Society of Mary

Marist Fathers New Zealand: Life and spirit

Letters received from Oceania

On Thursday 16 April the Province together with the French Embassy in New Zealand and the General Administration and Academics gathered at the National Archives building in Murphy Street, Wellington for the launch of Lettres recues D’Oceanie. This ten volume anthology edited by Fr Charles Girard of the USA Province contains the collection of extant letters from the early Missionaries back to France and Rome.

Mrs Eugenie Laracy, the French Ambassador Mr Michel Le Gras, The provincial Fr Brian Cummings and Professor Hugh Laracy at the Launch
Mrs Eugenie Laracy, the French Ambassador Mr Michel Le Gras, The provincial Fr Brian Cummings and Professor Hugh Laracy at the Launch

Henare Walmsley, Wellington Lawyer and Hato Paora Old Boy began the proceedings by summoning all with the putatara and a Mihi. John Craddock the principal organiser and the Master of Ceremonies welcomed all. The French Ambassador Mr Michel Le Gras, Fr Hubert Bonnet-Eymard from the General Administration, Fr Charles Girard, Brian, Archbishop John Dew and Cardinal Williams came forward and the great work was greeted by speeches from some of the guests and from Professors Hugh Laracy and Peter Tremewan on behalf of the academic community of New Zealand.

Frs Mikaele Paunga and Milio Vakasirovoka represented the Oceania Province and Tony Kennedy the Australian Province. The Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Charles Balvo came to celebrate the occasion too.

Fr Charles Girard, editor of "The Letters", and Fr John Craddock Launch organiser.
Fr Charles Girard, editor of "The Letters", and Fr John Craddock Launch organiser.

The Province invited overseas guests, dignitaries academics and Marists directly involved in archives and the launch to a dinner afterwards which took place in the large room at Emmaus.

The following day a Symposium was held at Victoria University’s Rutherford House downtown Wellington. Academic Staff from the Universities, Marists and Archivists from around the world reflected on the legacy of the Letters, their context and the early missionaries. Fr Girard was of the opinion that among those early men were several saints and some wonderfully colourful men as well.

There are copies of the first nine volumes about the province– they are of course entirely in French. A tenth volume which is primarily an index is to follow. English translations are available for some of the letters primari l y through Merv Duffy’s www.marsitstudies.org website.

While many played their part John Craddock shouldered the huge load of being organizer in

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