Twenty people gathered with the Auckland Marist Sisters’ communities to participate in a reflection day based on Fr Colin’s insight. They came from a variety of our connections across the city. Sr Marie Challacombe led the day with insightful comment. A shared lunch brought the sisters and their visitors together in joyful conversation. One participant wrote this: “The warmth of your hospitality and the gentle reflection were object lessons in being Marist quite apart from the content which gave plenty to ponder”.
Tag: Fr Colin
Colin Year Begins
Today, 15th November 2012, marks the beginning of the Colin Year. Fr John Hannan, Superior General of the Society of Mary, has launched a special year to honour the Founder. Among other things he wrote: As he (Colin) understood his time and responded to it, so we too, drawing from his wisdom and example, can respond to the needs of our times and engage wholeheartedly with the mission of our Society.
Marist Sisters will take this opportunity to deepen our understanding of the man we too call Father Founder, so that we may engage more wholeheartedly with the mission which is ours today.
Visit the Jean Claude Colin website to learn more about his life and vision.
Feast of the Holy Name of Mary in Aotearoa-New Zealand
Feast of the Marist Family – Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Laity.
We Marists, eager to retain the original inspiration and spirit of our Society, celebrate the name of Mary which Father Colin said should be “often on our lips and still more often in our hearts.” In doing so we recall Mary’s vocation and ours.
As part of a project initiated as our annual assembly, each sister was asked to invite one or two people to join us for prayer and afternoon tea on our feast, the Holy Name of Mary. A short prayer was prepared during which the sisters renewed their vows. It also included a time of sharing what being associated with the Marist sisters meant to those who came:
Some of the comments were:
- It is a privilege to be part of the Marist family where one finds gracious hospitality
- There is evidence of prayerfulness which shows forth in action
- Marist means for me is ‘family’ – Mary is the mother of us all
- Simplicity – A sense of frazzle and fragmenting disappears when I’m with the Sisters
- I like the humbleness of Mary that comes through in their vocation of serving the Lord in the “other’
- Marist means merciful love of God that is made evident in their way of life
- Always ready to help the ‘needy’
The communities reported that it was a joy-filled afternoon, with a number of people hoping to come again for such a gathering.