A Catholic Monthly Magazine

Gospel Parables in Stained Glass (0)

Jesus often spoke in parables that his listeners could relate to. We have read them or heard them proclaimed often enough, but do we understand them in our culture? Some of them have been enshrined in stained glass, which may help us to understand.… More

Strengthening Timaru’s Sacred Heart Basilica (0)

Fr Cleofas Waisu Harisimae SM (0)

Born 25 April 1976 in Malaita,
Solomon Islands, Diocese of Auki
Professed 28 December 2000, at Marist Training Centre, Tutu, Taveuni, Fiji
Ordained 10 December 2005
Died 19 October 2018 in Honiara

Fr. Cleofas was the third born in a family of nine.… More

The Light of the World (Comments Off)

In ancient times, many people regarded the sun as the most important god. The sun gave the world warmth and light. Fires were lit during winter to boost the weakening strength of the sun. Sol, the sun-god, was the principal deity of the Roman Empire, and 25 December, by which day the sun had begun to come back to the skies of the northern hemisphere, was Sol’s birthday.… More

Art, Consumerism, The Poor (0)

Art enriches human life

Throughout history, art has been second only to life in bearing witness to the Lord. It was, and remains, a majestic road allowing us more than by words and ideas to approach the faith, because it follows the same path of faith, that of beauty.… More

Abba Father — Who Are You? (1) (0)

‘Dwelling in Unapproachable Light’

Eucharistic Prayer 2 is probably the one most commonly chosen and Eucharistic Prayer 4 used the least. It’s a shame really. There are so many Eucharistic Prayers available – all beautiful in their own way.

Let’s ponder the four words in the title above - a phrase from the Preface of Eucharistic Prayer 4: what do they suggest about the ‘Father most holy’?… More

SMSM — Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (0)

Collaborators in Continuing the Mission of Mary in the Church (1)

In 2016, it was 200 years since the twelve Marist aspirants climbed the hill to the shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière. There they pledged to found a new Society bearing the name of Mary and living her spirit.… More

Marist Messenger — the Beginning (0)

by the Editor

The Marist Messenger, with Fr Kevin McGrath SM as the editor, began life as The Empire Fetelist in a very modest way in St Heliers, Auckland, in November 1929. The old-fashioned term ‘fetelist’ meant something like ‘an advertisement for a fete’, in this case, the ‘Empire Fete’, to be held on 14 December.… More

MM 50 Years Ago (0)

In his Marist Third Order column, under the heading Off to a Flying Start, Fr Maurice Mulcahy, who was both editor of the MM and National Director of the Marist Third Order, wrote:

Some may prefer the old days when the clergy ran most things and the laity merely pointed out the mistakes they made, but the Third Order must now stand -- and move forward -- on its own feet.… More

Astounding Grace (0)

A new year tends to be a time of reflection. We’ve just celebrated another birthing of Christ Jesus in our lives and our faith is touched by a freshness, a feeling that we are at home with the Holy Family. The months ahead promise growth.… More

February Saints (0)

Saints Francisco & Jacinta Marto
(d. 1919, 1920)

Francisco Marto was born in June 1908 and his sister, Jacinta, two years later. They were the youngest children of their parents and typical of Portuguese village children of that time. They were illiterate but had a rich oral tradition on which to rely.… More

19th Century Slavery Equals 20th Century Human Trafficking (0)

Who’d have thought that an obscure saint from Italy, (who was actually Sudanese) would have any connection to Godzone? So many people come to live here so they can raise their children safely, free from abuse in all its forms and from exploitation, yes?… More