Bulletin
SM
February
2008
Sydney 2007
And then… ?
The major superiors and the
members of the General Administration were in November convoked to
address significant issues for the Society in an exercise of
collegiality. Among the topics discussed were renewal, international
formation and the preparation of the General Chapter of 2009. The
participants reviewed together five inspiring initiatives for
renewal. One of these initiatives concerns a proposal to have a
meeting with Marist Laity Leaders during our general chapter. With
respect to formation, the importance of training formators was
emphasized and the suggestion of a special community in Rome for
Marists engaged in higher studies was aired. The plan for an English
Language Novitiate alongside an International Spanish Language
Novitiate received broad support. There was frank debate about the
advantages and difficulties of having, apart from the two
theologates of Oceania, one theologate for the rest of the Society.
The General Council took home with them the advice of the majors
superiors in view of reaching a final decision. The Sydney meeting
looked ahead to the General Chapter of 2009. Suggestions were made
on how the chapters of the provinces and districts could best be
involved in its preparation and direction. The general
administration also presented in Sydney the results of the work of
the Committee for Legislation (established by CS 2005) and asked the
advice of the major superiors a number of legislative matters in
view of the preparation of the General Chapter of next year.
To All Marists
A Joint Letter
The Superiors General of the four
Marist congregations, Judith Moore SMSM, Monica O’Brien SM, Seán
Sammon FMS, and Jan Hulshof SM, addressed a joint letter to the
“priests, sisters, brothers and lay people called to live the Marist
charism”. The letter, entitled Marist Life and Mission, Gifts of
the Spirit for Our Time, is dated 1st January 2008,
feast of Holy Mary, Mother of God.
The letter reminds us of the common mission entrusted to all the members of the Marist family, including the lay branch, and of the need for closer collaboration between them. This reminder is all the more important since the four congregations of the Marist family will soon hold their general chapters: the Marist Sisters next June; three months later, the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary meeting in their Rome house on via Cassia. The Marist priests and brothers, as well as the Marist Brothers of the Schools will do the same in the second half of 2009.
The text of the letter has been sent to each of our major superiors and is also available in four languages on our web site www.maristinternational.org (SM NEWS or the equivalent according to the language).
Europe
Towards One Province
The consultation of the five European
provinces and two delegations in extraordinary chapters or
assemblies that took place during the summer has born its fruit. As
a result of the massive approval of confrères, the Superior General
in council (25 September) decided to set up a single Marist province
for all of Europe. In this new province the former entities,
provinces and delegations, will become seven regions. This is the
beginning of a long process of organization that will involve
electing a provincial and councillors, calling a chapter, approving
statutes. The new province will begin its official existence in June
2008.
The first two rounds of the voting process for the election of the provincial were counted at the general house. A sizable number of members voted. The third round is now taking place. The two candidates are Father Joaquin Fernandez and Father John Hannan. After the vote, the Superior General will confirm the election of the first European provincial.
Oceania
Ordinations
The last months of 2007 saw
seven Marists ordained to the priesthood. On 17 November were
ordained in the Cathedral of Suva Frs. Peter Tagidrau and Iowane
Waqaraipoa, on 5 December in the Cathedral of Port Vila Fr. Elie
Bebesus. On 8 December Fr. Fa Vakata received the sacrament of
priesthood in the Cathedral of Nukualofa and Fr. Cornelius Giris in
the parish Church of Hanahan. On 27 December Frs ‘Ofa Vaihu and Valu
Suia were ordained priests in the Cathedral of Auckland.
Professions
Auckland On the 28 December
2007 thirteen young men from the Pacific made their first profession
in the Society of Mary before the Provincial, Paul Donoghue,
witnessed by Fr Milikiade Rayalu (socius) and Br Leonard Hivirkon,
with their master of novices, Ben McKenna proudly looking on: they
are Andrea Naleba, Alfred Funuka, Borger Laman, Fabian Hanette,
Glenfort Momis, Godfrey Pa’asi, Godfrey Siuai, Iosefo Vulaca
Tuikubulau, Patrick Woria, Raymond Girana, Richard Harui, Samuel
Maetara and Tuiaki Latu.
District of Peru-Venezuela
Ordinations
The superior of the District of
Peru-Venezuela sent us the following report on the ordinations in
the district:
"The members district of
Peru-Venezuela were very happy to be able to celebrate the
ordination to the priesthood of two of its members on Saturday 15
of December, with the added joy that the ordaining bishop was
our own bishop Luis Sebastiani s.m., Archbishop of Ayacucho, Peru.
Ordained were Valerio Parilla and Jorge Navarrete both of whom come
from the countryside around the city of Sullana in the North of Peru
where we have some of our missions.
The ordinations took place in the Parish Church of the city of Sullana and both of the newly-ordained celebrated their first Masses in their villages the following day. Valerio will be assigned to work in Callao, Peru with a variety of responsibilities: looking after the busy chapel which is in our care, doing some vocations work and helping with the chaplaincy work of the San Jose College which is also in our hands. Jorge will move to Venezuela and be assistant in the Parish as well as work in the area of vocations. We wish both of them many happy years of ministry as Marists".
Larry Duffy s.m.
Episcopal
Ordination
John
Doaninoel SM
In December, we
received the news that FR JOHN DOANINOEL, SM of the Province of
Oceania was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.
John was born in 1950. He has been a Marist for 32 years and a priest
for 27 years. He was the Regional Superior of Bougainville, and before
that he was Superior of the Marist Seminary in Bomana, Papua New Guinea.
According to the census of 2004, Rabaul has a population of 250,000, of
whom 56% are Catholic. The census indicates that there are 49 priests in
the diocese (22 diocesan priests and 27 religious priests) serving 29
parishes. There are 95 male religious and 135 female religious.
We offer John our sincere fraternal and spiritual support as he takes up
this ministry for the Church in the Pacific. The episcopal ordination
will take place on March 7th and Fr. Craig Larkin will be there
officially on behalf of General Administration.
Province of Italy
The House on Via Cernaia is sold
The extraordinary chapter of July
2007 had agreed to the sale of the house on Via Cernaia (Rome). A sales
agreement was signed last December with the diocese of Sydney. After the
sale is concluded next April, the Marists will need to leave the
following June. After many years of use, especially for formation, the
house in Via Cernaia will change owners but it will remain faithful to
some of its original purpose, since it is believed that the new owner
will make it into a residence for students studying in Rome and for
visitors from Down-under and will maintain the devotion to Our Lady of
Pompei at the chapel.
Philippines
A District House
Last December the request for approval to
purchase a district house was addressed to the general administration
and agreed upon. Since the district up until now has avoided ownership
of properties, this involves an important change in the district’s
policy of implantation of the Society in the Philippines.
Sant’Egidio
40th Anniversary
The
Community of Sant'Egidio began in Rome in 1968, after Vatican II. Over
fifty thousand people take part in this lay movement, which works in the
fields of evangelization and charitable works in Rome, Italy, and in
over seventy countries. Over many years, important links have been
established between the Marists in Monteverde and Sant’Egidio. At the
celebrations for the fortieth anniversary, Father Craig Larkin
represented the Marists.
Monteverde
A Baby
On 24 January, we learned that Elena was
born to Sophie Janssens and her husband Diego. Those who are familiar
with the general house know that Sophie is an assistant to the secretary
general. Congratulations to the mother and father. The community of
Monteverde shares their joy.
Oceania
Provincial Reelected
Father Paul Donoghue has just been
re-elected to a new mandate as provincial of Oceania by the members of
his province. He will begin his new term of office on January 1, 2009.
Marist Family (2)
www.maristfamilyspirituality.org
A text by Gavin Foster SM (Philippines)
on The Marist Way in the Church and the World was
placed last June on the site of the Marist family.
Each branch
also makes its own contribution.
A
third theme on Mary,
Mother of the Church
will come
soon.
Intercom SM
Articles
We are now accepting
your contributions for the March 2008 issue.
Photos as well …
(digital please)
Information, Jacques
Parent sm :
parent@maristsm.org