LIVE MARISTWinter 2015

Vocations e-newsletter for the Marist Brothers’ Province of Australia

Brothers and Young Marists at Live Marist Dinner in Canberra

Winter 2015About LIVE MARISTLIVE MARIST is the occasional e-newsletter of the Marist Vocations Team. It aims to provide news of vocations ministry events and happenings from around the Province of Australia, together with reflections on Marist life and mission.

LIVE MARIST is for all members of the Australian Marist Community; Brothers, Lay Marists, those involved in leadership and the education and faith formation of youth and young adults in our ministries.

LIVE MARIST promotes the vocation of all the baptised, with a special focus on the growth of new members; both Brothers and Lay Marists.

ContentsYear of Consecrated Life

From Br Greg

Novices in Esopus

Marist Youth Festival

Live Marist Dinners

Year 12 Marist Forum

MSA School Visits

Marist Life Mentors

Touch Footy

The LIVE MARIST TeamBr Greg McDonald

Br Rod Thomson

Morgan Lee - Graphic Designer

Marists Celebrate Year of Consecrated LifeThere have been a number of wonderful celebrations around the country as the Catholic Church continues to mark the Year of Consecrated Life. Marists have taken part in several recent events.

In the Archdiocese of Brisbane, a Thanksgiving Mass was held to recognise the extraordinary contribution of religious women and men in ministry. Br John Thompson, Br Bill McAvoy and Br Neville Solomon from the Rosalie Community joined with other Religious and Archbishop Mark Coleridge for this occasion at St Stephen’s Cathedral. At the same time, Br Rod Thomson attended a night for Religious and Young People conducted by the Vocation Brisbane team.

Inspired by the popular ABC current affairs program, we held our own Marist Q&A event in Sydney with a panel of speakers representing the Four Branches of the Marist Family (Fathers, Sisters, Missionary Sisters and Brothers) at St Patrick’s Church Hill. Frank Malloy, Regional Director for MSA Sydney was our ‘Tony Jones’ for the evening. The night allowed people to twitter questions in as well as ask about Religious Life from the floor. It was a terrific evening as we shared our hopes for Marist life and mission into the future. - LM

From Br GregConsecrated Life, an adventure of the heart“The life of the Church should always reveal clearly that God takes the initiative, that “he has loved us first” (1 Jn 4:19) and that he alone “gives the growth” (1 Cor 3:7). This conviction enables us to maintain a spirit of joy in the midst of a task so demanding and challenging that it engages our entire life.” (EG 12)

Earlier this year I had the good fortune of travelling to Timor Leste and visiting our four Brothers who are working in the Diocese of Baucau, some 3 hours’ drive east from the capital of Dili. In the midst of the Timorese People, three Aussies and one Brazilian are working alongside Australian Sisters and Lay people, gently yet purposefully assisting with the rebuilding of the nation’s dignity and wellbeing, after centuries of foreign occupation and oppression.

The joy and energy with which Brothers Tony, Peter, Michael and Leccio are going about their ministry of educating and forming young people there is truly inspiring. Their ability to speak the local language has clearly helped to forge close relationships and build confidence and trust among their Timorese students, who show an enthusiasm to be involved in future Marist projects.

Probably what inspired me most was the quiet sense of purpose with which the Brothers experience themselves making a small contribution to God’s mission in the Church in Timor Leste, and the joy that emanates from doing some good, despite the obstacles and challenges. Each Brother could have been engaged in a meaningful ministry in their home country, yet here they were responding to the needs of the young in this developing nation, and doing so gladly.

The call to brotherhood means putting aside any notion of being a ‘lone ranger’ or some kind of rock star. That strong bond of fraternity given to the early Brothers by St Marcellin, through the practice of prayer, community life, and the simple virtues, is not only grounding and sustaining for our human and religious lives, but also energizing. Like any Marist community, the Brothers in Timor Leste practice being brothers to each other, before they are brothers to others.

Pope Francis’ quote from Evangelii Guadium (above) reminds me that when

we allow God to take the initiative, our lives can become a living witness of God’s love, enabling us to become even more effective sowers of hope, sharing God’s love with others, enabling it to flourish wherever it is sown; whether it be Baucau, Santa Teresa, Marist College Bendigo, Heidelberg West, Aleppo Syria, the John Berne School at Lewisham or the countless other ministries that Marists are involved in.

Consecrated Life has always been an adventure of the heart, for men and women who fall in love with God in a radical, restless way, desiring to go to the margins of society and give one’s whole life to bringing hope, equality

and justice for our brothers and sisters in need. In this Year of Consecrated Life, I thank God for those who, like our Brothers in Timor Leste, continue to witness to this adventurous and daring way of living the Gospel. May our present generation of young people come to know the joy and adventure that comes from the total gift of one’s life for the sake of Jesus and His Gospel.

God Bless,

Brother Greg McDonald, FMSDirector of Vocationswww.maristvocations.comwww.facebook.com/MaristVocations

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The Marist Community in Timor Leste (L-R) Br Peter Corr, Br Lecio Heckler, Br Paul Kane (Visitor), Br Michael McManus, Br Tony Clark, Br Greg McDonald (visitor).

Novices in Esopus

It was part of the early Marist Rule that novices were meant to pray hard, study hard and undertake regular manual labour in the vegetable garden, thus avoiding idleness and unnecessary distractions – unless important visitors from overseas arrived!

These past few months have seen a few Aussie Marists visit the Novitiate in Esopus NY, to see how James Hodge and Jack O’Sullivan are doing.

Visitors have included the Provincial, Br Jeff Crowe who spent some days with the novices,followed by Br Chris Wills who gave a presentation on International Marist Solidarity, and finally Br Michael Green who ran a 2-week course on Champagnat and the early Marists, as a prelude to the novices’ immersion and retreat at The Hermitage in France, in July.

In early June, Br Paul Kane, Director of Initial Formation, visited and spent 10 days with the Novitiate Community. His fresh supply of Aussie treats (Tim Tams, Cherry Ripes, Vegemite etc.) was much welcomed. Br Paul reports that the novices are all in good form and engaging well with their Marist formation program as well as regular opportunities to engage in ministry with young people in need.

Along with Sam Amos from the Province of the USA, Liam Desic, one of our Young Marists from Brisbane is spending a few months there assisting with the Summer Camps run by Marist Young Adults.

We continue to pray for our novices and the Formation Team as they prepare to move into the final stages of the Novitiate before profession of First Vows in mid-August back in Australia.

- LM

Brothers at Marist Youth Festival 2015It was great to have the presence of so many Brothers at the 2015 Marist Youth Festival in January. Many worked behind the scenes as volunteers, while others took on roles with helping organise key liturgies and looking after guest speakers. The presence of 30 brothers at the Taize prayer evening added some extra volume with the chanting. Thanks Brothers!

God Bless,

Brother Greg McDonald, FMSDirector of Vocations

www.maristvocations.comwww.facebook.com/MaristVocations

Marist Youth Festival

Live Marist Dinners

Melbourne | Brisbane | CanberraAs a way of celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life, the Vocations Team decided take the good news about Marist Life and hit the road, meeting with young men and encouraging them to ‘Live Marist’ as Brothers.

So far, three Live Marist Dinners have been held in Melbourne (Fitzroy Community), Brisbane (Marist Centre) and Canberra (King O’Malley’s Pub), with all-up, 65 in attendance.

During dinner, Br Rod and Br Greg shared about the vocation of religious brothers in the Church today, lived out through our own particular Marist charism, as well as highlighting the many extraordinary ways that Marist brothers carry out God’s mission of educating and evangelising young people in 2015 throughout Australia and beyond.

Melbourne

Br Michael Callinan and Br Justin Golding then spoke about the establishment of a new Marist Community in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, and their desire to respond to the calls of the General Chapter; to discern a new way of being Brothers in a community of mission, situated among poor and marginalised youth.

The latter part of the evening allowed for some open conversations around Church and Religious Life, together with feedback by the young men on what they had heard from the Brothers. At each venue there has been a strong sense of appreciation from the young men for the opportunity to connect with Brothers and have these conversations.

Over the coming months further dinners will be held in Sydney and Adelaide. Special thanks to Fitzroy Community and Marist Centre Brisbane staff for allowing us to host these evenings locally and to the Young Marists who stepped up to help organise and MC the evening.- LM

Brisbane

Canberra

“I just had to give it a go”

“Right from the start there was that bond of connection and sense that we were just right for each other”

“That moment when I knew God was inviting me to respond and I couldn’t do anything else but say yes”

“God has spoken and touched my heart. How can I not respond with the gift of my life?”

“I knew this was right for me” Just a few of the inspiring quotes from our wonderful speakers who shared their vocation stories with students at the Year 12 Marist Forums, held at both the Marist Centre Brisbane and the Marist Hermitage, Mittagong, during Term One. The theme of the weekends; ‘Wake Up the World’ took up Pope Francis’ call for Christian men and women to make a difference in the world through the joyful witness of living out their vocation. Students spent time reflecting on the richness of the word vocation and the call-response action that underlies its meaning for Christian life. A simple discernment workshop, ‘Keys to Unlocking My Vocation’ aimed

Year 12 Vocations Forumto help students consider how they might best use their gifts and talents in making choices about their future. As mentioned, we were fortunate to hear the rich stories of people who are living out their vocation in the service of the Church and society, including married couples, religious sisters and brothers, priests and seminarians and single lay Marists. In his evaluation, one Year 12 student wrote: “I wasn’t really clear what ‘vocation’ meant but I now have a better understanding and the many paths I can choose to make a difference through my life. God has a plan and purpose for me. I don’t need to stress about what’s going to happen in the years ahead, if I listen for God’s call and always say ‘yes’ to him.”

Wake Up The World2015 Year 12 Marist Vocations Forum

Another student wrote: “Vocation is about saying ‘yes’ and just getting involved… don’t stand back for fear of failure. We all make mistakes and that’s ok. I realise that I may as well choose a vocation which I enjoy.” Such comments help to affirm the importance we place on creating spaces where our young people can be encouraged to stop, reflect, pray and consider God’s call for their lives, as well as having good mentors who can accompany them along the way.

Thanks to our guest presenters, our wonderful teachers who accompanied the students, the MYM teams in Brisbane and Sydney and the staff of the Hermitage and Marist Centre in Brisbane for helping provide this worthwhile experience. We look forward to watching these young people wake up the world in the years ahead!- LM

St Patricks Dundas

MSA School VisitsMSA School VisitsSo far this year the Vocations Team has covered 4 states and given 30 presentations to students in Year 7 (Being Brothers and Sisters), Year 11 (Step Up!) and Year 12 (Life List), as well as connecting with student leaders, Youth Ministry teams, Faith and Justice Groups and Immersion Groups. It’s always great to visit Marist schools and experience the terrific opportunities young people are being offered through education and evangelisation!

If you would like to find out more about the Marist Vocations Team’s school presentations contact Br Greg. greg.mcdonald@marists.org.au or 0407 492 022

Trinity Catholic College Auburn

Trinity Catholic College Lismore

St Gregory’s College Campbelltown

Marist College Kogarah

Mt Carmel Catholic College Varroville

Red Bend Catholic College Forbes

Assumption College Kilmore

Lavalla Catholic College Traralgon

Marist College Eastwood

Marist College AshgroveMarcellin College Randwick

St Augustine’s College Cairns

A Lay Marist’s reflection on Nurturing Vocations

Marist Life Mentors

young people alongside some priests and brothers to participate in some Service activities in the Parish and wider community. Father Peter Day is an awesome example to the boys at Marist through his work in HOME in Queanbeyan. Our students travel out there once a fortnight to help in the kitchen and the offshoot of doing this service is that the boys develop an appreciation that being a priest can and should involve serving the downtrodden and outcast in our communities, not just celebrating the Eucharist at Mass on Sunday, but actually breaking open their lives in sacrifice for others as Christ did at the last supper.

Over the past two years I can point to five young men who’ve discussed how they are open to discerning the Priesthood or Religious life. This has been an amazing and humbling opportunity for

me to listen, guide, direct and support these young fella’s and I don’t do it alone. I’ve shared the responsibility of helping to deepen their faith and provide opportunities for formation and I believe this partnership is critical.

Marist Life MentorsHaving Vocations Directors within the Marist network has been very valuable, and they offer discernment weekends and other young adult opportunities such as accompaniment to young guys who are discerning the life of a Marist Brother. They also make it a priority to visit various year levels at Marist once a year and deliver a presentation about vocations. The Brothers have also developed a new program called Marist Life Mentors, which engages teachers as mentors for senior students and those who’ve recently graduated. This program is still in its initial

my vocation is firmly rooted in marriage and family life. I can share what I’ve been called to, and many of the young men at the College will also be called to marriage, but when it comes to witnessing the joy of the consecrated life, I’ve become more and more aware that I need to be regularly putting excellent, relatable and genuine examples of Priests and Brothers in front of the boys.

Promoting Vocations - The ChallengeIn days gone by young people would have come into greater contact with Priests through their participation in Parish life and also through family meals with their Parish Priest. For the vast majority of children I serve this just isn’t the case. Their main interactions with the clergy are at a distance, through class visits, school masses and retreats. Whilst it is great that Priests are making the effort to attend these important occasions at school, unfortunately they often don’t have the chance to reveal their human side to the students in meaningful and personal interaction. I think these elements are critical to how Jesus taught us to be disciples and make disciples through our relationships.

The challenge therefore is, how do we as Church, school, family, parish community make opportunities for young people to engage with our priests, and religious sisters and brothers in a space that allows them to encounter the human behind the vocation, the person who said ‘yes’ like Mary our Good Mother?

Ministry alongside Priests and ReligiousOne area of growth that I’m hoping to explore in my Service programs is to put

The following are excerpts from a presentation given in 2013 to the Canberra Serra (Vocations) Club Nathan Ahearne, Marist Life Mentor and Director of Faith Formation at Marist College Canberra.

“2013 has been my first year in the role of Director of Faith Formation at Marist College Canberra. … I hope that my faith resonates with the young people I serve, but I’m very aware that my own personal example of witnessing my faith through

Recent Marist Life Mentors workshop at St Gregory’s College Campbelltown.

stages, but it will play a vital role in helping to bridge the gap between school aged youth ministry and young adult ministry and vocations discernment programs.

Young Marists - making ConnectionsFrom a National perspective the Marist Brothers have placed a large emphasis on Young Adult Youth Ministry programs … Young Marists are active and alive in Canberra, in fact they are running their Prayer and Pasta night at the Brothers’ Monastery as I speak. This group of young people gather together once a month for fellowship, food and prayer. I can also name another half a dozen recently graduated Marist students who’ve given up a year of their life to help with the a National Youth Ministry team, live in a Marist community in a developing nation and also work as an assistant to the Youth Minister at a College. Each of these young men are answering the call in their lives to explore something which is not mainstream. These opportunities are not self-focused, instead, they challenge them to put others before their own needs.

Recommendations and Strategies ...The sort of follow up (to our school vocations work) needs to include making clear links to Parish Youth Ministry programs, mentoring opportunities, and other activities and adventures which will help these senior students continue to develop their faith and find the quiet space to hear God’s call in their lives.

There are a growing number of gap year programs such as Inroads and Catholic Immersions to serve the poor and live in solidarity. These immersions are having life changing effects on young people and what I’ve heard from so many young people returning is that they went over to make a difference in the lives of others, but

it was their life that was the most effected.

Mentoring our Young PeopleFinally, I believe that … Mentoring programs would drastically improve the discernment process for young people. I was personally involved in such a program as a young person in my early twenties and it was key to my discernment of marriage and redirecting my life plans. The Mentoring program was well organized and gave me the opportunity to catch up with an older man about once a month to chat about my life and sound out what was going on. This gave me the freedom to share quite deeply about my intentions in life, relationship and the challenges I was facing as a young man.

I look back on this time and am very grateful for the simple and straight forward advice I received, but the main thing I took from the mentoring was a sounding board. Someone who could listen and reflect back to me what was happening in my life. I think peer to peer youth ministry serves a wonderful purpose, having young people talking about God together is great, but it’s limited, young people also need inter-generational relationships, where they can be discipled by someone further along life’s journey, mentored by a wiser pilgrim who’s walked the path a few times before.

Thank you for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts about Vocations and I hope that I’ve provided you with a greater understanding of what is happening in Faith Formation at Marist College Canberra.

Nathan AhearneDirector of Faith FormationMarist College Canberra

Marist Students Connect In Brisbane Touch Footy CompetitionPat Webster, teacher at Marist College Ashgrove and one of our Marist Life Mentors, has a gift for connecting ex-students from Marist Schools. Realising that many Marist students were travelling from regional and country areas to Brisbane for their studies, and not being too familiar with the city scene, Pat decided to form a ‘Marist’ touch football team in the local Brisbane competition, as a way of connecting young people and having a bit of fun and fitness. The response from Marist Life Mentors and key staff in other schools has been terrific with two Marist teams being formed, comprising of ex-students from Cairns, Innisfail, Emerald, Gladstone, Lismore, Mitchelton, Ashgrove, and Beenleigh. The Marist Vocations Team pitched in as major sponsors, with the Brisbane Marist Youth Ministry Team helping with some sponsorship and players as well. Congrats Pat and Go Marist! We hope others take your lead in creating similar opportunities across the country.

Touch Footy

Pat Webster (Front Row, second from left) with Touch Footy Team ‘Sub Tuum’