy their flatting lifestyle. Weekend and weekday courses continue. For example, Fr Chris Skinner ran a Music Workshop recently.

The Marist Community there comprises Fathers Gerry Whiteford, Jim Dooley, Mark Beban, and Jock Aitken. They are supported in the mission by two sisters and a number of visiting contributors.

Marist archives still continues in the same building with Br Gerard Hogg and Fr Peter Kiely keeping our heritage in good order. Gerard speaks of a growing demand for Marist Archives. Recently a very useful week's seminar was conducted for arhivists of Catholic institutions which they both enjoyed.

Pat Breeze has masterminded two booklets for use in the ministry of vocational accompaniment.

Pat records there are 10 young men in accompaniment. Our prayers are with them and we ask you to join us in this necessary work. The provincial writes: "The Province wishes to invest 20 Marists in a recognizable way in promoting vocations by prayer, fasting or active work. We have not yet reached this goal, but we intend to!"

Nine NZers will attend the 2001 General Chapter of the Society of Mary. Representing NZ will be Fathers Craig Larkin, Patrick Breeze, Tim Duckworth, Denis O'Hagan and Neil Vaney. Pat Devlin was to represent North America; Michael O'Conner Oceania; John Larkin the Philippines and Patrick O'Neil Brazil. We wish them the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of Mary.

Michael Sullivan, working in Lahore, Pakistan, will be home on holiday from May 25.

We wish him well.

Laurie Whiting is now at a new address; Sacred Heart Presbytery, PO Box 197, Inverell, NSW. Australia

Bruce Goodman can be contacted at bgoodman@hotmail.com

Fr. Jack O'Neill died on the 27th March in Auckland after a lifetime of service to the Church in Fiji and NZ.

He was buried where he was born, among his family in Okato, Taranaki. he will be remembered as a creator of joy and a holy friend to many people on the margins.

Thanks Jacko.

“Today is a time of great change when a new world is being born, and Mary has a special interest in bringing the women and men of our time into contact with Jesus Christ her Son. Marists share this effective concern of Mary, and are drawn into her family to work on her behalf. The term “the work of Mary” covers the whole breadth of the Society of Mary inclusive of all its branches and also it denotes that the conditions are not set by the Marists themselves but by Mary. It is her work, done on her terms. Marists have this missionary spirit which at heart is open to all people. It excludes nobody but rather has a sense of urgency to see a brotherhood and sisterhood of all united in Christ.”

The Marist Laity : A Basic Guide Page 9 C1.