Marist Messenger

By Fr. Brian O’Connell

One of the phrases used during he tributes to the late seminarian Jeremy Gray which remained with me after all the words had been spoken and the tears shed, concerned the effect he had on others – the ‘moral shock of goodness,’ “People did recognise him as a genuinely holy young man, and his goodness jolted us out of our sinfulness” said his cousin Fr Geoff Gray who had received him into the Catholic Church. And that may give us a hint at the meaning of his all-too-brief life. Read more »

“The fundamental anthropological truths of man and woman, their equality of dignity and their unity, the deep-rooted and profound diversity between male and female and their vocation to reciprocity and complementarity, to collaboration and communion”, said the Pope, “are based on the foundation of the dignity of each person created in the image and likeness of God, Who ‘created them male and female avoiding indistinct uniformity and flat and impoverished equality, as well as massive and confrontational difference.’ Read more »

The second of a new series of stories of heroic witnesses to Christian Faith and practice.

Jeremy Gray was a Marist Seminarian on pastoral placement in New Caledonia. Jeremy was drowned on 2 January 2008 at Mont Dore, New Caledonia. Read more »

The story of an amazing building and the extraordinary men who built it

By James Siers

The extraordinary history of the French Roman Catholic Mission in the Rewa Delta, not only records the fact that a majestic cathedral was built on a tiny island in the Rewa River one hundred years ago but also records the parallel (and equally extraordinary) story of the priest, Father Patrice Emanuel Rougier, who built the church. Read more »

Reflecting on the First Year of the Catholic Discipleship School

By Neil Vaney sm

Jesus in the Wilderness

Jesus did not go alone into the Judean wilderness to wrestle with Satan. Walking in the company of the prophets Moses and Elijah, he read his experiences through their words as recorded in the book of Deuteronomy. Read more »

by Fr. John Kelly ocso

In this article I would like to offer some reflections on the role of pleasure in our Christian life. When I speak of ‘pleasure’ I mean the experience of personal fulfilment. I wish to include under ‘pleasure’ all that brings us happiness, peace, joy and a sense of personal satisfaction. In a word, when I orientate my life to securing the maximum satisfaction, I am in search of ‘pleasure’ as understood in this article. Read more »

Saint Celestine was a native of Rome, and in September 422, was chosen to succeed Pope St Boniface. Read more »

Born at Rheims in 1651, John Baptist de la Salle was the eldest of ten children in a noble family. He studied in Paris and was ordained at age twenty-six when he was already a canon of the Cathedral Chapter. The whole of his life was devoted to education, especially of the poor, and the establishment of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Read more »

Born Joseph de Veuster in Belgium in 1840, Blessed Damien was destined by his father for a commercial profession. A mission changed that. At age 20 he was professed in the Picpus Fathers, taking the name of Damien, and was ordained in Honolulu in 1864. Read more »

This article is written in response to Stephen Sparrow’s Article in August 2007 Pulverising Idols

By John Sullivan

In today’s world, beset by intractable problems, simple solutions have a seductive allure. Solutions involving direct action, and the imposition of our will on others, have a particular appeal. Read more »

Today we have an apology to the Aboriginal people for the ‘lost generation’. The Australian Government consulted about its contents, hoping that both sides of politics will support it and that indigenous people would accept it. Read more »

One Woman’s Search for her Mother

Marie Melito-Russell, 72, is an indigenous Australian. She is a Wiradjuri woman and a member of the Stolen Generations. She is a parishioner of the Church of The Holy Family at Mt. Druitt, a working class suburb in outer western Sydney. Marie is also Chairperson of the NSW ‘Sorry Day’ Committee, a day which commemorates the sufferings of The Stolen Generations. Read more »

A cab driver reaches the Pearly Gates and announces his presence to St. Peter, who looks him up in his Big Book. Read more »