Sr Teri O’Brien, director of the Jeanne-Marie Chavoin centre in Belley, France, recently spent time in New Zealand and Australia. Arriving in New Zealand on January 9th, that same day she travelled with Lorraine to Totara Point for the special Mass commemorating the arrival there of Bishop Pompallier. While in the North they visited Motuti where the Bishop’s remains are enshrined. Teri’s busy schedule included being present at the Marist Youth Leaders’ meeting in Christchurch and giving presentations in schools of the New Zealand Network of Marist Schools, which have benefited from her insights into our Marist heritage.

During her week in Sydney, Teri met with nearly all the Marist Sisters in Sydney. There were gatherings at Marian House and at Marrickville. A picnic originally planned for the Blue Mountains eventually took place at Sefton due to inclement weather. In each case there was a lovely sharing of stories and an exchange of ministerial experiences. At Marist Sisters’ College Woolwich Teri addressed the School Assembly and enjoyed an informal lunch with the Staff. She spoke to the Cerdon College School Community at the beginning of their Opening Mass for the School Year and afterwards renewed acquaintances with the girls who participated in the 2008 Cerdon-to-Cerdon Pilgrimage. She also met those who are about to undertake the pilgrimage this year. Other significant Marist outings were to the parishes of Hunters Hill and St Patrick’s Church Hill. Teri completed her Australian experience with a visit to the museum of Blessed Mary MacKillop.