Marist Messenger

“You are the Springtime of the World” said Cardinal Rylko as he greeted the pilgrims at the end of the Opening Mass at Bangaroo. As if in response, the weather was fine all week. The Springtime motif heralded the “new Pentecost” theme which was the overarching aim of the week, and celebrated at the final Mass.
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The Pope, after he stepped ashore at Bangaroo, thanked the Aboriginal elders who had welcomed him, asking them to transmit his “heartfelt greetings to your peoples”. He went on: “I am deeply moved to stand on your land, knowing the suffering and injustices it has borne, but aware too of the healing and hope that are now at work, rightly bringing pride to all Australian citizens. Read more »

by Tricia O’Donnell
In 1965 eighteen year- old Jerzy Popieluszko entered the seminary of St John the Baptist in Warsaw, the same year that Poland celebrated 1,000 years of Christianity. Read more »

Kiwi Pilgrim Gathering has a Marist flavour
from Tim Duckworth sm
The National gathering of Kiwi Pilgrims at Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park Sydney on Wed 16 July had a distinct Marist musical flavour. The Pilgrims sang Fr Chris Skinner’s Awesome God complete with words on screen. Then former Marist Dick Puanaki was on stage while they sang his composition Ka Waiata, and then later there was Bishop Pompallier’s anthem Mo Maria, and finally the National Anthem. Read more »

Pilgrims & Attendance
70,000 international pilgrims took part in Days of the Diocese throughout Australia and NZ during the week before WYD08 Read more »

by the Editor
At Hunter’s Hill Sydney there is an agency that has been supporting the Missions for sixty years. Supported by a group of generous donors around Australia, the MMC began as a back-up for Marist Pacific missionaries, and has branched out to funding development programmes and alleviating poverty right through Asia. Read more »

This holy Jesuit was born in Spain in 1580. Read more »

Saint Catherine Fieschi was born in Genoa. Catherine, noble in birth, rich, and exceedingly beautiful, had as a child begged her divine Master for some share in His sufferings. Read more »

Juan and Jacinto were born in 1660 in San Francisco Cajonos, Mexico. Both were married with children. As qualified attorneys-general, their main duty consisted of helping the priest watch over and ensure the purity of the faith and the moral practices in the town. Read more »

a prose poem on the life of St Paul
by Patricia Bowley sm.
Paul came from Tarsus in Asia Minor
His family belonged to the Pharisees
Well-schooled in Jewish customs
He spoke Greek
And was familiar with Roman Law Read more »

This is the 16th article in a series of 24 by Fr John Kelly, a monk of Southern Star Abbey, Kopua, Central Hawkes Bay, NZ
The Holy Spirit is leading us to love God with all our affective energy. “You shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart.” This should be the top priority in life for every human being since we all have been given the Holy Spirit to enable us to achieve this purpose. Read more »

3. HEARING: Listen and Understand
The third article in a series by Fr Tom Ryan sm
Let’s start by doing a brief exercise.
Think back to an occasion when someone confided in you. It may be a family member, a friend, colleague at work, even a stranger sitting next to you on a plane. They may tell you of a loss they have had recently, or of a disappointment in their job or of hurt caused by someone close. Read more »

A Reflection on the progression from horses to mobility scooters
By Pat Power
After several months trawling ‘Trademe’ without success, my offer was accepted for a second-hand mobility scooter. While still able to drive, the price of petrol and the recent welcomed decision of my wife, to reduce her working week to three days meant there are times when we felt the need for two vehicles. Read more »

The Remarkable Life of Charles Gordon O’Neill.
By Stephen Utick
[Allen and Unwin Australia. 239 pages.]
Price is $NZ45. Available through Pleroma Books, Unity Books and Dymocks.
In writing his biography of Charles Gordon O’Neill, Stephen Utick has done more than simply tell of a remarkable man‘s life: he has made a notable contribution to the religious, social, economic and political history of Scotland, New Zealand and New South Wales. Read more »

The Robot Lie-Detector
John was a salesman’s delight when it came to any kind of unusual gimmick. His wife Marsha had long ago given up trying to get him to change. One day John came home with another one of his unusual purchases. It was a robot that John claimed was actually a lie detector. Read more »

Award-winning columnist, and former parish priest of Addington Parish, Christchurch Diocese, NZ.
At the moment I am reading two wonderful books. One is the life of Padre Pio and the other the thoughts of Mother Teresa. This morning she said, “Seek silence of the eyes by seeking always the beauty and goodness of God everywhere closing them to the faults of others.” Read more »

Fr Gerard Matthew Mills sm, QSM
13 Jan 1931 – 8 July 2008
from the homily by Fr Tom O’Connor sm
We sometimes call God the divine architect, but we could also say that God is an artist. With infinite imagination God paints a portrait of the person on the canvas of a human frame. Each individual speaks of the variety and mind of God, who appears to splash some with a little bit more colour than others. Gerry was one of those.
The image of the artist is an obvious one to use because Gerry expressed so much of himself and his talent through art. He was both proud and critical of his work, being not at all afraid to ask others for their opinion or advice. That speaks of strength and humility, which was true of him in so many aspects of his interesting and varied life.
And what a life! Called to serve God in so many varied ways. In his priesthood and religious life he showed the ability to spread the Gospel as a teacher, university chaplain, parish priest, counsellor, family member and friend of many.
St Paul in his letter to the Romans (14:7) said, “The life and death of each of us has its influence on others.” This was certainly true of Fr Gerry.
A number of people have remarked since his death that so many people owe Gerry a deep debt of gratitude.
•Firstly there was his influence in Colleges when he was the Principal, where his vision and his interest in the welfare of the students was profound.
•His concern and zeal for the Old Boys was admirable.
•In the classroom he was a teacher of great ability and imagination.
•And then there was his work with individuals, which was so significant for many. He was widely known for his great work in walking beside those in his colleges who might have had the idea of a priestly or religious vocation. I pray that this richly-endowed man, Family Member, Priest and Marist, may be rewarded for his good deeds, experience the mercy of God for his sins and have peace forever with almighty God.
E te Rangatira, haere, haere ki nga ringa kaha o to tatou Matua i te rangi. Hoki atu ki te waahi tuturu mo tatou te tangata.
No reira, e moe, e moe i te rangimarietanga o te Ariki.

Holy Mass is offered each month by the Editor for those whose names are on the list. To add a name, write to the Editor.
Recently Deceased: John M. Richardson, Sr Betty Anderson rndm, Kathleen Boag, Sam Dunn, Sr Imakulata Lafaele rsm. Read more »