Youth development Archives - Society of Mary

From Marist mission in Auckland to Marist mission in Ranong, Thailand

LOGOS, the Marist Youth Development agency in Auckland, November 20, farewelled Tayla Fa’aofo as she departs soon to work at the Marist Mission in Ranong, Thailand.

The farewell was at a shared meal with Tayla and her family.

Not long completing her Bachelor of Education to become a primary school teacher, Tayla he will work at the Marist Asia Foundation for three months.

She will join another member of the Logos community, Laura McLellan, who is on an eight-month assignment in Ranong.

Both Tayla and Laura are former students of Marist College.

Tayla was the college’s Head Girl in 2014.

Since leaving high school, Tayla has volunteered her service and gifts as a Connector in the Logos community, being a part of school retreats, community events, and other programmes.

Challenge 2000 responding to Porirua suicide concerns

Following widespread community concern about a “cluster” of suicides, Challenge 2000 is actively helping in Porirua City, north of Wellington.

Five youth in Porirua have died of suspected suicide since February, and hundreds of people have turned up to several community meetings, voicing their concerns and looking for solutions that can better support young people.

The “cluster suicides” are having a significant impact on the mental health of the rangatahi (younger generation) says Mr Steve O’Connor, Director of Challenge 2000.

“We are working with the Colleges, community members and whanau to promote positive engagement, offering services and support systems”, he said.

“Our team is committed to ensuring the rangatahi of Porirua can grow and achieve their potential and contribute positively to their community”.

Acknowledging the one-off support offered by Government Agency, Oranga Tamariki to provide additional youth programmes, Mr O’Connor said the funding enabled Challenge to initiate and develop a long-term response plan to research the strengths and challenges of the Porirua area.

Mr O’Connor says Challenge identified the holidays as times of high risk for youth and he is grateful to the Capital Coast District Health Board for providing two additional workers to assist with assessments and support of those at risk.

The holiday programmes were well attended and gave the young people an opportunity to reach out to our team and talk about where they were at and what they needed, he said.

He says Challenge’s research will identify existing services and their capacity, any critical gaps and inform our recommendations for the future of Porirua.

With strong ties to the Porirua community dating back to 1988, Challenge has social workers and youth workers in four Porirua Colleges.

The Society of Mary is a partner organisation with Challenge 2000.

LOGOS raises $5k for Marist Ranong mission

Saturday, LOGOS held a quiz evening at the Logos Centre to raise money for the Ranong Mission.

About 250 people attended.

As well as being a lot of fun the event raised about $5,000.

Frank Bird, home in New Zealand from the mission in Ranong, southern Thailand, gave a moving presentation of the work that Marists and their supporters do.

In January 2019 Tayla Faaofo will join another LOGOS member, volunteering teaching at the Marist Asia Mission in Ranong.

The fundraiser raised awareness about the Marist Asia Foundation as well as funds to support Tayla’s volunteer costs.

LOGOS leader, Jen Martinez wrote: “We were overwhelmed by the support from Marist groups, families and the wider community”.

Frank Bird returns shortly to the Marist Asia Foundation work in Ranong.

Marist – Challenge House a visible sign of what Marist means

Marist – Challenge house is a visible sign of what the name Marist means.

The comment was made by New Zealand Marist Father’s provincial, Fr David Kennerly, August 12, at the opening of the new Marist – Challenge house.

Challenge 2000 is a youth development, community and family social work agency in Johnsonville, Wellington.

“If people see teams named Marist, playing rugby, they really will believe that is what Marists stand for.

“If people only see priests and professed brothers called Marists in church, they will think that is the sum total of what being Marist is about, is all that Marists do,” said Fr Kennerley.

Fr Kennerley said Challenge 2000 and its people are the hands, the feet, the care and attention of Christ and the Society of Mary’s involvement in this project helps the Society every more clearly, more boldly express our charism of ‘thinking, feeling and acting like Mary.

The Society of Mary helped secure the future of Challenge 2000 by purchasing the Wanaka St property to be used as a base for Challenge 2000’s outreach.

“Working with young people is more than providing a service to someone, and what this community has, and what this family, and these young people have, is what actually changes lives. – Prime Minister Bill English

Prime Minister opens, Cardinal blesses Marist – Challenge house

The building was opened by Prime Minister, Bill English and blessed by the Cardinal Archbishop of Wellington, John Dew.

Changing vulnerable young people’s lives was more difficult than changing the economy, but, they can change, the Prime Minister said in addressing the 400 strong crowd.

“Working with young people is more than providing a service to someone.

“What this community has, and what this family, and these young people have, is what actually changes lives.

“There’s a whole lot of things happen here in this place with these people and their values which you cannot get from a Government.

“It (Government) can support it, it can enable it, but it can’t replace it”, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister congratulated the Society of Mary for purchasing the building on behalf of Challenge, saying that the building shows respect to young people.

“Often when we look at the services which work with our most vulnerable they don’t show respect, they don’t look like places where we think we are putting people who are valued. And that’s what’s changing here,” he said.

Long time supporter of Challenge 2000, retiring Ohariu MP and Minister of Internal Affairs, Peter Dunne described Challenge 2000 as the preeminent youth development agency.

He congratulated Challenge 2000 on what it has become and for its place in helping make young people confident, bold, and looking positively towards the future.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester also acknowledged the commitment of Challenge 2000 to the capital city.

“Challenge 2000 through their values of social justice, the notion of love works, and that if we put a tender arm around our young people, support them, celebrate them, we get them on the right path”, he said.

Earlier, the Cardinal John Dew asked God’s blessing on the Marist Challenge House, praying for all those who come looking for support and encouragement in their lives.

He gave thanks for the work of Challenge 2000 as it stands up for others, teaches, encourages and supports vulnerable youth and families. He prayed that Challenge 2000 would always be a light in the darkness.

Dare to Dream presentation nerves

LOGOS’ leader Jen Martinez admits to being slightly nervous prior to departing for Dare to Dream; a meeting of lay Marists in France.

She, and fellow presenters Sam Mano and Matt Grevatt are due to deliver a presentation to young people at the Marist gathering Dare to Dream in Lyon.

Familiar with delivering presentations in a New Zealand context, it is the first time they will present in an international setting.

“We’re told that our English will be translated by an App!” she said by phone the evening before departing.

Jen is uncertain how many of the 400 attendees understand English but expects there will be a number who wont.

“I hope the App understands Kiwi”, Jen said optimistically.

Language translation aside, Jen, Sam and Matt are confident in their presentation and tested it on a group the day before departing.

“We’re told that our English will be translated by an App!…I hope the App understands Kiwi.”

“I was really pleased with the quality of the in-depth conversation that followed” she said.

LOGOS, the Society of Mary’s Youth Development team, is leading a workshop on chapters three and four of Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia “The Joy of Love”.

The LOGOS presentation seeks to explore the “vocation of the family”, and “love in marriage”. Their starting point is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Dare to Dream takes place on 17 – 23 July, however Jen Martinez and Sam Mano left today to be part of a team helping prepare the venue for 400 attendees.

Dare to Dream marks the 200th anniversary of the young Marists who signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

The gathering, a joint initiative of the four religious branches of the Marist Family, takes place in the Marist School of Sainte Marie Lyon – La Solitude.

Fr Alejandro Muñoz SM of the ‘Dare to Dream’ organising committee said the meeting is to encourage young people to dare to dream, like the group of young Marists did 200 years ago when they signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

Fr Muñoz says the Dare to Dream programme aims to

promote the coordination and integration of young Marists
celebrate of the bicentenary of the Pledge of Fourvière
prepare for the bicentenary of the founding of the Institute of the Marist Brothers on 2 January 2017.

Follow Dare to Dream on Twitter and Facebook.

Youth work springs from ‘Hokianga where prayer became exhausted’

After only a few months of youth work at LOGOS, Magdalena Webb realises she doesn’t have to be exactly like others.

Studying and also working part time at LOGOS, the Society of Mary youth development programme, she hopes to make a positive difference.

“I’m learning to embrace my differences and use them in a way to positively influence young people,” she says in a profile feature on the LOGOS website.

Magdalena comes from land near the Whirinaki River in the “Hokianga Whakapau Karakia” (Hokianga Where the Prayer Became Exhausted).

Through family connections she is associated with the Catholic Worker Movement (CWM).

Not a CWM member herself; the Movement however plays a significant role in who she is and how she works as a junior youth worker.

Magdalena describes the philosophy of the Catholic Worker Movement living a simple lifestyle in community, serving the disadvantaged, and resisting war and social injustice.”

Two years ago she decided to give her life to the service of young people and like the Whirinaki River she hopes to be a source of life and growth to others.