News - 2008

First Ceremony of Profession in the Philippines

Marist Leadership in Asia Pacific

Centenary of Marist Sisters in Australia

New Foundation for Papua New Guinea

First Ceremony of Profession in the Philippines

There was great rejoicing in the Philippines on 8th September 2008 when Arlene and Edna from the Philippines and Florence from Papua New Guinea made their First Profession as Marist Sisters. This was the first time a profession ceremony for the Marist Sisters had taken place in the Philippines. Arlene and Edna are now ministering in Davao while Florence has been missioned to Fiji.We rejoice with Arlen, Edna and Florence and assure them of our prayerful support as they begin the next stage of their Marist journey. For more photos click here.

Marist Leadership in Asia-Pacific Over recent months the sisters in Asia-Pacific have been involved in discernment processes concerning leadership in the Region and within each Sector for the three years beginning February 2009. Sr Julie Brand has been appointed Regional Leader while Sr Margaret Vaney and Sr Anne Rounds have been appointed as Regional Councillors. Discernment regarding Sector Leadership has resulted in the following sisters being appointed or elected to the following positions:

Srs Anne, Julie and Margaret

Click here to see photos of the Sector Leadership Teams

Centenary of Marist Sisters in Australia

On 30th December 1907 three Marist Sisters arrived in Sydney to make a foundation in Australia . To celebrate the centenary of this event there has been a year of celebration. On 30th December 2007 there was a re-enactment of the arrival of the three sisters, Mother Melanie, Sr Cyrille and Sr Odilon. This arrival in Australia was a further fulfillment of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin's dream of having Marist Sisters in Oceania. In March a Mass was held in St Brigid's Church Millers Point to celebrate this fact. It was a fitting location because it was in the sacristy of this church that the first Marist Sisters missioned to Oceania had slept when on their way to Fiji in 1892. In April Sr Joan McBride presented a talk on the mission of the Marist Sisters in Australia over the last hundred years. We recalled with gratitude the lives of deceased Marist Sisters who have ministered in Australia with a ceremony of remembrance at the cemetries where our sisters our buried on 1st November. The culmination of our Centenary Year was a Centenary Mass on Sunday 7th December.This Mass, attended by members of the five branches of the Marist Family as well as relatives and friends of the Marist Sisters, was a celebration of thanksgiving for all that God has done in, through us and for us over the last 100 years. For more photos of Centenary events select one of the following links.

New Foundation for Papua New Guinea

The first three Marist sisters missioned to Papua New Guinea will be arriving there in the near future. They will establish a community in Kanosia in the diocese of Bereina. A residence for the sisters is currently being constructed. Srs Kate (Australia), Kathleen (New Zealand) and Lavinia (Fiji) spent a period of time in Fiji earlier this year learning of the lifestyle and culture of the people they will be working with. The sisters are very excited about this opportunity to share the Marist Charism in a new place. In September Sr Florence was the first Papua New Guinean woman to make her profession as a Marist Sister. There are currently three young women from Papua New Guinea in inital stages of formation in Fiji prior to going to Novitiate in the Philippines.