Resources - Marist Sisters in Asia-Pacific

St Peter Chanel, Martyr of Oceania

It has long been a tradition within the Marist Family that we pray to St Peter Chanel for vocations. On this the feast of St Peter Chanel, 28th April, we invite you to join with us in prayer. May we all have a deeper commitment to our vocation as Christians and also pray for vocation to the priesthood and religious life.

May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church,
watch over each tiny seed of a vocation
in the hearts of those whom the Lord calls
to follow him more closely.

May she help it grow into a mature tree,
bearing much good fruit
for the Church and for all humanity.

St Peter Chanel, you left your homeland
to proclaim Jesus.
Like you, may our lives bring forth
a witness of joyful commitment to Jesus.

Call forth from our midst
many workers for the Gospel,
so God’s love may reach the ends of the earth.
We ask this prayer through Jesus our brother. Amen.

A Season to Welcome the Stranger

The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns has published an Advent Reflection Guide: A Season to Welcome the Stranger. The guide contains reflections, questions, prayers, and actions based on each week’s Gospel reading and the experience of Maryknoll missioners who have lived and worked with communities affected by forced migration. We are living in a time of unprecedented forced migration due to conflicts and natural disasters. Pope Francis says “Welcoming others means welcoming God in person!” In sharing this resource the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns invites us to use this guide individually or in small groups to reflect upon our life patterns, to pray more deeply, and renew our spirit to face the realities of our world. Download a pdf version here.

International Peace Day

peace-day “Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.”
(Mt 5:9)

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The Day’s theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.” Sustainability addresses the fundamental needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Modern challenges of poverty, hunger, diminishing natural resources, water scarcity, social inequality, environmental degradation, diseases, corruption, racism and xenophobia, among others, pose challenges for peace and create fertile grounds for conflict. Click here for a prayer service.

Loving God, guide us to be your artisans of peace,
To use the talents and skills you have so generously given us
To creatively educate and advocate for others who are denied a voice.
Help us to be present to members of the global human family
And to recognize the systems and structures
That deny the dignity of the human person.
Help us to be engaged and fully focused
So we may envision and develop effective strategies
To further justice and to be your artisans of peace in our world. Amen.

World Day of Prayer Against Trafficking in Persons

In 2014 the United Nations General Assembly designated 30th July to be the World Day against Trafficking in Persons aware of the need for “raising awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.”

Human trafficking is a global problem. No country is immune from this crime. People can be enslaved and exploited in situations of sexual slavery, forced labour in agriculture, hospitality, construction, mining and fishing industries; people can be enslaved and exploited in domestic servitude, by having their organs harvested, and in times of conflict and following natural disasters.

A number of Marist Sisters in the Asia-Pacific region are involved in counter human trafficking work. We invite you to take action against this heinous crime by joining with us in prayer on this World Day Against Human Trafficking. Click here for a prayer service.

Fourvière Pledge 1816-2016

In 1816, in the chapel of Our Lady of Fourvière, twelve seminarians dared to dream that they could make a difference in the world by beginning a congregation in Mary’s name. Today, two hundred years later, Marist Fathers, Marist Sisters, Marist Brothers, Marist Missionary Sisters and Marist Laity are spread throughout the world. We ask you to join with us in celebrating the Pledge of Fourvière on 23rd July. We pray that like the men of Fourvière we will be fired with zeal as we strive to “work together for the greater glory of God and the honour of Mary.”

Notre-Dame de Fourviere 2 Mary, of Fourvière, show us what love is
and from where it draws its origin
and its constantly renewed power.
Holy Mary, good Mother of Fourvière,
you have given the world its true light,
Jesus, your Son ‐ the Son of God.
You abandoned yourself completely to God’s call
and this became a wellspring of the goodness
which flows forth from him.
You inspired the first Marists to create a Society
dedicated to showing the Marian face of the Church.
Show us Jesus. Lead us to him.
Teach us to know and love him,
so that we too can become capable of true love
and be fountains of living water
in the midst of a thirsting world. Amen.

World Water Day 2016

World Water Day, instigated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993, is observed each year on March 22. This day gives us an opportunity to learn more about water related issues in our world and encourages us to take action to make a difference.

In 2016 the theme of this day is Water and Jobs. Nearly all jobs depend on water. Yet millions of people who work in water are not recognized or protected by basic labour rights. This year we are asked to focus on how enough quantity and quality of water can change workers’ lives and livelihoods. Catholic Health Association of the United States has prepared a prayer for this day. Read more…

Marist Sisters’ General Chapter

The Marist Sisters invite you to join with them in praying for their General Chapter which will take place in Nemi, Italy 8-29th April. A Chapter is a very significant event in the life of a Religious Congregation. It is significant that the Marist Sisters’ General Chapter is taking place during the Year of Consecrated Life.

Click here for a suggested prayer. During the Chapter news items will be regularly uploaded to the General Chapter website.

Lenten Carbon Fast 2015

During Lent we are invited to consider how we live out our responsibility to be stewards of creation. The Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in NSW (CLRI NSW) has published a Lenten Carbon Fast Calendar that might help us to not only reflect on our role as stewards. It provides suggestions so that we can live this responsibility and enhance our relationship with God and will all of creation. Download a copy of the calendar here.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

In his apostolic exhortation Marialis Cultus (1974), Pope Paul VI called the Solemnity of Mary “a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels (cf.Lk 2:14), and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace.” As we celebrate the beginning of a New Year let us turn to Mary, Mother of us all, and pray through her intercession for peace in our world. (Photo: http://www.sacredart.co.nz)

Happy New Year from the Marist Sisters. May 2015 be filled with blessings of peace, joy and love for all.

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.

Category: Resources