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Marist seminary turns people away from discernment weekend

The Marist Seminary in Auckland is not able to accommodate all those interested in a discernment weekend and has asked two young men to apply again in June.

Having to turn people away does not come easy to Marist Vocations Director, Fr Peter McAfee.

While on one hand he is disappointed the seminary cannot accommodate everyone he also realises that the time available is limited and having too many attending would defeat some of the purpose of the weekend.

Peter McAfee hopes that those who could not be accommodated might still be inclined to attend the June discernment weekend.

Interest in the discernment weekend comes after a Facebook campaign which included a somewhat ‘cheeky’ image of a slow elephant getting a trailer-ride to its destination.

The matching caption read “Seminary is filling fast, don’t be left behind”.

On the weekend of April 29 – 1 May, the seminary will welcome 8 young men looking to discern whether they have a vocation to Marist priesthood or brotherhood.

Those after more information about the June discernment weekend are invited to contact Fr Peter McAfee.

Broken Vows: Romantic novel begins at Mt St Mary’s seminary

Ten years in the making, “Broken Vows” is a novel inspired by a relationship which began at Mt St Mary’s Seminary, Hawkes Bay.

Author, Rohan West, aged 49, released his debut novel “Broken Vows“, loosely based on fact and inspired by his maternal grandparents meeting at the Seminary after the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake.
The plot has West’s grandfather, Albert Robertson a seminarian, caught in the Napier earthquake of February 1931. Buried in the rubble of the seminary’s chapel, he is pulled out unconscious and barely alive.

West’s grandmother, Abigail McCarthy, a nurse from the local Napier hospital, was sent to the Mt St Mary’s seminary to tend to the injured, along with her cousin Moira.

And there the romance started.

“Details were very light, hence turning the story into a piece of historical romance fiction,” West said.

West, an expat New Zealander and sports marketer lives in Leicestershire, UK. He is delighted his book has been released after nearly 10 years in the making.

“This has been a labour of love for me but it’s an inspiring story which I wanted to share,” he said.

“The story of how my grandparents met, fell in love and eventually ran away together was a family secret for over 50 years.

“My mum and aunt only found out by accident,” he said.

West told the NZ Herald that his grandfather loved literature, so he wanted to honour their beautiful story by writing about it.

The Amazon review says of the book, “Broken Vows is a historical romance that will delight fans of Sebastian Faulks and Colleen McCullough.”

Sources

Marist mission in Ranong punching well above its weight

The Marist mission in Ranong, on the Thai-Burma border enjoyed and exception 2015.

In an area where many experience oppression, few job opportunities, HIV/AIDS and lack the opportunity for education, the Marist mission in Ranong continues to punch well above its weight.

It is estimated there are over 160,000 Burmese refugees and over 1 million Burmese migrant workers seeking work in Thailand, and the latest estimates suggest Ranong alone has up to 140,000 Burmese migrants, most of whom work in the fishing industry.

Working in the fishing industry is tough work in Thailand, but more-so when you’re a migrant worker.

In 2015 the Marist mission in Ranong, officially called the Marist Asia Foundation, continues to make a difference. It

helped and supported 75 adults and children living with HIV/AIDS
ran a pre-school where all 75 pre-school children will start primary school
enjoyed an 83% retention rate of their year 4 secondary school students
succeeded in getting 90% of year 4 secondary students enrolled in the English programme
supported and educated 12 “University Online Diploma” students
enabled all the 2015 ACU university graduates to gain employment.

The Marist Asia Foundation also provided English and computer classes to help migrant workers gain more skills, enabling their likelihood of a better future.

“The more we learn about our students and migrant families the more we recognise the large obstacles and their hunger for education as a step to a brighter future”, said Fr Kevin Medillo, leader of the Marist mission in Ranong.

New Zealand Marist, Fr Frank Bird who works primarily in the school shares a similar view.

“Probably the greatest achievement is seeing 200 Burmese migrant children coming to the Marist Centre every day, safe, smiling, enjoying learning, and growing in self-confidence and hope”, he said.

Source: Marist Asia Foundation

The Father has no favourites: Māori ‘take on’ Christianity their way

For nearly fifty years David Gledhill a Pakeha Marist priest with Irish ancestry has worked in and around Māori.

Fr Gledhill told RNZ’s Jerome Cvitanovich that over the years the Society’s involvement with Māori has changed from the “Māori Missions”; a mission to convert Māori, to impose a faith and structure, to recognising that when Christ came on earth, he took on all humanity and brought all people to himself.

“We are all contributing to the one mission of Christ”, he said.

“Slowly we start to see the heavenly Father has no favourites and been with the people from the beginning, and in their way they are proclaiming the Good News.”

Fr Gledhill says the Church was wrong to impose its structure on Māori culture, rather it is important to be with the people and see the plan of the Father.

“The Māori do it different…they take it on as Māori.”

“I see the Māori coming as a family to Christ, their way, and I say hell, I’m Irish, there are some good things there and I’d like to have a part of that.”

In the late 1950s David Gledhill joined students from around New Zealand to begin training at the Society of Mary’s seminary in Hawkes Bay – Mount St Mary’s.

His original plan was to volunteer for missionary work overseas. But in his last years of seminary training he was asked to consider staying in New Zealand.

In 1966, shortly after his ordination, his superior sent him a short note advising him of his posting.

“Dear David,” it read. “You are appointed to Hato Paora college. You may do university if you wish. Kind Regards.“

After nearly 50 years of ministry with Māori Fr Gledhill says that once you see the realisation that the Father has no favourites and take part of the ordinary social structures of the Māori you have a great respect for and hope for the future.

Listen to the full RNS conversation with Jerome Cvitanovich

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Source: RNZ

Two more Marist Asia student graduates

On Saturday 19th March, Marist Asia students Niño Memorial and Roque Rebito graduated from the St Alphonsus Theological and Mission Institute, with the degree of Master in Theology in Pastoral Ministry.

Both successfully defended synthesis papers as the final requirement for the conferment of the degree.

Marist Asia students graduate — Chris Ganzon, Pat Devlin, Nino Memorial, Roque Rebito, Fritz Arnold, Kevin Stewart, Larry Sabud.

Niño’s paper – “Set the Captives Free: Challenging the Penal System” – looked at the situation of prisoners in Davao City, and Roque’s – “Remembering and Forgetting: Memory and Theology” – explored the theological significance of memory.

Niño and Roque, along with John Guo Wang, will be perpetually professed in April, and ordained deacons in May.

Source: Marist Fathers Asia

Traffic chaos adds cost to inner-city church earthquake strengthening

Traffic congestion in Wellington city is adding to the price-tag of the donation-funded St Mary of the Angels earthquake strengthening.

It is the view of St Mary’s Parish Priest, Fr Barry Scannell who made the comment in Wellington’s Dominion Post newspaper.

Fr Scannell’s comment came in response to complaints that four major construction projects in Boulcott St are contributing to significant congestion in the city.

Fr Scannell claims that St Mary’s is a ‘good citizen’ and he disputes that work on the inner-city church is adding to the congestion.

With excellent project management at St Mary of the Angels, most of the work is off the street. The parish has also purchased five parking spaces.

“The church paid $800 a week to the council to hire five parking spaces off the road where trucks and work vehicles could park, and unload materials,” he told Joel Maxwell of the DomPost.

Other work on Boulcott St includes a revamp of the old Dominion Post building, seismic strengthening of the Majestic Centre and construction of an eight-storey apartment building.

Helen Moate, of McKee Fehl, project manager for the revamp of the former Dominion Post building, said the company worked with the council on a plan for dealing with congestion on Boulcott St.

A spokeswoman for the apartment development said also said the construction was covered by the traffic management plan submitted to the council, adding their building would be finished in a few weeks’ time.

The DomPost was unable to reach the Majestic Centre owner Kiwi Property for comment.

Wellington City Council spokeswoman Victoria Barton-Chapple said the Council there were traffic plans in place but the Council had no control over the completion of the projects.

Source: Dominion Post