Dear Friends,

ST MARCELLIN'S FEAST DAY

June 6th, the feast day of our Founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, who died in 1840 just four months after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, was celebrated around our schools and communities. At Sacred Heart College, Auckland, the celebrant was recently ordained Father Vince Smith, an old boy from the 40s, now at Sacred Heart parish, Invercargill. Ngaruawahia parish celebrated at the June 8th Sunday Eucharist, where our three resident Brothers renewed their vows, and Marist pupils, past and present, assisted as readers, prayer leaders, servers, and ministers of the Eucharist.

ASSEMBLY 2008

To continue the work of our December Provincial Chapter, all the brothers in New Zealand, together with lay representatives, were invited to a three-day assembly in Auckland in April to work on the Chapter's key recommendations: a fresh Province ministry, vocation promotion, and co-responsibility for the Marist charism. Ably assisted by facilitator Mike Gourley, the assembly studied these in depth, and resolved to give full support to promoting each goal. In his concluding address, Brother Carl Tapp, Provincial, declared that partnership with our Marist co-workers is our future, it is essentially expressed in co-responsibility, vocation promotion is inescapably implicit in our partnership commitment, and we are committed to a fresh ministry to express our mission today.

WE WELCOME MARIST COUNCILS TO NEW ZEALAND

Early in May our General Council came to Auckland for the first time for an "Extended General Council" Meeting with our Oceania Councils. The Marist presence in Oceania goes back to the time of St Marcellin, who sent the first Brothers in 1838. Today we have four administrative units, each with its own council: the Provinces of Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, the Province of New Zealand which includes Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati, and the District of Melanesia, which includes Papua-New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

In Oceania, where as an Institute we look after some 30,000 children and young people, we have 89 brothers in Melbourne, 113 in New Zealand, and 243 in Sydney and Melanesia.

 

Brother Sean, our Superior General, addresses the assembled Brothers in the Sacred Heart College Chapel.

The work and hopes of the Brothers at this meeting can be summarised in this extract from their final communiqué:
"Our discussions have been shaped by the dreams and the fears we have for the future of Marist life and Marist mission in our part of the world. This future will be different from the past. The ways in which the brothers live, the involvement of Lay Marists, the ministries we undertake together, the structures that will be necessary for governance and leadership, these are all things that we expect to continue to develop with new expressions. We have committed ourselves unambiguously to work as one in the process of imagining and planning for what may become possible. We invite you to join us in the process of building a vision for our shared future, and to give active support to initiatives that may emerge. May the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the example of Mary and Marcellin guide you and us all during the time ahead."

Many Brothers of our Province know many of these visitors, and we were able to refresh old friendships at a very pleasant social evening at Sacred Heart College just before they left for home.

The General Council Brothers gather together north of Auckland for a week of sharing ideas and planning for the future.

BROTHERS' VISITS TO AND FROM MELBOURNE PROVINCE

With a view to possible combining of forces with our Australian Brothers, a number of short exchange visits have taken place since January between our Melbourne and New Zealand provinces. Ministries studied include care of senior brothers, school chaplaincy, vocations promotion, young adult work, teaching in Aboriginal communities, activities nurturing lay involvement in Marist mission, education of students at risk, and community building in poor areas.

Melbourne Brother Harry Prout told us that his present ministry and special interest is in working with people struggling with disadvantages, especially economic and social. He works in the Exodus Community, located in the 1956 Olympic Village, now a housing estate for welfare-reliant people: mentally ill, under-educated, homeless and jobless. He helps through welfare ministries and agencies involved in alternative education, housing and employment. Brothers from both provinces were full of praise for the great hospitality and copious ideas they received during their visits.

Brothers Martin [NZ], Doug Walsh [Melbourne], John Paul [NZ], Mark Needham [Melbourne].

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR Deceased ...

Brother Ronald Henry, died on March 30th, aged 78.
Mr Pat Hoult, tireless worker for integration of Catholic Schools in the 70s.
Mr Uoka Lo, affiliated member, died in Samoa.
Mr Brian McKee, long associated with St Bernard's College, Lower Hutt.
Mrs Toi Lauulu, affiliated member, sister of Brother lulio Suaesi.
Mr Braden Sharkey, brother-in-law of the late Brother Wilfrid Byrne.
Mr Michael Edwards, brother-in-law of Brother Bryan McKay.
Mrs Evelyn Lawley, mother of Brother William Lawley.
Mr Dick Rogers, husband of affiliated member Mrs Pat Rogers, who is a long-time stalwart of St Paul's College, Auckland.
Mr Rangi Henare, a boarding supervisor at Hato Petera College.

Our Sick:

Jacqui Marshall: Marist Glenfield.
Brother Peter Pfahlert: Auckland.
Jacqui Dromgool: wife of Chris.
Brother Chris Scannell: Auckland.
Brothers Ephrem, Conrad and Giles: all in retirement homes.
Des McCormick: brother of Brother Jordan.
All our Marist Family members and friends who are suffering illness.

DIRECTOR OF CHAMPAGNAT PARTNERSHIP

The Marist Brothers have appointed Mr Alan Parker to this position from May this year. On April 18th many people gathered at St John's College, Hamilton, to farewell Alan at Mass and a following social to mark his 21 years of dedicated service to the college. The Brothers present marked the occasion by presenting him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the Champagnat charism over all those years.

Alan Parker with Brothers Marcel and Sean.

 

STUDENT LEADERS' FORUM

During March 6-9 over 20 leaders from our schools and those we continue to be associated with gathered at Sacred Heart College and then moved to Hato Petera.

This was a first for our Marist schools. It was a heart-touching and very supportive experience for the young men and women who share the leadership in so many schools throughout the country.

A large variety of activities took place during the week building up relationships that will be valuable for the eaders in the coming year.

FATHER MARK FIELD

Father Mark was ordained by Bishop Denis Browne in Hamilton on March 7th. A number of Brothers were part of an overflow congregation for the ceremony that was simple, moving, and with a great degree of participation.
Father Mark writes:

Thank you to Brother Carl and all the Brothers and other members of the Marist Family who were present for my ordination. I appreciated your supportive presence very much. I am also grateful to you for all your prayers. I am now working back in Rotorua, in all the parishes here, and living at St Mary's. Visitors are welcome.
Sincerely,

Mark Field

 

DEGREES

Congratulations to the following Brothers:
Brother Samisoni Talia on gaining his Diploma in Agriculture,
Brother Anthony Walker, Master of Arts (Theology),
Brother David Lavin, Master of Religious Education - both degrees were awarded by the Australian Catholic University at the Catholic Institute of Theology in Auckland in May.

Brothers Anthony and David

JUBILEES
During the Queen's Birthday week-end various Marist milestones were celebrated:

St Marcellin School: Wanganui, celebrated its 25th jubilee.

Marcellin College: Auckland, celebrated 50 years, as did Pompallier School, Kaitaia, where our Brothers taught 1993-2005.

Napier Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Football Club celebrated 100 years, as did their Auckland counter-parts at Easter.

THE GROVE, LOWER HUTT

This Marist community, base for our Marist Young Adult Ministry (MYAM), asked Mrs Lorraine McArthur, Director of Archdiocesan Pastoral Services, to review the "success" of The Grove according to its goals and principles. Her report is a resounding endorsement of the MYAM team and its work. Congratulations on this fine result to Brothers Doug Dawick, Kieran Fenn, their colleague Amy Aukusitino and the communities over the years.

Brothers Travel To Spain

Brothers Kevin Dobbyn from our FM Connection Community in Wellington and Jone Seduadua from Fiji recently travelled to Spain to attend a world gathering of Brothers responsible for promoting vocations to the Marist Brothers. Both came home enthusiastic and energised to continue their work with young people and providing an option for young people to look at when deciding their future.

Brothers Jone and Kevin in Spain

 

Best wishes to all our readers.

Brother Humphrey O'Connor fms