Glynis Collins & Ramona Mann (from Auckland) had an eventful flight to the USA followed by a very worthwhile conference. Glynis has sent us a comprehensive report of the trip (more inside). She has brought back videos of the speakers’ talks, for use at MTO events, or to loan to others who may be interested to hear them.

A tour of Boston had been laid on for visitors on the day before the Conference. First stop was at ‘Our Lady of Victories – the friendliest church in Boston’. This parish has been run by Marists since 1883. The opening hymn was ‘Sing Chanel’ by our own Chris Skinner sm (the feast day of St Peter Chanel is 28 April, but noting him for a Marist Conference in April was very appropriate. Ed.) Glynis was able to meet the priest after Mass & tell him she lives near the home town of Fr Chris. She also met Barbara Ashwell, daughter of Violet Maskell of Tikipunga.

The Conference began with a talk from Craig Larkin sm (previously NZ Marist Provincial & currently based in Rome) There were speakers on the topics of ‘Making the whole world Marist’ & ‘A radical Marian Reality’ and Glynis attended workshop options on ‘Attracting Young Adults‘, ‘Ongoing formation of Lay Marists’ ‘Marists in Action’, & ‘Marist World View’. Glynis was invited to make a presentation on this last topic. She spoke of Bishop Pompallier in NZ & his return in 2002, and of the Banner of Mary that had such a positive ecumenical effect.

The Ongoing Formation workshop included reference to our own Marian Mothers network. A key phrase that emerged from this session was from Sr. Mary Kenny smsm. She reminded the group that we must “Just do it” for “When the sleeping Giant awakens in the world, the whole world will be Marist” - it can be done – take the island of Wallis. It is 100% Marist. The final Sunday Mass again included Fr Craig Larkin, this time as homilist.

Romana attended different workshops. and will report on her return.

Editor’s note:

Just listening to Glynis is a thrill in itself. Romana has taken her first opportunity of linking up with family in USA & returns later.

Topics in the workshop covered included:

Prayer

i. Retreats

ii. Companioning

iii. Training in Spiritual direction

Resources

i. Pilgrimages

ii. Regional Conferences

Visit lonely people

i. Laity responsible for each parish

ii. Compassion/mercy

iii. Hospitals

Support Groups

i. Marian Mothers (NZ )

ii. Marist Youth

iii. Monthly visits to large blocks of flats for the aged

Advertise

i. Marist Newsletters

ii. Translate

iii. Sign Language/Videos/audio cassettes

The Marist pilgrims, combined Australia, Oceania and New Zealand provinces, Fathers Leone Lou of Fiji, Fr. Justin Ratsi of Bougainville, Br Petelo Sekeme of Futuna, Fr. Jim Bishop of Brisbane, Br Charles Randle, Sydney, Br Daniel Connell and Fr Brian O’Connell of Wellington and Fr, Michael O’Donnell of Okaihau, with leader Fr John Craddock arrived in New Zealand on 5 May. Here they visited Marist places of significance in the Far North, Otaki, Hawkes Bay, some communities, the administration, SM archives and the Wellington regional meeting.

They had spent the previous month visiting Fiji (coping with the flooding that had recently occurred there), then onto Wallis and Futuna. They were in Futuna for the feast of St Peter Chanel, who was martyred there in 1841.

The pilgrims were guests of honour and hope that other Marists, especially Lay Marists, will also experience the privilege.

Marist Fathers Pat Brophy, Pete Roe, Phil Cody, Bryan Montgomery, Jeff Drane, Brian Quin, Peter Healy, Chris Skinner and Brother Gerard Hogg joined in the Hikoi in Wellington as it marched its way towards Parliament.

The Hikoi (march) saw approximately 15,000 people march on Parliament to protest the Foreshore & Seabed Bill. The bill confirms the worst fears of Maori by extinguishing their property rights for all time and removing the current access to the Courts. It is a delicate issue and the placards in this photo: “God asks us to keep our Word” & “Peace is the Fruit of Justice” go along way to explain why Marists joined.

To mark the bi-centenary of the birth of Peter Chanel, three Marists were commissioned to create works honouring the saint. Marist priests Mick O’Meeghan wrote of the saint from a NZ perspective; Peter Healy painted a symbolic life of the saint; and Chris Skinner wrote a song, produced on CD with Peter Roe. The three works were launched on 19 March 2004.

Copies of all three can be purchased from:

The Secretary, Marist Province Centre,

P.O. Box 7167, Wellington 6039, NZ (ph. 04 380 2060)

LOGOS: Marist Youth Ministry

Auckland’s Marist Youth ministry is now in its fourth year. It offers a mobile event-based ministry to young people and also campus ministry in several secondary schools within the diocese.

While Marists Joe Sevesi, Pat Breeze and Frank Bird provide pastoral energy, the new Director of Logos is Theresa Chungsum.

On March 31, new offices and training space were blessed and opened at Martin Hautus Institute, 76-78 The Mall, in Onehunga, Auckland. Kai Kaha!

Marian Court Opens

On ANZAC weekend, the new residence at Silverstream for five Senior Marists was opened. Marists George Duggan, John Silverwood, Noel Delaney, Mick Tomasi and Chris Bellamy will live there in the Marist Wing.

Each of the five spacious rooms is well appointed with en suite and opens out onto a small patio.

While Marian Court is a separate building from St Joseph’s Rest Home and Hospital, its siting enables residents to avail themselves of the excellent medical and nursing care when the need arises.

Marist Education Forum in Rome

About seventy people, including Lay Rectors of some of our old Colleges, attended this important meeting and all our provinces world-wide were represented.

By ‘education’ it appeared everyone presumed secondary schooling, though from time to time primary, tertiary and alternative forms were mentioned.

A point that was acknowledged is that for many youth, school is, for them, their only experience of Church.

Chris Skinner features on Praise Be Sunday, April 25

Chris Skinner featured on TV One’s ANZAC Day "Praise Be" programme at 9:00 am. Chris sang his "Sons of Gallipoli" song which he has sung on TV before, in a ‘Holmes’ programme. It is a song of great feeling and expresses Chris‘s personal appreciation of the Great War Sacrifice of NZers.

The Napier City Council has commenced a new section of roading – the biggest shifting of earth ever undertaken in Hawke’s Bay, it is said! And it is on Mission Land. It involves straightening the road on the northern side of the Mission Vineyards. Earth removed from the Mission is being used as fill elsewhere on the project. The improved road will give access to any future development on the Mission Land opposite the old Nelson Smith’s property, such as residential development when full resource consent is given after the road is up to standard. And , of course, the Napier City Council are keen to see their beautiful city extended on such prime real estate. Lets give thanks to God and praise to those who purchased the property nearly a century ago and to those who have maintained it as an asset for us today.

“A useful way to describe the Marist mission is: to enable the Christian community to grow and develop according to its truest call. The community of believers is made up of weak humans, and is in constant need of reform. As Marists, we want to live in such a way that the Church is ever more clearly a community of mercy – a place characterised by compassion, contemplation and relationship. A Church in which Mary is present will open its door to welcome all to Jesus Christ rather than insist of strict requirements. Marists are above all interested in opening the love of God to the world by living like Mary.” Basic Guide: C 2.