Marist Messenger

By Fr. Brian O’Connell

In 1999 Fr Gerard Burns, a priest of the Archdiocese of Wellington, was in East Timor as a representative of Caritas NZ, and was part of a convoy of 14 trucks and 10 cars distributing food and medical supplies to terrified villagers on the eve of the Independence referendum. Read more »

The Holy Father indicated how “from St. Paul we have learned that there is a new beginning of history in Jesus Christ, … Who is man and God. With Him, Who comes from God, a new history begins, formed by the ‘yes’ He pronounced to the Father, … out of love and truth”. Read more »

When the Turkish leader Kemal Ataturk banned the wearing of the fez, Muslim men could no longer say prayers without removing their hats. A hat with a brim came off as the forehead touched the floor. Read more »

by Bryce Brown
Agapé – after Michelangelo’s Pieta (1497-1500).
In the year 1500 AD, Michelangelo Buonarotti completed what is said to be one of his most highly-finished works, Pieta. He apparently was so pleased with it, that it is the only piece he ever actually signed. Read more »

By Fr John Rea sm
Graphics by Kilian de Lacy
Basic to the devotion is that we ponder the Passion of Jesus as we move from station to station. There are no obligatory prayers although the custom is to make an act of sorrow for sin at each stopping place along the Way. In this Year of St Paul we use some lines from his letters as springboards for reflection. The Scriptures are from the RSV. Read more »

by Marist Founder Fr Colin from 1836 to 1854 during his tenure as Superior General. Through the work of Fr Charles Girard sm, these have been collected into nine sizeable volumes and are being translated into English. The hard-bound edition will be launched in Wellington NZ in April this year. The first document in this collection (No. 1) is from the travel Journal of Fr Claude Bret and is reproduced below: Read more »

7. Other Senses, Other Paths?
by Tom Ryan sm

Awareness of oneself and God is not limited to the five senses. Think of moments when we are amazed to discover inner depths in ourselves and others that surpass what we can hear, see, touch or even work out by logic. Often, too, they are beyond words. Read more »

Matthew Crawford, after two years in Mexico, visited Wellington when the Marist Messenger caught up with him. Read more »

Casimir, the second son of Casimir III, King of Poland, was born in 1458. From the custody of a very virtuous mother, he passed to the guardianship of a devoted and pious master and his innocence and piety soon ripened into the practice of heroic virtue. Read more »

Frances was born in Rome in 1384. Her parents, of high rank, overruled her desire to become a nun, and when she reached the age of twelve, married her to Lorenzo Ponziano, a Roman noble. Married for forty years, they never had a disagreement. Two of her children died young. Read more »

Nicholas von Flüe was born in Switzerland. As he grew up he proved himself a capable farmer, and the ability he displayed in the local parliament led to his election at an early age as councillor and judge. He also proved himself a capable commander of troops. Read more »

by Tricia O’Donnell

Often in my desire to work for others I find my hands tied, something hinders my charitable designs, some hostile influence renders me powerless. My prayers seem to avail nothing, my kind acts are rejected, I seem to do wrong things when I am trying to do my best. In such cases I must not grieve. I am only treading in my Master’s steps. Read more »

By Fr John Kelly ocso

In the last article I spoke of ‘getting our priorities right’ and seriously committing ourselves to holiness or to love of God since this is God’s top priority for all of us. In this article I would like to draw attention to some of the great advantages of being committed to holiness of life. Read more »

by Maureen O’Riordan

The Venerable Louis and Zélie Martin

A man walked into his doctor’s surgery and announced, “ Doctor, I think I’m a moth.” The doctor replied “ I am no use to you. I am just a G.P. and you need to see a psychiatrist.” The man answered, “I was on my way to see a psychiatrist when I noticed your light was on”
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I find that as one grows older we are inclined to go back to the prayers, hymns and devotions that we learnt and lived in our childhood. Because of that, as I think about Lent, which we are experiencing. I believe that we don’t live Lent as seriously as we did in the past. Read more »

Click HERE
to download the March Children’s Page

Everyone is in a hurry. We don’t have time for breakfast; we don’t want to miss the train; we must get there before the crowd; the shops will be shut if we don’t run; the boss wanted this fax sent yesterday. Read more »

Holy Mass is offered each month by the Editor for those whose names occur in this list. To add a name, simply write to the Editor.
Recently Deceased:
Syd McCrone, N.V. Williams, Gertrude Carty, James Cyril Sullivan, Anne Allom
In Memoriam:
March 1st Gerard Murphy, James Moriarty, Brendan Farrell, Martin Patrick Murphy. 2nd Jack Whiteford, Allan Baker, Alaster McDonald. 3rd Ambrose Cotterell, Reg Power, Paul Pike, Terry Mullins, Maria Molloy, Emily Chipper. Read more »