Society of Mary

Marist Fathers New Zealand: Life and spirit

Marist Vocations

Significant social media effort coming to Marist vocations promotion

marist vocations promotionMarist vocations promotion is changing direction in the New Zealand Province of the Society of Mary.

The Provincial, Fr David Kennerley SM in consultation with his council decided to entrust vocations promotion to a committee and to make more use social media.

Fr Kennerley sees the benefit of using all God’s communications gifts, so the province is looking to promote Marist vocations using at a multi-point approach, personal contact and social media.

The province is engaging a young professional to assist with the social media outreach.

“We’re keen to use social media as an initial point of contact”, says Fr Kennerley.

“However, people getting to know us and our getting to know them is a human dynamic, and so we see some advantage in having a geographical spread of Marists around the country”, he said.

The Marist vocations promotion committee comprises Frs Barry Scannell (Hawkes Bay), Pat Breeze (Auckland), Phil Bennenbroek (Christchurch), Matt Crawford (Wellington), and Thige O’Leary (Convener).

The next event organised by the committe is a vocation discernment weekend for 20 – 22 April.

The committee also hopes to hold another in May.

“These weekends have been a powerful experience for those who attended, even if they decide Marist life is not for them”, Fr Matt Crawford said.

The Marist vocation discernment weekends take place at Marist Seminary in Auckland.

Fr Crawford is urging everyone to continue to pray for Marist vocations to the priesthood and as a religious brother.

1000 pack cathedral for ordination of Dennis Levi

More than 1000 people packed Holy Cross Cathedral, Honiara, to witness Dennis Levi’s ordination as a priest.

Dennis Levi
Deacon Dennis Levi, supported by his parents, is presented for priestly ordination in traditional Are’Are.

Ordained by Bishop John Daonenoel SM, the ceremony took place on 9 July.

The entrance procession was reported to be “particularly colourful”.

Accompanied by his parents, Deacon Levi was presented in full traditional Are’Are.

Dennis Levi’s home parish, Makina was well represented; leading the entrance procession, also dressed in traditional attire.

The Solomon Star reports traditional melodies sung by the choir also made a  significant contribution to the ordination. “It was so deep in meaning that all the people felt the richness of the enculturation of the Liturgy”, wrote Sesilia Sala.

Fr Dennis Levi
Prior to ordination Deacon Levi’s parents removed the Are’Are; replacing them with church vestments.

After the ordination people gathered at the Marist Regional House for a post-ordination ‘feast’; the occasion accompanied by a down pouring of rain, a local sign of blessing.

Fr Dennis, is a member of the Marist Communty in Dala, Malaita, Solomons. He is teaching in the College, and also working in the Parish.

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Marist vocation weekends prove popular

prayercroppedhardNine young men have taken part in vocation discernment weekends at Marist Seminary this year.

The opportunity to see Marist life up close proved more popular than expected, says Seminary rector, Fr Peter McAfee.

In January, Marist Seminary ran a discernment weekend. It was a live-in experience for young men considering a Marist vocation and due to the surprising level of interest the event was repeated 25-27 April.

The discernment weekends run from Friday to Sunday.

As part of the introduction to Marist life, the participants experienced seminary life.

There was a mix of community and personal prayer, class, a chance to speak with a priest or seminarian, social time, personal time, Mass and meals together.

The team, Frs Matt Crawford and Peter McAfee and seminarians, Phil Bennenbroek, Brendan Jenke and Hayden Powick agreed that the event was more positive than they could have expected.

Comments from the participants were also positive; they were struck by how ‘free’ or un-worried the Marists were.

The next discernment weekend is from 7:30pm August 1- 1:30pm 3 August 2014. Those interested are welcome to contact Fr Peter McAfee.