Six young people who completed the Marist - Challenge 2000 Gap Year programme in Wellington received their certificates at a graduation ceremony on Sunday.

Graduates of the Marist Fathers' - Challenge 2000 Gap Year

At the graduation students had an opportunity to say what they had learned from their experience.

Several spoke of about how their horizons had been expanded and how they had successfully met the challenge to achieve things that they had previously thought were beyond them.

As well as being placed with a variety of social agencies where they work for three days a week, the gap year participants helped run retreats and formation programmes for secondary and primary school aged people.

Two days each week were spent on education and formation programmes consisting of six elements: work, social, personal, spiritual, intellectual and physical. The methodology and teaching format included formal presentations, group work, "hands-on" work, reflection of experiences, guest speakers, NZQA study papers and individual projects.

In September participants were given a special placement designed to push their limits a little more. Some went to the Philippines and Vanuatu. Others participated in the Army's Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) scheme and worked with L'Arche.

Those participating in the programme were all recent secondary school graduates and came from around New Zealand to participate in the programme.

The Gap year is run by Challenge 2000 with support from the Society of Mary. It is a full time project that involves NZQA training, work experience and placement in a community agency that supports participants' career aspirations and future realities.

During the Gap Year participants build up each of the elements required for a balanced life: Work, Social, Personal, Spiritual, Intellectual and Physical dimensions.

Source

• CathNews

The Apostolic Nuncio to New Zealand, Archbishop Charles Balvo, this morning, presented Fr Bill Leeming with a Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal at a ceremony at the Marist Centre.

Fr Bill Leeming and Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo

The Pro Eccllesia et Pontifice medal is also know as the "Cross of Honour" is given for distinguished service to the Church by lay people and clergy.

Bill worked at the Nunciature from 1994, until retiring earlier this year.

In acknowledging Bill's contribution to the delicate work of the Nunciature, Archbishop Balvo thanked Bill for the help he has been to several Nuncios, Archbishop White, Archbishop Coveney and himself.

Archbishop Balvo said that since Bill retired it's been a case of sharing Bill's workload around and following his well practiced and methodical procedures, but he hoped to soon find a successor.

The Nuncio said he enjoyed working with Bill, and that he did a great many things to help the outreach of the Apostolic Delegation in New Zealand, and he did them with love.

Justin Taylor was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in virtue of his significant contribution to biblical scholarship particularly at the Ecole Biblique of Jerusalem.

Justin Taylor is presented with his honorary doctorate from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)

The Superior General of the Society of Mary, Fr John Hannan, along with Marists, Alejandro Munoz, Craig Larkin, Fred Bliss, Gerard Hall and Tim Costello, joined a significant turnout of Dominican friars, including the Master General, and Angelicum university students to hear Justin's lecture, "Reading the Bible in the time of the Cure of Ars".

The Dominicans paid great honour to Justin by the tributes not only to his academic competence but to his qualities as a religious and as a human being.

Tim Costello described the occasion as "splendid'.

The award took place on Tuesday 16 November.

In his weekly "fax" to the New Zealand province, Fr Brian Cummings, the Provincial of the the Society of Mary New Zealand, drew Marist's attention to a recent call by the President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravassi, who asked priests to liven up their sermons and avoid being dull!

Fr Brian Cummings

Ravasi, President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said that priests who used theological language that was formulaic and boring risked making the gospel irrelevant.

Grey, dull and flavourless sermons need to be livened up with graphic stories and scandal contained within the Bible, the Cardinal said.

"The advent of televised and computerised information requires us to be compelling and trenchant, to cut to the heart of the matter, to resort to narratives and colour."

Fr Cummings recommended reading more of what the Cardinal had to say at at: CathNews.co.nz

Chris Skinner has new material available, including a DVD production "Live in concert at St Patrick's Cathedral".

As well as Chris, the DVD features the Auckland Boys' Choir.

In his search for money, and posing as Bishop Sebastinni Aguirre, the very convincing gentleman cites a range of valid Marist and Church people, including even that of the Superior General, Fr John Hannan.

Also, around Wellington at the moment are two people asking for money for rent. They claim they are just out of prison and are in need of money.

The Australian Marist province welcomed Fr Des Darby to St Patrick's Church Hill, Sydney today.

Des a member of the Marist pastoral team at Our Lady of Lourdes, Palmerston North, is on loan to St Pat's as part of the New Zealand province's contribution to the Marist Asia Pacific on-going renewal programme for young Marists in the Asia-Pacific area.

Des is replacing Kevin Redmond who is going to Marist Aboriginal Mission at Macksville to replace Paul Sullivan, who is working with the renewal programme for three months.

Michael Sullivan will replace Des for the remainder of the year in Palmerston North.

At it's recent provincial council meeting, the council agreed to the request from Bishop Peter Cullinane to take up the pastoral care of St Mary's parish Taradale.

The Palmerston North diocese makes its appointments about now, so the parish will become the responsibility of the Society from October.

Earl Crotty and Frank Twiss will have primary care for the parish until the Society nominates a parish priest who will begin his ministry next year.

Once the redevelopment of Maryknoll is complete, the province will be resident at Windsor Terrace, Maryknoll and Taradale presbytery.

Sources

• St Mary's Taradale
• New Community and mission house in Hawkes Bay
• Demolish and rebuild Maryknoll?

Former St Patrick's College Wellington rector, Gerard Tully is the new rector at St Patrick's College Silverstream.

Gerard Tully

The decision was described as "straightforward" by Board of Trustees Chairperson, Denis Boyle.

The board viewed Gerard Tully as an extraordinarily well-credentialed person who will bring a wealth of experience to the College.

"Most importantly he embodies the Marist charism that gives our college its identity and set it apart from other schools," said Boyle.

"Throughout the interview process he was very clear that Silverstream must be a "Gospel-based school." Gospel teaching are his guiding principles and will underpin the ongoing development of the college under his leadership."

For the last five years Mr Tully has been involved in the Marist Education Project. This project, established by the Society of Mary, promotes the Marist educational ethos to al its staff, students, parents and even the board.

The project also includes the well sought after Marist Youth Leader programme, which Mr Tully has been involved in leading.

Prior to being named rector of St Patrick's College Silverstream, Mr Tully taught Mathematics at St Patrick's College Wellington, Wellington College and Naenae College.

He was deputy principal at Porirua College, Principal of the Challenge 2000 College, a school for troubled youth.

When rector at St Patrick's College Wellington the college enjoyed considerable success in lifting its academic, sporting and cultural performances.

Gerard Tully is married with three children, is a keen sportsman and enjoys the Theatre. An old boy of Silverstream, the College hopes he will be able to join them towards the end of the third term.

The announcement was may jointly by Denis Boyle, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Brian McGuinness, Chairperson of the Board of Proprietors.

Chris Skinner has completed a collection of 15 songs with Marist themes.

Pilgrims of the Heart - Chris Skinner's new album of songs with a Marist theme

A number of the songs have been previously recorded but many are new from his time away on renewal in Rome and France.

The album is dedicated to the Marist Family.

The title track 'Pilgrims of the Heart' features the names of Colin, Champagnat, Chavoin, Perroton and Pioneers.

All the song titles, lyrics and brief description of each song can be downloaded free on Chris' website.

The album is on sale for $20 plus $3.50 p&p. Contact Chris Skinner if you are interested in purchasing a copy.