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Marist Sisters in Fiji gathered in Lami recently for their annual assembly.  This year’s assembly focused on preparing a Design for Life in response to the invitation issued to all parts of the Congregation by the Marist Sisters’ General Chapter 2015. The sisters in Fiji reflected on their current reality in order to plan for their life and mission in the coming years.

“She gave birth to a son, her first-born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger.” (Lk 2:7)

Christmas is a celebration of the gift of life. The birth of Jesus is not just about Mary giving birth to a child. The child she gave birth to was God’s gift to us so that we might have life. As we reflect of the precious gift we have been given let us give  thank by being instruments of God’s love, peace and joy.

The Marist Sisters wish you many blessings this Christmas and throughout 2015.

The Regional Chapter is very appreciative of the messages of prayerful support received from sisters, family and friends.  Over recent day the Chapter has engaged in discernment about initial formation and governance.  On Saturday 25th October the election for delegates to the General Chapter will take place.  The General Chapter will be held in Rome in April 2015. Please pray the guidance of the Holy Spirit throughout this process.

The sisters from the Philippines shared a short film clip on the mission of the the Marist Sisters in the Philippines. We hope you will be inspired by the work of the sisters as were the Chapter delegates.

It was with mixed emotions that young Marist Sisters who had been on renewal in Sydney bid farewell to each other in Mulgoa on Sunday 5th January.  Their five week renewal period has be a time of many blessings and their identity as Marist has deepened during this time.  Now they return to their home Regions and Sectors to continue living as Mary’s presence in their communities and places of ministry. Marist Sisters in Australia have been delighted to meet them and experience their youthful enthusiasm.  In farewelling them this week we wish them a safe journey home and assure them of our prayerful support as they continue their journey as Marist Sisters.

Photo:  Above, standing, from left: Sisters Sueli (Brasil), Valeria (Benin), Birisita (Fiji), Antoinette (Gambia), Edna (Philippines), Stephanie (Fiji),Celina (PNG-Australia), Lilibette (Philippines) and Anna (Senegal). Kneeling, in front: Sisters Titilia (Fiji), Nayeli (Mexico), April(Philippines), Val (Fiji) and , seated, Catherine (PNG-Australia).

Marist Justice & Peace groups from Holy Name of Mary parish, Hunters Hill, NSW, the Marist Sisters and the Marist Fathers combined to host an afternoon event at the Holy Name of Mary parish hall in Hunters Hill on Oct 19.

The afternoon was introduced by Sr Vivienne Goldstein SM and parish priest, Fr Kevin Bates SM. Keynote speakers were Prof Louise Newman from the Centre for Developmental Psychiatry & Psychology at Monash University, Vic, and Abdi Aden, Somalian refugee, arriving in Australia in the 1990s as a young teenager. Prof Newman shared her experiences of working with children in detention outlining the trauma these children experience.  Abdi spoke of his own journey of escaping from Somali and seeking asylum as a young child.

Girls from Monte Sant’ Angelo school gave first hand reflections of their ‘detention cage’ experiences at school, simulating the plight of detained asylum seekers.

On this feast of the Holy Name of Mary, may Mary, whose name we bear, obtain blessings for all Marists.  May we imitate her manner of being a disciple of Jesus and so bring gory to God.  Like Mary may we always be attentive to the needs of others, especially those who are most vulnerable.