Earlier this year Mrs Geraldine Carter retired after serving five years as Business Manager for the Marist Sisters in Australia. Since then we have also farewelled Care-Coordinator, Miss Christine Mackenzie, who was with us for fifteen years. Because of Covid 19 and all the restrictions, we have been unable to come together as a Unit to officially thank these two wonderful women.
On Saturday 11th July those who were able, gathered at Hunters Hill for afternoon tea to acknowledge Geraldine and Chris and give thanks for the time they have faithfully served the Unit. The afternoon was very informal, but gave each of us a chance to catch up with them and also with each other.
We continue to pray in thanksgiving for both of them as begin the next phase of their journey through life. Each of them has been a gift to our Unit in so many different ways.
Each year on 30th June Marist Sisters throughout the world celebrate the life of their Foundress, Jeann-Marie Chavoin. She is remembered as a courageous, large-hearted and generous woman. Her deep faith in God and love of Mary enabled her to be always ready to render service to those in need.
During these days when our world is in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic may her words inspire us and give us hope:
“We must have confidence. God is not dead. We must count on Providence. It has never let us down and it will not fail us today. God will come to our help.”
The 2020 Lenten Season has begun. There are various ways of journeying through Lent so that we deepen our relationship with God, with each other and with the whole of creation. Catholic Religious Australia has developed a Lenten Fast Calendar to assist us in this journey. The calendar provides suggestions for each day of Lent. Download your copy here.
In Fiji, the two Marist Sisters’ communities of Nadi and Nadelei came together at Mount St Mary’s Nadi on Saturday 15th February to have a full days programme with two of our General Councillors, Sisters Anne McCabe and Viennese Goldstein. It was a real privilege to have our day facilated by Srs Anne and Vivienne.
On 6th February sixteen Marist Sisters in New Zealand travelled to Whangaparoa for a lunch to celebrate Waitangi Day, a special national day in Aotearoa New Zealand.
This day celebrates who we are – as a people, as a country and as a nation. Waitangi Day 2020 marks 180 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand. It signaled the beginning of a long relationship between the Maori people (the first people of the land) and other cultures.
Several photos were taken during the celebration. One was a photo of the youngest Sister and the oldest Sister in the Marist Sisters Unit of Aotearoa New Zealand.
A group of Marist Sisters living in Sydney recently gathered to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sr Vivienne Goldstein and the Diamond Jubilee of Sr Anthony Walker. During a simple liturgy they celebrated Mary, as their model and leader in “mothering the Word”. All who bear the name of Mary are called to hear the Word, to wait on the Word, to give birth to the Word, to hold the Word and to release the Word – as Kevin Bates sm reminds us in his song: “Hail Mary”.
Marist Sisters in Fiji gathered recently to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Sr Marlen Giblin and the Diamond Jubilee of Sr Margaret Sharma. The day started with Mass at 1.30 pm. Fr Cecil Williams, a close family friend came from Suva to celebrate the Mass. He made it very special and at the end of the Mass, he called Marlene and Margaret to the front and conferred on them a special blessing. Members of the congregation also raised their hands in blessing.
Congratulations to Sr Birisita Bibi who made her Perpetual Profession as a Marist Sister in Fiji recently. Biri’s family and friends from Levuka, where Biri has been on mission over recent years, arrived in Lami in great numbers on Friday 6th December. They were accommodated at the school premises.
At 10.00 am on the 7th December, the Profession Mass began in the parish church in Lami, Suva. Fr John Crispin sm was main celebrant. He was assisted by six other priests. The church was filled to the doors with the presence of the Marist Sisters, Biri’s family and the youth choir from Levuka. The whole community was filled with joy as Sr Biri made her final commitment to God. At the end of the Mass, all were invited to the parish hall for lunch. After lunch the sisters gathered at the convent for the unwrapping of gifts. What a happy day it was for the sisters, for Biri’s family and friends and for Biri.
