Dear Friends of Champagnat.

Greetings from Suva. Let's begin this newsletter with Article 154 of the Marist production, "Water from the Rock" It is subtitled: Filled with Joy, and reads as follows:

Filled with the joy of a renewed purpose, with our brothers and sisters we re-affirm the growing convictions that express the core of Marist spiritual tradition:

- Our mission, founded on the experience of being profoundly loved by Jesus, is to make him known and loved.

- Mary never fails to accompany us in our pilgrimage of faith, both when we grow in fidelity and when we wander in doubt.

- God constantly renews the gift of Marist martyrs and saints to show us new horizons of passionate commitment to Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

- Marists of Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania are a marvellous gift to one another and a meaningful way of Mary being present in our world today.

- Communities and families inspired by Marist spirituality become leaven that transforms the dough of our societies in a humble and effective way.
 
- The person and the spirituality of Marcellin Champagnat fill with meaning and purpose the lives of many Brothers and Lay Marists today and powerfully awaken new ways of being Marist.

It is in this spirit that many pilgrims joined in a week long Marist International Festival in the week prior to the World Youth Day. Both events were held in Sydney. Mrs Ana Luvena, a teacher at Champagnat Institute in Suva, travelled to Sydney for these events, accompanied by her son and daughter. (At right Ana with Sireli and Marica.) They share their impressions with us...

Marist International Festival '08 and World Youth Day '08

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What for? To be present at the next Marist International Festival (MIF)

Why? To meet Marist family members from across the globe.

I accompanied my children, Marica and Sireli, to the first Marist International Festival. We were privileged to have been able to meet Marists from all the states of Australia, Brazil, New Mexico, El Salvador, New Zealand, Philippines, Korea, Burma, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Nigeria, Malawi and Bougainville, to name a few. Altogether there were 37 countries represented.

Fiji was represented by a group of 19; five sponsored by the Marist sisters, 11 from the parish of the Holy Eucharist, Laucala Bay and we represented the Marist Brothers. We all felt at home among the 800 participants at the MIF.
Most of the Fiji crew were first timers in the big plane and into Australia as well, real "KAI COLOS", boarding huge, fancy buses and trains. Our Maori friends from Hato Petera College enjoyed our company as we challenged each other with our "beautiful singing".

Though the freezing weather was unbearable at times, especially getting up for breakfast at 7:00am (like boarding students) we managed to have fun especially at Mittagong, the Spiritual heartland of the Marist Brothers in Australia. It was so cold that the three jackets on me were not enough. I could have gone into the tent but I wanted to be with the young Marists, under the stars during the para-liturgy and the fireworks.

The free rides treat at Luna Park were a hit. Many targeted the sophisticated roller coasters, slides and Ferris wheels. I only tried to get my driving licence and fortunately the operator was on hand to stop the rolling barrels when I couldn't run across them.

Meeting up with Brothers Luke Fong, Jone Seduadua, Terence Costello (Reviewer), and Peter, the former headteacher of Marist Vatuwaqa, now St Marcellin Primary was so great. Of course Brothers Luke and Jone enjoyed their grog mixed in hot water. They also enjoyed sharing it with those who wanted to taste the "Fijian coffee".

The MIF and the WYD was a very humbling experience for me as I witnessed young and old, religious and laity queuing for meals. At the MIF, Brother Sean Sammon, the superior general of the Marist Brothers and Bishop Kevin Dowling were also in the queue among the youths for meals.

The Marist connections established during the MIF made WYD more enjoyable as we mingled with the thousands, breaking the barriers with our shouts of "KIA ORA", "BULA", etc.

Congratulations to the organizers of both events and the many volunteers.

A big thank you to the Marist Brothers in the Sydney Province and Carol Wark the MIF coordinator for making this experience a memorable one. Thank you also to Dominic and Laukau Kiatau and family, for being family.

Below is some food for thought from the Marist International Festival:

THEME: Ignite the heart, Embrace the Vision, Transform the world

Igniting the Heart:

• Reaching out to those less fortunate than you or to anyone who you think really needs to be reached
• Be more active, participate more if possible in any work that will liven up the community and unify everyone in it
• Whatever big or little thing you do may touch the hearts of people differently

Embracing the vision:

• Working together in order to achieve a goal that will benefit the community, whether it be a short term or long term goal
• Be open-minded and open-hearted to one another's ideas
• When given a task, try to do it to the best of your abilities
• Use your initiative when it is for the betterment of society

Transforming the world:

• It all begins at home
• What you do for somebody is changing the world little by little
• Acts of service do not have to be extreme to attract attention
• Whatever big or small service you do to others may touch the hearts of people differently in ways that we least expect

Thank you Ana, Marica and Sireli for this contribution.

 

Ken Riley visits Champagnat Institute

June 6th saw celebrations world wide to mark the feast of our Founder, St Marcellin Champagnat. A very special visitor to the Institute, all the way from Australia, was Mr Ken Riley, of the Queensland Hibernian Society. I share with you some excerpts of his letter written upon his return to Australia...

Bula Vinaka!

In the belief that the written word is stronger than that spoken, I reiterate most sincerely our thanks (in writing) for the hospitality and kindness showered on us during our "Marist Visit" to Suva, but especially the welcome and time given to us at Champagnat Institute.
This visit is continually referred to as "inspiring." If we are asked a thousand times over, "What was it like?" We sincerely say "inspiring." a thousand times over. Thank you all so much for your welcome and kindness.

We praise and thank God for the gifts and Christian Love that surround the leadership of the Marist Ministry in Fiji -we feel you create Champagnat footsteps for us to follow and we truly want to do this so we will keep this dialogue and inspiration flowing. We know why we had to remove our shoes at welcome - this was enforced footsteps into the Spirit of St Marcellin Champagnat.

For now our continued best wishes and prayers for all staff and students.

 

[Along with this letter came the following reflections on the visit to the Institute...]

" ... We were invited to share "Champagnat Day" on 6.6.08. Share we did. Firstly with the Mass at this special post primary school. The teachers, under the guidance of Brother Fergus, FMS who with other teachers have special skills, special motivation and obviously special shoes that fit into the footsteps of St Marcellin. The fantastic motto of the Institute of "Live the Truth in Love" inspires all those in classrooms to learn office skills, tailoring, automotive repairs, agriculture, home management and nanny training, computer skills, etc. etc. It is an Institute of Inspiration! The Marist education environment of staff and students was especially evident during the performances at the "Champagnat Concert" of joyfulness, seriousness and the shared choir renditions of students and teachers which typified the ongoing love of the Marist family tradition. St Marcellin Champagnat feast day in Suva is so joyful, so inspiring and so exhausting. The finale, with so many "old Boys" sitting on the floor sharing the traditional kava and giving gratitude and thanks to Brothers, Teachers and Priests, was surely living the fun side of the Gospel with their Indians, Muslims, Sisters and Brothers etc. Father Champagnat who founded his "little brothers" gives us such pride and prayerful gratitude when today's Champagnat footsteps are in such dinosaur proportions.

Alleluia - Vive Le Champagnat."

Thank you Ken for your inspiring reflections,. And an even bigger VINAKA VAKA LEVU for the substantial donation made to Champagnat Institute through your wonderful fundraising efforts in Australia.

 

And still on Champagnat Day, I share this account from Philomena Tiufea from St Joseph's College in Apia. 

St Marcellin Champagnat Feast Day

There is a saying that goes "If you have the heart and mind in it, then God will provide a way for you to do it" On the 14th June 2008, this was the day we celebrated the Marcellin Champagnat feast day and for heaven's sake it was a heavy rainy day. I nearly gave up attending our Mass but when I was thinking of how Marcellin struggled and fought for the children to become educated and evangelized, trust me he had a big heart that lead him through everything. That's why he established the Brothers.
I am thankful to our priest who made the effort to come even though there was heavy rain and also to the Brothers from different Societies but not forgetting my sisters and brothers and especially parents and teachers who joined together as family and gave thanks to our Heavenly Father for this person, Marcellin Champagnat. Thanks for the great work that he did.
To conclude my report I would like to thank each and every one of you who made the effort to attend the Marcellin Champagnat Feast Day Mass. I leave you with the Blessings of God upon you all and may St Marcellin's love of work encourage you and touch your heart to do great things through Jesus our Saviour and Lord.
God Bless...
Philomena A. Tiufea

Marist Brothers' Assembly

Please pray for the Brothers working in Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati, as well as 3 Champagnat Associates from Suva who will gather at the Champagnat Institute from August 20 to 23, to look at ways of implementing the goals of the Provincial Chapter held in New Zealand last December.

May God bless you all. And may St Marcellin guide your footsteps!
Br Kees van der Weert

 

Champagnat Associates' Newsletter No. 4/2008 August 2008
Marcellin Centre,
P.O. Box 5448, Raiwaqa, Suva,
Fiji Islands.