Asia-Pacific - Marist Sisters in Asia-Pacific

Regional Chapter News

The Marist Sisters of Asia-Pacific Regional Chapter began officially at 9.00am on Sunday 19th October with the gathering of the members for the Opening Eucharist in the Chapel of the Vaughan Park Retreat Centre, Long Bay, Auckland, New Zealand. David Kennerley sm, Provincial of the Marist Fathers NZ, led us in our celebration of the Eucharist.

At 11.00am we gathered in the Conference Room. At the centre of our circle were two books: the Word to us through the Readings of the Day and the Word to us through our Sisters’ expressions of God’s Invitation to the Marist Sisters of Asia-Pacific. Following the singing of Michael Herry’s “A Fire on the Earth”, Sr Julie Brand, Regional Leader, a shared message from Sr Jane Frances O’Carroll sm, Congregational Leader, as well as those from other Marist Sisters and members of the Marist Family. She then handed over to Br Graham Neist fms, our facilitator.

Over the first two days time has been spent listening to and reflecting on Sr Julie’s report to the Chapter as well as reports from the Sector Leaders of Aotearoa-New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and the Philippines. There is a wonderful spirit of deep listening and sharing within the Chapter group. More photos…

Powhiri Opens Regional Chapter

The delegates of the 2nd Regional Chapter of Asia-Pacific experienced a very sacred and moving experience as they gathered in Auckland. The Powhiri – a Maori ritual of welcome given to all visitors to a marae in New Zealand- was led by Margaret Bhote and a group of Marist College Mt Albert students. The ceremony began with the karanga (call) from the tangata whenua(home people).

It is customary to recall the living and the dead during a powhiri. During the ceremony Sr Julie Brand, Regional Leader, carried into the chapel the photos of the Sisters of the Region who had died since the 2008 Regional Chapter. Sr Rita Raikuna, a General Councillor representing the Congregational Leadership Team and the wider Congregation, carried portraits of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin and Jean- Claude Colin, Founders of the Marist Sisters.

The Sector Leaders of Australia, Fiji, the Philippines and New Zealand were individually called forth. Each carried the photos of the sisters of their Sectors. This was followed by the traditional hongi(pressing of noses), a sharing of the breath of life symbolising there are no longer visitors but one people together. During the afternoon tea that followed this ceremony there was great excitement as sisters from the various parts of the Region exchanged greetings. Eventually the delegates were called to journey to the chapter venue at Vaughan Park to settle in and prepare themselves for the opening liturgy of the Chapter on Sunday morning. More photos…

Prayer for Regional Chapter

Marist Sisters of Asia-Pacific
Regional Chapter
18-28^th October 2014

A Chapter is a special time of grace for a Religious Congregation. It is an opportunity to review the life and mission of the Congregation in the light of its Charism and founding spirit. The Regional Chapter for the Marist Sisters in Asia-Pacific will take place in Auckland from 18th to 28th October. Our Chapter theme – Women of the Word, Embracing Life – invites us “like Mary to a profound pondering of the Word: listening, hearing, and acting, remembering, rejoicing, and releasing the Word” (Sr Jane Frances O’Carroll, Congregational Leader, April 2014).

We invite you to pray with us as we journey towards this sacred event and also during the days of Chapter. Download the Asia-Pacific Chapter Prayer.

Anniversary of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin’s Birth

Jeanne-Marie Chavoin, foundress of the Marist Sisters, was born on 29^th August 1786 to Théodore Chavoin, aged 20, tailor, and Jeanne Verchère, aged 19, servant. Her parents may have been young and unprepared but it seems they made a good marriage and brought up their daughters in a loving, open, happy home. Jeanne-Marie grew in an atmosphere of practical faith and came to develop what could be termed “hidden holiness”. It was this quality which was later to provide the key to her vocation.

God of creation,
we praise and thank you for the birth of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin,
our foundress, Mother St Joseph.

We thank you for her parents, Théodore and Jeanne, for their love, their courage, their acceptance of responsibility and all they taught Jeanne-Marie.
We thank you for our own parents, the families which prepared us for life.

May Jeanne-Marie Chavoin intercede for us today,
that we may present a Marian face in our world –
a face of compassion, understanding and love,
a face which accepts people as they are,
yet encourages them to grow in goodness.

With them, may we be brought forth to the life of grace.
We pray this in the name of Jesus your Son.

Sr Rose Celebrates her Diamond Jubilee

Sr. Rose Harris celebrated her Diamond Jubilee with the Kaikohe community, including Sr. Margarita Bourke, on Saturday, 19^th July. Srs. Julie Brand and Lorraine Campbell were also present on this joyful occasion. Rose renewed her Vows during a time of prayer. A delicious meal followed, with the traditional toast and cutting of the Jubilee cake. Rose and the Sisters living in Kaikohe had been unable to attend the Sector Jubilee celebrations the previous weekend due to severe flooding in the North. Rose was delighted that her Diamond Jubilee could be celebrated in Kaikohe, though disappointed that not all the Sisters of the Sector of New Zealand could be present.

Protected: Regional Leader’s Message to Sisters

Regional Newsletter No 1, 2014

In a recently released issue of the Marist Sisters in Asia-Pacific Newsletter you can read about the work of the sisters with the homeless, those exploited, those recovering from trauma and those who are seeking God in their lives. There is also a report on the events in Waitaruke, New Zealand, to acknowledge eighty-six years of service by the Marist Sisters.

Download your copy of the newsletter here.

Plenary General Council Meeting Begins

The Plenary General Council (PGC) meeting of the Marist Sisters began at St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre Baulkham Hills, NSW on 27th March. Led by Congregational Leader, Sr Jane Frances O’Carroll and her team, Marist Sisters from the regions of Atlantica, Eur-Africa and Asia-Pacific the PGC will plan for the General Chapter of the Marist Sisters to take place in 2015.

The opening ritual for the PGC began with a traditional ‘welcome to country’ and smoking ceremony. The meeting, which is being facilitated by Sr Mary Persico IHM (USA), will conclude on 10th April. More photos…

Marist Leadership Teams Meet in Sydney

The Congregational Leadership Team and the three Regional Leadership Teams of the Marist Sisters are taking part in a Plenary General Council (PGC) meeting in Sydney from 27th March till 10th April.

The role of the PGC is to foster unity within the Congregation and to facilitate study and implementation of the General Chapter directives.

Sisters in the Sector of Australia resident in Sydney were delighted to meet the members of the PGC during an informal gathering on Sunday 24th March. Present at this gathering was the current Congregation Leader, Sr Jane Frances O’Carroll, and three previous Congregational Leaders, Srs Margaret Purcell, Sr Gail Reneker and Sr Monica O’Brien. More photos…

You are invited to join with all Marist Sisters in praying for the work of the Plenary General Council. Download the PGC prayer here.

Gathering of Young Marist Sisters

Young Marist Sisters from Benin, Senegal, Gambia, Brazil, Mexico, Fiji, Philippines and Papua New Guinea have gathered in Sydney for a period of spiritual renewal.

During the week prior to their renewal the sisters have had an opportunity to see some Sydney landmarks, tour places of Marist significance in Sydney and visit two Marist Secondary schools where they interacted with students including those from their own cultures. Despite differences of culture and language the sisters are experiencing the unity of their common desire to live the Marist spirit in our world today.

Category: Asia-Pacific