Marist Messenger

Here are some of the jokes Messenger readers sent in this month Read more »

Urgency of missionary work

On the occasion of World Mission Sunday I ask the whole People of God to reflect together on the urgency and the importance of the Church’s missionary activity. In the demanding task of evangelisation we are sustained and accompanied by the certainty that Christ, the master of the harvest, is always with us and never ceases to guide his people Read more »

John Fitzsimmons 1937-2007

Only a few weeks ago a very frail but alert John asked me to give this homily. I have prayed since that the Lord would help me to break open these Words with reverence. So let us relish these three powerful readings John himself carefully chose to shed light on the passing over of our brother and friend John David Stephen Fitzsimmons to the House of the Father. Read more »

By Fr John Kelly, a Cistercian monk of Southern Star Abbey, Takapau

Some time ago a sincere Christian lady asked me, what do you mean by ‘union with God?’ Her question forced me to do some thinking so as to give her a satisfactory reply. In this article I will try to answer this question under three headings. Read more »

by Michael O’Hagan
Molly was sitting up in bed. Her face gave the clear message that she wanted to talk about something important. Read more »

New Doors opened at Colloquium in Suva
The recently-concluded Marist Colloquium in Fiji left the participants looking forward in anticipation of the wealth of new study now possible with the imminent availability of new documentation concerning Fr Colin, the founder of the Society of Mary. Read more »

by John Craddock sm

The Archbishop asked for suggestions. “How to celebrate 150 years since the first Christian Mission in Solomon Islands?”
For a few moments, I imaginated. Mmmm. Obvious ideas emerged: Masses, processions, statues erected and plaques blessed. All wonderful, but there must be something more, something simple, enduring, cost effective and artistic. Mmmm. Then, while gumming a letter to my mother in NZ, up popped “postage stamps”. YES! Read more »

5 October, Saint Theresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Saint Theresa is one of the rarest of creatures, a reformer with a sense of humour! The daughter of an aristocratic Castilian family, high-spirited, attractive and intelligent, Theresa became a nun reluctantly, motivated, she said, by fear of hell and lack of enthusiasm for marriage. A few days before her entry a young man admired her pretty feet,”take a good look Sir”, she told him “you won’t be getting another chance”. Read more »

A Meditation on the Peace Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

In the manner of other well-known texts, the ‘Peace Prayer of Saint Francis’ can evoke an almost sentimental response. The opening words of his famous prayer. ‘Lord make an instrument of Thy peace’ may cause a moment of reflection, a longing to live by such inspiring words, yet rarely does the intention become a daily reality. But to confirm each line of the ‘Peace Prayer’ alongside a companion Scripture, may aid in understanding that the peace words are not sentimental phrases to make us feel good, but invitations and guides to holiness, according to the will of God. Read more »

(Fr) Paul G Shannahan sm Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies or Missionz

Your Mission Sunday envelope will be confronting you on 21 October – springing from your parish planned-giving pack or tucked in this issue of the Marist Messenger. It will beg for your support as so many causes do these days. So why should you open your purse for this one? Well this appeal has the backing of the New Zealand Bishops – it is one of the official extra annual collections. It is the official global one for the Propagation of the Faith. For on Mission Sunday across the Catholic world the focus is on the final words of Jesus to his assembled disciples and so to us:
‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations “ Read more »

Mission Sunday
Every year we have a special Sunday set aside to think about our Mission to the world. It is an annual reminder of who we are. I have heard it said that the question “Does the Church have a mission?” is the wrong question. More accurately “Does the Mission have a Church?” Yes, that’s us. The mission comes directly from Jesus to his disciples: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.”(Mk 16:15). Read more »