Society of Mary

Marist Fathers New Zealand: Life and spirit

Fiji

Marist Fathers accepting donations for Fiji

Tim DuckworthThe Marist Fathers in New Zealand are accepting donations to alleviate people’s suffering and aid the re-establishment of their lives in Fiji.

New Zealand Marist Mission promoter, Fr Tim Duckworth confirmed the move on Tuesday evening.

“The people of Fiji are resilient but in many cases will have to start again from the foundations. With so many communities and villages flattened, local infrastructure is really stretched”, Fr Duckworth said.

“Frequently people have lost everything: homes, schools, churches, food sources, livelihood, drinkable water and crops.

“It is going to take a lot of help to get up and running again.”

Fr Duckworth’s initiative comes in response to the massive trail of destruction left by Monster Cyclone, “Winston”.

Late last week the New Zealand province made a substantial donation to the Oceania province.

One of the areas badly hit was “Tutu”, the rural training centre in Tavenui, where 22 buildings have either been partially or completely destroyed.

Tutu was established in 1969 and helps people become more autonomous; training them to return home to farm their own land. It offers five courses catering for young farmers, married couples, young single women, and new parents.

The Pacific Island Farmers Organisation says the Tutu ‘experiment’ has been highly successful.

“The urgent needs (for Tutu) right now are $125,000 building materials, and food for 25 families and 72 course participants,” says Marist Father, Pio Fong Waqavotuwale.

As reported earlier by CathNews NZ and Pacific, St John’s College has also sustained extensive damage.

Those wishing to donate, are encouraged to contact Fr Tim Duckworth:

  • Email: duckworth@smnz.org.nz
  • Phone: 04 499 3060

100% of all donations will be sent to the Marist Fathers mission in Fiji.

Any administration costs will be met by the Society of Mary New Zealand and 1/3 of all donations is tax-deductible.

Image source: TVNZ

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Marist missions hard hit by Fiji cyclone

Several Marist missions in Fiji were severely affected by Cyclone Winston, according to a report by Fr Pio Fong Waqavotuwale, SM.

At the Tutu Rural Training Centre in Taveuni, 22 buildings were either completely or partially destroyed.

These were staff houses, dormitories, workshops, hall and kitchens.

Tens of thousands of kava and dalo plants, many belonging to student farmers, have been damaged.

winstondamageThe urgent needs in Tutu are for building materials, with an estimate cost of $125,000, as well as food for 25 families and 72 course participants.

St John’s College in Cawaci, Ovalau,  sustained extensive damage to school buildings, girls’ dormitories, teachers’ and staff quarters, the church, convent and presbytery.

  • The ablutions block for these dormitories was blown down.
  • The church has half of its roof ripped off, including the roofs of the two steeples.
  • The presbytery also has half of its roof blown away and its balcony upstairs wrecked.
  • The convent by the girls’ dormitories has its roof completely ripped off as well.

The only buildings that were intact, with minor damage, were six dormitories for the boys.

Principal Fr ‘Ekuasi Manu said the rebuilding of the school will be administered by Fiji’s Ministry of Education.

The heritage group has been to assess the damage to the church and so the urgent need now is the repair of the presbytery and the convent, for which the ministry will not take responsibility.

Loreto primary school in Sacred Heart parish, Levuka, has been completely destroyed.

Cyclone Winston resulted in some 42 deaths in Fiji, and has seen widespread devastation.

Source: CathNews NZ Pacific

Marist International English language novitiate transfers to New Zealand

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.