Parables in Stained Glass (3) (0)

The parable of the Lost Sheep is about a shepherd who left his flock (those who were already saved) to find the one sheep that was lost, and when he found it, rejoiced. I have seen many windows that show Jesus as the good shepherd, but only a small number that portray the parable.… More

About the Sanctity of Life (0)

The Lord said to me, “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born, I selected you to be a prophet to the nations” Jeremiah 1:4-5.

The God’s eye view is vast……and He sees us from and through eternity.… More

Fr Peter Carde SM (Comments Off)

Born in Whanganui, 4 March 1936
Professed 30 January 1961
Ordained 29 June 1965
Died 3 March 2019 in Havelock North

Peter came from Whanganui, was educated by the Marist Brothers at St Joseph’s in Masterton and, before entering the seminary, he played senior rugby for Marist.… More

Fr Michael Fitzgerald SM (Comments Off)

Born in Wellington, 14 September 1946
Professed 14 January 1967
Ordained 30 June 1971
Died 11 February 2019, Suva, Fiji

When Fr Craig Larkin was dying, he put a Bible on the visitor’s chair, and when visitors came, he would ask them to read to him their favourite passage.… More

Abba Father – Who Are You? (5) (0)

Watching our Language with God

In the first article about Abba Father, we noted how, in talking about God, we reach a point when we run out of words. God’s mystery is so vast that, ultimately, we are reduced to silence.… More

Marist Messenger Survey (0)

Results of the February Reader Survey

Pope in Morocco and Belgium (0)

Last Saturday and Sunday I undertook an Apostolic Journey to Morocco, invited by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. To him and to the other Moroccan authorities I renew my gratitude. The King was so brotherly, so friendly, so close.

Above all I thank the Lord, who permitted me to take another step on the path of dialogue and encounter with Muslim brothers and sisters, to be — as the motto of the Journey stated — “Servant of Hope” in today’s world.… More

Fr Jeremiah O’Reily OFMCap (0)

And the Early Catholic History of Wellington

Upon arriving in Wellington on 31 January 1843, Fr O’Reily took up lodgings with a Mrs Kennedy somewhere in Cuba Street. He said a public Mass on Sunday 5 February. The unlikely location for this auspicious event was the timber hotel, sometimes simply referred to as a tavern, of the colourful German immigrant, Baron Charles Ernest von Alzdorf.… More

A Surprising Knock at my Heart (Comments Off)

When I was in Wellington for the weekend, there was no Sunday Mass at my local church, so I decided to walk to St Mary of the Angels’ for the choral Mass. Latin would not be my first love, and I am not much of a singer, but much to my surprise both those aspects of the Mass contributed to a joyful experience.… More

The Town of Cerdon in Early Society of Mary History (Comments Off)

by the Editor

Fr Jean-Claude Colin at Cerdon

The town of Cerdon was a journey of some 20 hours from Lyons by stage coach in Fr Colin’s time. The town is about 70 kilometres north-east of Lyons, and much the same distance south-west of Geneva.… More

SMSM – Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (Comments Off)

Collaboration with the Marist Sisters

Marist Sisters and SMSM have had few opportunities to collaborate in Mary’s work except in projects that involve several branches of the Marist family.

However, as Third Order Regular of Mary (TORM), sisters were given the opportunity to prepare the way in two Pacific missions.… More

Ordination of Bishop Susitino Sionepoe SM (0)

Susitino Sionepoe SM was ordained bishop on 24 March 2019 in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Matā'utu, the capital of Wallis and Futuna.

Marian Ecological Centre, Suva, Fiji (Comments Off)

Care and Love for All creation

The Approach

The approach begins with the Spirit of Mary, the spirit of humility -- Mary as the humus, the soil of God from which the Word was made flesh and became the new creation.… More

MM 50 Years Ago (0)

Tourists will create problems for a Mission

An element that is going to change the pattern of Catholic life near this station of Wairiki is the proposed hotel that is to be erected by Travelodge, the mighty American company.

Such places always attract a group of camp followers who generally upset the tenor of life for the locals and introduce an undesirable attitude towards religion and the steady pursuit of the ideals and standards of Christian behaviour.… More

Marist Messenger — the Early 1930s (0)

By the Editor

In the 1930s, the Marist Messenger carried a wealth of information about Pacific, New Zealand and Australian Church history, about Marist history, ministry among Māori, and about Marist and Church personalities. There was also a wide range of devotional material and poetry.… More

A School for Prayer (22) – Spiritual Guidance (1 of 5) (0)

The ancient tradition of the spiritual life

By Fr Craig  Larkin sm, 1943 - 2015

Who will guide me on the journey?
The tradition of Spiritual Accompaniment

If we are climbing a mountain for the first time, or making a sea-journey for the first time, we need to have with us, as a companion and guide, someone who has gone there before us and knows the way; someone who can recognise the landmarks, and can help us to avoid the pitfalls and dangers on the way.… More

When My Comfort Zones Fail (0)

It’s never easy having to move out of a place, a personal space, a routine, a rhythm that has for some time given us some security and peace of mind.

Letting go of our comfort zones can be simple enough and not of major importance.… More

June Saints (0)

Pope St John XXIII
(1881-1963)

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli was born at Sotto il Monte, Italy. He entered the Bergamo junior seminary in 1892. It was there that he began making spiritual notes and undertaking regular spiritual direction. In 1897 he made his profession as a Secular Franciscan.… More