Current News

December 30th 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the day the first Marist Sisters arrived in Australia. The three sisters, Mother Melanie, Sr Cyrille and Sr Odilon, were greeted by the Marist Fathers and stayed at Hunters Hill with the Marist Third Order Regular, now know as the Marist Missionary Sisters. Sisters in Australia gathered together to celebrate this event by re-enacting the arrival of the first sisters and giving thanks to God for these sisters and all who have come after them.

Sr Seini Fatai sm made her perpetual profession as a Marist Sister on Sunday 9th December in Auckland, New Zealand. Seini's Mum and other family members had travelled from Tonga to be with her on this special day. In the presence of her family and her Marist Sisters, Seini professed Chastity, Poverty and Obedience in the Congregation of Mary in the heart of which she wishes to live and die. Sr Jane Frances, Regional Leader of Asia Pacific received her vows and Bishop Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland, was the Principal celebrant at the Profession Mass.

Two sisters in Fiji, Sr Monica and Sr Marianna recently celebrated the Silver Jubillee of their Profession as Marist Sisters. During the Jubilee Mass the sisters renewed their vows. Marist Sisters in Fiji, joined with the sisters and their families in giving thanks to God for these sisters and for all they have achieved in Mary's name.

On 30th June 2007 Sr Monica O'Brien, Superior General, launched 'The Jeanne-Marie Chavoin Year'. This will be a year of celebration and thanksgiving, a time of grace, and an opportunity to receive 'a fresh burst of her energy' for the work of Mary. why this year? On June 30 2008, it will 150 years since the death of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin. Jeanne-Marie was pivotal in bringing to birth the Marist project and what a legacy we have inherited! Today we, as Marist women, are 'the heart, the memory and the life blood of the charism and spirituality she bequeathed to us." (Sr Monica O'Brien) We are celebrating this year using a number of celebratory projects including ten themes for personal and community reflection.

· When the sisters in Aotearoa-New Zealand gathered for an assembly recently they began their time together with a series of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin presentations prepared by the various communities. These reflections followed our Foundress from Coutouvre to Jarnosse and were both creative and moving. A highlight of this time was the "appearance" of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin herself. The election of delegates for the Regional Chapter took place during this gathering. The day concluded with music and some enjoyable items.

Suva was the venue for the recent Plenary Regional Council Meeting of Asia Pacific. This meeting involved the members of the Regional Administration and the Sector Leaders of Asia Pacific.

The purpose of the meeting was to review Marist Mission in the Asia Pacific Region and to begin preparation for the first Regional Chapter of Asia Pacific which will be held in Auckland in January 2008. Participants were thrilled to experience a Fijian welcome and to have an opportunity to meet with other member of the Marist Family in Fiji. The Archbishop of Fiji, was the main celebrant at the closing Mass. As a result of this meeting the Asia Pacific Action plan was updated. During the week of meetings the sisters from Lami hosted a celebration to recall the first Marist Sisters setting out from Levuka to come to Australia one hundred year ago.

The Principal of Marist College Mt Albert, Monica Johnson, and four other staff members accompanied by Sr Lorraine Campbell sm made a pilgrimmage to France to visit places that played an important part in Marist origins. As they journey to these historic villages and churches they relived the story of our Foundress, Jeanne-Marie Chavoin. They returned to the College with a deeper understanding of Marist history and spirituality.