Pat Brophy left New Zealand today to once again join the international mission of the Society of Mary. This time he is destined for Mexico.

Pat Brophy near his home in Wellington New Zealand

For the last eight years, and since returning from 16 years in Peru and Venezuela Pat has worked in New Zealand in wide range of valuable mission placements.

Disadvantaged youth, Maori youth, helping establish the JC Colin ministry to schools, a year as assistant rector at the Marist Seminary, two years as a university chaplain and lastly as the team leader of the mid-North pastoral area, are all areas which have benefitted from Pat's full involvement.

"Things changed a lot while I was away in Peru and Venezuela, and I'm really glad I came back" said Pat.

Pat says that New Zealand is home and it is where he gets his identity from. He says he will most likely be back in three years or so, but for now it's the call to the international mission of the Society of Mary that beckons.

"It (international mission) is part of my calling, it's almost like it's under my skin," he said.

Answering his own call to be available for the international mission of the Society of Mary, has come at an extra cost for the New Zealand province, because for a number of years, as well as being a provincial councillor, he has been the province's vocations director helping young men discern their call to religious and priestly life.

It has also been a time when the province is once again fortunate to be getting vocations to priestly and religious life.

Pat says he has been happy to raise the profile in New Zealand of a Marist vocation.

"It's not a sedentary task, God is always calling people," he says.

"While I've been the vocations promoter, in a real sense promoting vocations is a responsibility for all Marists."

Pat is of the view that for a time there was a vocations drought, however he is of the view "the Spring rains have arrived" and that it has been a privilege to have been part of something that now sees young men discerning their life-vocation and some of them entering the seminary.

Pat arrives shortly in Mexico. As yet he's not all that sure exactly what he will be doing, but knows he is appointed to the Marist community at Toluca, about two hours outside of Mexico City where the community is responsible for an off-campus University ministry and for receiving young men in their first years in the seminary.

He is going there at the invitation of the Society of Mary Superior General, Fr John Hannan SM, to replace a Mexican Marist who has been appointed to the International Marist Theologate in Rome.

Pat sees the move as a logical step.

"I know the language, I'm at an age where I can contribute, but overall I'm going there as a part of the global Marist mission."

"I'm looking forward to sharing my strengths and what I can contribute."

From his reading he understands Mexico to be a young and vibrant country; the average age is 27, but with a significant disparity of social indicators.

"Mexico is 83% Catholic, it's almost like to be Mexican is to be Catholic," he said, "but I guess with that comes other issues and I'm very keen to learn more about Mexico and its cultures."

For the last 3 years, The Logos Project has offered the schools of the Auckland Diocese the opportunity to send their school leaders to a unique retreat called the Special Character Retreat.

The retreat provides an opportunity for student leaders who are seeking a transformative experience that links faith and life in a way that is relevant to young people.

Over the 4 days that they are together the students will engage in a variety of activities designed to challenge and motivate them in their roles with a renewed sense of purpose.

This year the retreat begins on 17-20 April, held at Te Unga Waka Marae, a Marae founded by Dame Whina Cooper.

There are 22 students representing Marist, St Dominic's, St Peter's, St Paul's, Liston, Pompallier and Campion Colleges. Although Campion is not within the Auckland Diocese, the Logos Project never deny young people the access to their programmes.

This year theme is "Our own backyard"; it explores the concept of Turangawaewae. Literally turanga (standing place), waewae (feet) is translated as "a place to stand".

Turangawaewae are places we feel especially empowered and connected. They are our foundation, our place in the world and our home. Throughout the retreat the students will go on a journey to discover the Turangawaewae of their own lives as well as both the Christian story and the New Zealand Catholic story.

This process allows them to recognise the gift of our faith tradition that connects us all as one people. The students will also have the privilege to hear the story of 2 Josephite Sisters who lived and worked alongside Dame Whina Cooper in Panguru.

The Logos team are deeply excited about delivering this retreat and say it is definitely one of highlights of the year for them. They say young people are looking ever more for a sense of meaning, healing and belief in something bigger. This retreat is sure to nourish and incite this hunger.

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• CathNews
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Hundreds of people attended the Hui Aranga which took place this year at the Opononi Area School, on Northland's Hokianga Harbour.

About 10 Catholic Maori Cultural Clubs from different parts of the North Island gathered for a combined cultural and faith experience involving kapa haka, sport, prayer, kai and time together in competition and catching up on family.

These Clubs have gathered in this way since 1946. This year the Northern club of Te Ropu o Te Whetu (Whangarei based) were the hosts and about 1500 people, two thirds of whom were youth or children, gathered at the Opononi Area School for the time from Thursday to Monday.

"This is an important gathering for Maori and Marists" said Phil Cody.

"Following on from the early Marists and their mission, the annual Hui is a terrific place to build relationships."

Phil Cody explained the Hui, held each year at Easter, is also "important for Marist because, it centers on Mary who is on show all the time next to the paschal candle and cross, and these travel to wherever the Hui is held."

The spiritual director for Te Waiora Catholic group in Palmerston North, Danny Karatia-Goddard, said Northland is well known among Katorika (Catholics) as the cradle of Catholicism with waiata revolving around Bishop Pompallier, the first Bishop to New Zealand, who ministered among many Maori in the nineteenth century including in Tai Tokerau.

"Many of the kapa haka compositions had a Tai Tokerau theme," he said.

This area of the Hokianga was truly fitting because of the history of the place, which may be described as the cradle of the Catholic Church where Bishop Pompallier and his Marist companions first celebrated Mass and began their mission.

Pompallier's remains are kept in a crypt at Motuti where they are honoured by Pa Henare Tate and the local people and the kaumatua from the Hui made their way across the harbour to visit the place during the Hui.

The atmosphere of the Hokianga was very evident, right down to tasting the local mullet fish delicacy.

The weekend consisted in various gatherings under canvas to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ. At times the Clubs would dress up especially for a religious procession or karakia. Then the many participants put on traditional costume for the waiata, poi, haka and combined action songs, all of which go towards an overall marking for the hui.

The local club from Wellington, called Nga Karere or The Messengers, won various trophies ranging from Midget Touch, Men's sacred solo, Midget religious quiz, senior men's tennis to Junior women's whaikorero (oratory). These trophies, which are called taonga (treasures) in fact take on a personal nature and generally are dedicated to ancestors who have died. In a sense they live on in these cups and shields and remind the winners and Clubs of the purpose of the Hui Aranga, namely to live out today the Love and selflessness portrayed for us in Jesus Christ.

In fact this kaupapa (purpose) of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus enters into everything, even the haka which echo strongly in the gathering!

There is a Central Council which co-ordinates the 10 or so clubs which centre mainly down the Whanganui River, (Ohakune or Ruapehu to St Vincents and St Peter Chanel) and then across to Taranaki and back to a strong presence at Tauranga and up to Hawkes Bay.

While Maori Catholic priests and Religious sisters are very thin on the ground, it was lovely to see Pa Tipene Hancy (Whanganui) there. Part of his family tree links with the local Nga Puhi people, so he was literally ‘at home'. The glow showed in his eyes.

Maori share the shortage of (Catholic) priests and face a tricky future if no vocations to priesthood surface. That may be a more important question for Maori Catholic and the Church to face - not ‘Who will be a Maori Bishop?', but who will be the Maori priests of the future?

There is a lovely spirit in the place, despite the fierce competition. One of the midgets asked me after they won the Touch rugby final, ‘Did you pray for us, Pa?' Phil Cody said.

In 2013 the Hui Aranga will be hosted by Te Araukuku, the Taranaki club and will be based at Hawera. In 2014 the Hui Aranga is due to return to Wellington, so already preparation and arrangements and especially fund-raising are under way.

The Superior General has written to the New Zealand Provincial, Brian Cummings, advising him that he has appointed Pat Devlin as the new Major Superior of the Philippines District.

Pat will assume this new role on 1 June 2012. It comes after consultation with both the Philippines District and the New Zealand Province.

Brian Cummings has written to Pat offering him congratulations and the assurance of the ongoing prayers and support of the New Zealand Province.

Pat left New Zealand on 20 February to take up a 12 - 18 month mentoring role of younger Filipino Marists working in a 26 strong mission team on the Thai-Myanmar boarder where the Marists' outreach to people from Myanmar who provide cheap labour in Ranong, a fishing settlement.

Ranong, a migrant town with a higher than average incidence of HIV AIDS amongst the Myanmar workers, the Marist Mission Ranong responds to this urgent need with trained staff and a community-based programme.

The mission also provides health education in Myanmar language for pregnant mothers.

Prior to leaving New Zealand Devlin was excited about the Ranong mission, describing it as a "mission with a future".

Devlin replaced another former New Zealand Marist, Fr John Larsen who is now leading the international Marist Theologate in Rome.

Denise Fugle has retired after 12 years as an accounts officer, working with the Society of Mary.

Interviewed by the then provincial bursar, Fr Des Darby and current chairman of the province's Finance Committee, Mr Michael Gaffenay, Denise was appointed to her role by the then provincial, Fr Craig Larkin.

Denise's appointment came at a time when the Society of Mary was very different to what it is now, and her primary task was ready the Society's accounts for external auditing.

It was a task she undertook attending to every minute detail, and it is thanks to her and the finance team over he years that the Society's accounts have received an unqualified audit ever since.

In his farewell speech, National Business Manager, John Holden said that "while Denise might retire from full time work, she certainly won't be retiring from life."

As well as re-developing her home recently Denise has wide interests in the community which include singing with the Rudolph singers and the Holy Family Miramar Parish choir.

She also hopes to travel, either later this year to the Olympics, or perhaps a cruse.

John Holden is quite confident that shortly Denise will be saying, "the trouble with retirement is you never get a day off."

In farewelling Denise and wishing her well, from one accountant to another, John Holden reminded Denise that "Accountants never really retire, you might say that they just lose their balances."

Nino Memorial, John Gouwang, and Roque Rebito renewed their vows in the presence of inmates and Marist friends at a Mass led by Philippines District Superior, Fr Larry Sabud.

"We decided to have their renewal in the jail since the inmates have been part of their training for Marist life priesthood," Marist Formation Director, Fr Chris Ganzon said.

Ganzon explained that as part of their pastoral ministry programme the three seminarians visit the prison inmates each Sunday.

"It was great to do their renewal of vows in the jail," he said.

"The inmates were very happy to witness the ceremony."

After more than six decades the Marist Fathers Australian province has closed the door on its Japanese mission, leaving the mission at Nara stronger and more able to sustain its activities.

Farewell ceremony at Nara, Japan

Last week thousands of Japanese joined Australian Provincial, Fr Paul Cooney SM, the Bishop Paul Yoshinao Otsuka of Kyoto and the five remaining Marist missionaries at a farewell Mass and formal ceremony at the Catholic Church in Japan's ancient city of Nara.

"The warmth and love at the occasion were palpable and many tears were shed," Cooney said from Japan.

Cooney gave thanks for the commitment and service of the Marists in Japan, and recalled that when the Mission was first founded there was only one small church in the Nara Prefecture and just a handful of Christians.

In contrast, as the Marists leave, Nara today has a Christian community of more than 4000 eight additional churches, five kindergartens, a day nursery, two aged care homes, plus a toy library for handicapped children and a club for the parents of disabled children.

The mission began following the Second World War when former prisoner of war and army chaplain Lionel Marsden went home to Australia to recover from the physical and emotional scars of being a prisoner of war only to return to the country which was once the enemy.

The work has been supported by the Australian province ever since.

Sources

• Sydney Archdiocese
• Image: Marist Fathers Australia

Due to unforeseen circumstances and at the direction of the Superior General, the Marist International English language Novitiate has been transferred from Fiji to New Zealand.

The transfer came about because into the first weeks of novitiate a number of significant problems, particularly in the area of health, arose for the non-Pacifican novices.

The Master of Novices, Fr Pat Breeze in conjunction with the novitiate staff, Superior General and General Council, judged these matters sufficiently serious that should the novitiate remain in Tutu it would be very difficult to attain the aims of the novitiate positively and effectively.

In consultation with the major superiors who had novices in the novitiate, the Superior General asked the New Zealand province was asked if it could provide, if necessary, a place for the English-speaking novices at short notice.

The provincial and council considered several options and in the end decided that the most realistic choice was the refurbished Maryknoll.

The decision to use Maryknoll was a difficult one, particularly because a new community was looking forward to occupying the refurbished premises.

While another option might have been available, the property is not owned by the Society, was somewhat "unknown" to the Society, and negotiating to rent the it would delay the progress of the novitiate.

Maryknoll has previously been used for novitiates and second-novitiates.

The novitiate, with novices: Tom Kuizer (Netherlands - Europe), Adrian O'Flynn, Matt Matt Gravatt, Brendan Jenke (New Zealand), Fr Pat Breeze, and Fr Chris Skinner (newly appointed assistant novice master) are now all at Maryknoll.

The novitiate at Tutu is continuing for the five Oceanian students. Fr Boniface Kevon is their Novice Master and Fr Fritz Arnold is assisting him.

There was discussion about moving all the novices to New Zealand but was not possible as a number have health issues which would preclude their getting the necessary visas.

Recently during a visit to Maryknoll a video was compiled on a mobile phone. It's a bit jerky and at times there are issues with lighting. (Apologies.)

The sound is deliberately suppressed. To make up for the lack of commentary, the video

• starts coming up the drive
• goes in the front door
• visits the dining room (long table)
• shows the lounge
• goes to the kitchen where is making lunch
• calls past the old chapel, which is now a separate TV room (novitiate is using as a classroom)
• goes into Pat Breeze's room
• walks down the outside balcony (which continues around outside of all the bedrooms with a view)
• and concludes with a visit to the chapel

With the exception of the new chapel, the refurbished Maryknoll has a familiar look to it.

Once again apologies for all the things we are accustomed to with professional video, but hope that none the less, this gives you a sense of the place.

Returning to help support the young Philippines Marist district inspired Fr Pat Devlin to offer himself again for the international mission of the Society of Mary.

Pat leaves New Zealand Monday to once again join the Philippines mission district.

This time however is a little different.

Today he becomes part of the 26 strong mission team on the Thai-Myanmar boarder where the Marists' outreach to people from Myanmar who provide cheap labour in Ranong, a fishing settlement.

"I go a little older and this time in a much different role, as a mentor to the younger Filipino Marists," he said.

Pat says he is looking forward to the challenge, but admits he knows little about the work, other than from a one-time visit to the Marist Mission in Ranong, and reading their website.

"What I do know is Myanmar people are very poor, the Thais' do not officially recognise them and it's difficult for them to get their basic health and education needs met."

With a heavy emphasis on learning English, the Marist Mission Ranong has established learning centres to help children from Myanmar.

"With people now participating in an higher education online programme run out of Sydney, the work seems to be bearing fruit."

"Where I can, I'm keen to offer my experience and be of support," he said.

A migrant town with a higher than average incidence of HIV AIDS amongst the Myanmar workers, the Marist Mission Ranong responds to this urgent need with trained staff and a community-based programme.

Fr Pat says the mission also provides health education in Myanmar language for pregnant mothers.

Pat is particularly looking forward to presenting a Christian presence in a non-Christian part of the world and although not all that familiar with Buddhism, his previous mission work in Lahore, Pakistan and in southern Philippines, exposed him to Islam, so he feels 'at home' with the important element of inter-religious dialogue.

While there are a lot of uncertainties, one thing he's sure of is the work in Thailand will have a totally different feel to what he has been accustomed, for a start there are two new cultures and two new languages.

"It's an exciting mission, one with a future," he said.

A significant positive for Pat joining this mission is that through his Philippines experience he knows most of the priests and lay people involved in the mission.

Related Website: www.maristthailand.org

Father John Larsen SM, Director of the Marist Fathers in Ranong, Thailand, has was named 2011 Future Justice International Prize winner at a seminar recently held at ACU's Melbourne Campus.

John Larsen

New Zealand-born Fr Larsen served in the Philippines for many years before leading a Marist mission in to Burma (Myanmar). After being denied an entry visa to Burma, Fr Larsen ministered to refugees and migrant workers on the Thai-Burma border.

For the past 25 years, Fr John Larsen has been working in Southeast Asia, the last six of which he spent on the Thai-Burma Border assisting migrant workers and their families.

"The greatest need is to work for justice, particularly for the young people," said Fr Larsen.

Now in its third year, the Future Justice Prize is a joint initiative of Future Leaders and ACU's Institute of Legal Studies. The prize is awarded to Australian individuals and organisations for leadership and initiative in the advancement of future justice.

Fr John has recently left the Ranong mission to take up the role of superior of the new Marist International Theologate in Rome to start in September.

Source: CathNews