Australia Archives - Society of Mary

Marist Mission to Japan marks 70 years

Mission to Japan Lionel Marsden — Soon after Ordination in 1940 Fr Lionel Marsden SM volunteered to be a Chaplain in the AIF and was appointed to the 13 Division of the 8th Battalion and arrived in Singapore in August 1941. Singapore was captured on the 15th February 1942 and Lionel was one of the tens of thousands of allied troops who became prisoners of war.

Seventy years on, the Marist Fathers Australia and supporters of the Marist Mission Centre, May 1, joined together in Sydney to mark the birth of the mission to Japan.

The idea of the “Japanese mission” was born in a Japanese Prison camp.

At the fall of Singapore in 1942, Fr Lionel Marsden SM was serving as Chaplain to the 13th Australian General Hospital (AGH), part of Australia’s 8th Division.

Captured by the Japanese, as Chaplain in the prison camp, Fr Marsden was a prisoner too and with them in sickness, buried them when they died, and worked with them on the Burma Railway.

Determined to go to Japan as a missionary, Fr Marsden took as his slogan: “For every sleeper lain; a Christian Japanese, for every Australian life; a Christian Japanese.”

“For every sleeper lain; a Christian Japanese, for every Australian life; a Christian Japanese.”

Eventually, Rome gave its permission to establish a mission to Japan.

The permission came with two requirements: the Australian Province would supply the men and fund the enterprise.

On April 3, 1949, Fr Marsden was appointed the first superior of the Japanese Marist Mission.

Over 400 supporters gathered in the vestibule of the Lower Town Hall in Sydney to listen to Fr Marsden share his story, his vision, his enduring hope as they farewelled him on his journey to Japan.

Fr Marsden may have had the vision and determination, but with so many emaciated images of prisoners of war returning home, anti-Japanese feelings were strong in Australia and establishing the mission was a slow and challenging process.

Captured Allied POWs 15,400 (1900 of them Australians) were herded into barracks, an area of about 8 acres, because they refused to sign a promise not to escape.

A mission cannot survive on vision, determination, good intentions and prayer alone.

A vital component of the success of the mission to Japan was the Marist Japan Mission League.

The League’s was to assist Australian Marists in their efforts to share the Catholic faith and its ideals of Christian life especially those of compassion and forgiveness to the Japanese.

Educating Burmese children in Ranong, located on the Thai-Burma border, gives them a real chance of hope for their future.

Over the years the shape of the mission has changed.

Much wider than Japan the Marist Mission Centre makes a significant contribution in

“Balay Pasilungan” – a safe place for young street boys and Davao City, Philippines.
Balay Banaag – a safe house for girls at risk in Davao City, Philippines.
Solomon Islands.
Ranong – Southern Thailand.
Cambodia.

It also has a significant role to play in the Society of Mary’s global international mission.

However, throughout its 70 years and seven directors, the focus of what is now called the Marist Mission Centre has always been on the other, the disadvantaged, the alienated, the dispossessed.

Not content to be an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, the Marist Mission Centre also also focusses on development projects and the alleviation of poverty.

While needs and circumstances change, the Marist Mission Centre hopes that some things will not change.

Namely, the Centre hopes that the vision of one man, Lionel Marsden, and the first members of the Japanese Marist Mission League is enshrined in an enduring legacy of generosity.

And, that succeeding generations of friends and donors, who from the most unlikely of beginnings, continue to produce such unexpected and extraordinary outcomes.

A brief history, marking 70 years 1949 – 2019

From Unlikely Beginnings: Marking 70 years of mission to Japan by the Marist Fathers. (PDF)

Supplied: Jim Carty SM

MAP Marists talk ecology, education and migrants

Marist Unit leaders and deputies from Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, MAP, met June 19 -21 in Ranong, Southern Thailand.

Some of the matters under consideration included studies, ongoing formation, standardisation of agreements for contracts between each unit, professional standards and finance.

Looking forward, the meeting considered issues such as, ecology and a possible new community working with migrants and education.

The annual meeting of MAP leaders works in a fraternal and collaborative way helping build relationships of trust, support and encouragement.

The yearly event rotates between MAP Marist Units and is an opportunity for each Unit to report on mission progress and discuss further collaboration in the South Pacific and Asia.

While in Ranong, MAP participants took the opportunity to visit the Marist Asia Foundation school in Ranong and the work the Foundation does in HIV-Aids care.

Fr Ben McKenna from the Society of Mary General Administration in Rome was also present.

Image: Marist Fathers Australia

Fr Pius Jones adopted by Aborigine clan

fr pius jones sm painted Garrawurra — A very special few days. Australian Marist, Fr Pius Jones painted on the face as one of the Garrawurra clan.

Australian Marist priest, Fr Pius Jones has been adopted by the Garrawurra people.

“A very special few days” is how he describes his adoption and then attending the funeral of a Garrawurra elder.

The funeral ceremony at Dhumbala, for his adoptive father, was something to behold, Pius Jones wrote to Australian Provincial, Fr Bob Barber SM.

“I sat with the Wawas (brothers) for the ceremonies. Just incredible in their richness and symbolism.”

Pius Jones says it is amazing that all the people there can tell him how he is related to them.

“The most touching part for me was when they called me over to paint me.

“My clan is Garrawurra and they are equal holders of the law/lore of the Yolungu nations. So I was painted on the face as one of the Garrawurra family”, he wrote.

His legs killing him from sitting cross legged all day, Fr Jones says “The enormity of respect they showed me was humbling.”

Source: Marist Fathers Australia

Marist Australia and Asia remain organisationally unique

Australia Asia — Marist Asia Pacific major superiors: Pat Devlin (Asia), Ben McKenna (Oceania), Bob Barber (Australia), David Kennerley (New Zealand) with Lote Raiwalui of the General Administration

Marist Fathers Australia Provincial, Fr Bob Barber has written to the Australian province confirming a good majority of the province could not see the rationale nor benefits of merging with the Marist Mission District of Asia.

Writing in the Provincial Circular of Australia, April edition, Fr Barber confirmed Australia’s decision not to reconfigure and thanked Australian Marists who participated in the process.

From Rome, Marist Fathers’ Superior General, Fr John Hannan, reacted positively to the solid commitment within all the units of Marist Asia Pacific (MAP) for greater collaboration.

Fr Hannan is adamant that MAP, as a group, must agree to adopt at least one concrete project that all of MAP are all involved in.

Fr Barber also acknowledged existing efforts but said the level of co-operation across MAP needed to increase.

“The key that allows this to happen will involve a radical change for some of us in the way we see and do things.

“Any ‘us – them’ element that we have in our current outlook will have to give way to seeing ourselves more and more as ‘one'”, he wrote in the Provincial Circular.

Telling Australian Marists that ‘mission’ must always be front and centre of who the province is and what it does, Fr Barber said the Society needed to work together more and support each other in mission.

Without wanting to downplay the province’s demographics, the smaller pool of available Marists and the need to care for aging Marists, Fr Barber said it is a false assertion to say that the Australian province’s main obligation today is to look after elderly confreres.

Working in the sacred space of people’s lives is a privilege

Being invited into the sacred space of people’s lives is a privilege says Marist Father, and director of the Fullness of Life Centre, Stephen Truscott.

Fr Truscott made the comment in an interview with Rachel Curry of The Record; a publication of the Archdiocese of Perth.

Around 30 years ago Fr Truscott and Celia Joyce established the Fullness of Life Centre in Perth, Western Australia to help people find their own paths.

The Fullness of Life Centre offers professional supervision, spiritual accompaniment, counselling, staff development, retreats, workshops and employee assistance programmes.

Fr Truscott says his “job” often confuses people in parishes; but there is no line of work in which he’d rather be.

Having worked as a young priest in several Marist parishes in Australia, Fr Truscott describes his work with people through the Fullness of Life Centre as “more engaging” and “not preachy”.

“It is a privilege to be invited into the sacred space of people’s lives in all its messiness”, he said.

“At the end of the day we’re guests on other people’s journeys”.

“A truth told is never the same as a truth discovered.”
Celia Joyce

Co-founder and co-director in the Fullness of Life Centre, Celia Joyce came to the Centre after working as a nurse and mid-wife.

“I loved my nursing, but the busyness of nursing meant there wasn’t always the appropriate care given to people”, she said.

The former mid-wife says she now helps give birth to people’s lives in another way.

“A truth told is never the same as a truth discovered.”

Secure video-conferening outreach

Through the use of secure video-conferencing technology the Fullness of Life Centre now also offers its services in ‘a space’ rather than ‘a place’.

As well as offering a convenient solution for busy people in cities Fr Truscott sees the secure video-conferencing solution as an important outreach to people on the margins, those living in rural and isolated settings, people who are housebound and even people who are living overseas.

“Location no longer limits the space in which clients and service providers meet”, Fr Truscott said.

Fullness of Life Centre welcomes all

The Fullness of Life Centre tries to offers its services to all people, particularly in marginal settings, Fr Truscott says.

The Centre is self-funding and to accommodate people it has a sliding scale of fees.

Fr Truscott and Ms Joyce both retrained to take up their current positions.

Fr Truscott has a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago and a PhD from Murdoch University.

Ms Joyce undertook Clinical Pastoral Education at Royal Perth Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney. She later established the Pastoral Care Department at Mercy Hospital, now St John of God, Mt Lawley. She has a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago.

Sources

The Record: Publication of the Archdiocese of Perth, Western Australia
Supplied

Lifetime achievement award presented to Gerald Arbuckle

New Zealand Marist priest Gerald Arbuckle, 30 August, was presented with the Maria Cunningham Lifetime Contribution Award in Sydney.

“I am personally thrilled by the award; Catholic health and aged care ministries are unique”, Fr Arbuckle said in a phone conversation.

“The award acknowledges the emphasis that I and so many others have been giving to two fundamental issues, the values of Jesus Christ, the Good Samaritan, and the maintenance of these values through appropriate formation of staff”.

Gerry’s life-long commitment to learning, sterling research and belief in the power of Scripture to build up a people who best reflect God’s greatest dream is truly inspirational and a wonderful witness to the Marist Charism.
David Kennerley

Provincial of the Society of Mary New Zealand, Fr David Kennerley says the province shares Fr Arbuckle’s pleasure and the recognition of his professional achievements.

“The award highlights Gerry’s ability to reads the signs of the times”, Fr Kennerley said in a statement.

“Gerry’s life-long commitment to learning, sterling research and belief in the power of Scripture to build up a people who best reflect God’s greatest dream is truly inspirational and a wonderful witness to the Marist Charism”, he said.

The Maria Cunningham Lifetime Contribution Award takes the name of Sr Maria Cunningham RSC OAM.

For all her working life, Maria Cunningham worked as a nurse, a nurse educator and a leader of Catholic health care ministries, and by giving this award to Fr Arbuckle, Catholic Health Australia acknowledges Gerry’s lifetime dedication to Catholic health and aged care services in the United States, Canada and Australia.

Catholic Health Australia co-ordinates the largest network of hospitals and aged care facilities in Australia.

Fr Arbuckle began ministry in healthcare with his 1995 address, “Refounding the Mission and Values in Chaotic Times”.

Delivered in the United States, the address became the catalyst for an increasing involvement in health ministry and the start of his various roles as a board director, consultant, researcher and author of health sector publications.

Among his extensive list of healthcare publications, Fr Arbuckle wrote three well received books; two receiving international awards

In 2008 the Government of New South Wales appointed Fr Arbuckle to the Independent Panel overseeing the reform of the state’s public hospital system and three years later he delivered the Martin D’Arcy SJ, Memorial Lectures at Oxford University on the need to humanize national healthcare reforms.

In 1990 Gerald Arbuckle was appointed as a member of the Refounding and Pastoral Development ministry based in Sydney.

The ministry, established as a flexible, international research and consultancy unit is sponsored by the Marist provincials of New Zealand, Australia and Oceania.

Image: Catholic Health Australia National Conference 2016 newsletter