April Issue 2018

Rencontre filles du 8-9-10 avril avec le Service Diocésain des Vocations

C’est à la mission de Saint Louis, à la maison des Petites Filles de Ma-rie, en ce lieu, où tant de vocations religieuses sont nées que les mem-bres du Service Di-océsain des Vocations ont organisé la rencon-tre filles sur le thème : « Jésus, Chemin de Vie ».

Comme pour les apôtres , une douzaine de filles ont répondu à l’invitation :« Quel chemin choisir ? Quel sens, vas-tu donner à ta vie ? » Le calme des lieux a permis de se mettre aussitôt à l’écoute du Sei-gneur et de vivre une soirée d’adoration. Le lundi matin, après la prière des Laudes et la messe, c’est le diacre Martin qui a développé la Parole de Dieu : « Je suis le Chemin, la Vérité et la Vie ».

NOUVELLE CALEDONIE

L’après midi, pour marquer la fête de l’Annonciation, le « Oui » de la Vierge Marie, nous avons cheminé vers la grotte de ND de Lourdes, en méditant les mystères joyeux. En soirée, chaque équipe a présenté à sa manière le passage des Disciples d’Emmaüs. Le mardi matin, les témoignages de Sœur Clément (Petite Sœur des Pauvres) et du Père Jean Patrick ont touché le cœur des jeunes. Après le bilan et le merci à sœur Dalila (PFM) et à son équipe pour l’accueil et le service de cuisine, les filles ont été invitées à poursuivre leur recherche, à rester en contact avec un membre de l’équipe SDV et à vivre un temps dans une communauté. Le week-end du 11-13 mai s’adressera uniquement aux garçons et se passera également à la mission de Saint Louis, communauté des Sœurs PFM. Que ton Esprit Saint donne la force de répondre « OUI » à tes appels. Par le F. Jean –Paul (FMS)

Vocation Meeting with girls from 8-9-10 April and the Diocesan Service of Vocations

It is at the mission of Saint Louis, at the house of the Little Daughters of Mary, a place where so many religious vocations were born, that the members of the Diocesan Service of Vocations organized the girls' meeting on the theme: "Jesus, Way of Life ". As for the apostles, a dozen girls responded to the invitation: "Which way to choose? What meaning, will you give to your life? " The quietness of the place made it possible to immediately listen to the Lord and live an evening of adoration. On Monday morning, after the Lauds prayer and the Mass, it was Deacon Martin who gave a reflection on the Word of God: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life". In the after-noon, to mark the feast of the Annunciation, the "Yes" of the Virgin Mary, we walked towards the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, meditating on the joyful mysteries. In the evening, each team presented in its own way the passage of the Disciples of Emmaus. On Tuesday morning, the testimonies of Sister Clement (Little Sister of the Poor) and Father Jean Patrick touched the hearts of young people. After the assessment and thanks to Sister Dalila (PFM) and her team for the welcome and the cooking service, the girls were invited to continue their research, to stay in touch with a member of the SDV team and to live a time in a community.

The weekend of May 11-13 will only be for boys and will also be held at the Saint Louis Mission, PFM Sisters community. May your Holy Spirit give the strength to answer "YES" to your calls.

By Br Jean-Paul (FMS)

NEW CALEDONIA

THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

The teaching and learning interaction at St Michel is ploughing well into the year towards the First Term Break 26th April 2018. I did not witness too many school out/indoor activities. As I am putting to-gether this brief report, the boarding masters are organising sports and concert activities as a weekend in for students. It is an oppor-tunity for the students to showcase their skills in sport and market their talents in the art of dancing and acting as children of light.

THE CHAMPAGNAT GROUP GETs OFF THE GROUND

spearheaded by Br Fereol and a number of teachers the group is ready to spin off with a number of interested students of 20 plus. But was very interesting to see this morning after Mass during the video session of Marcellin’s life. The turn up was above forty stu-dents. Maybe they were there for different reasons. But neverthe-less, it was a good turnout including non-Catholics.

SOME RECENT HAPPENNINGS AT ST MICHEL SANTO

VANUATU

BR FEREOL ADDRESSING THE CHAMPAGNAT GROUP

BR FEREOL’S RENEWAL OF VOWS 10th April 2018

The highlight of this Month of April was the renewal of Br

Fereol’s vows of chastity, Poverty and

Obedience for one year into the Mar-

ist Brothers of the Schools. The

event took place with the Mass said by

Pere Maurice Tequebou our Parish

priest in the Brothers ‘residence at

6pm, 10th April 2018. The blessed oc-

casion was witnessed by a number of close and cooperate

friends at St Michel

The Brothers thanked Br Fereol for his generous gift of

himself to the life as a Marist Brother and his family for form-

ing and letting him to serve God as Champagnat’s son in

Mary’s way. May his life shine out to young people as a wit-

ness to the gospel values of Jesus Christ. We ended up with

some plastics of cava and a meal provided by land and the

promise was sealed. Amen.

MARIST PROJECT ARAWA

AUTONOMOUS REGION OF BOUGAIN VILLE IN PICTURES

David Mirringtoro and Max Ningkonung

on their way to visit the Early Childhood

Community Schools in different parts of

Central Bougainville. They were accom-

panied by some of their friends. They

had to walk through mountains, hills

and crossed rivers to reach the schools.

There is no access to vehicle road, all

are done on foot.

A Real Champagnat Way.

One of the

Schools that

was visited

David Mirringtoro

addressing

the Community

David Kamuka addressing

the Community

Max having

a rest af-

ter some

hours of

walk

8

MARIST PILGRIMAGE IN PICTURES

FROM BR SIXTUS WINDUO

BRS IAN & SIXTUS ON PILGRIMAGE

BR SIX-TUS AND THE

GROUP IN THE HOLY LAND

BR SIXTUS AT VATICAN, ITALY

BR SIXTUS IN THE CHAPEL AT FOURVIERE, FRANCE

BR SIXTUS AND THE GROUP AROUND THE TABLE AT LAVALLA

BR SIXTUS IN FRONT OF ST MARCELLIN RELICS AT THE HERMITAGE, LYON, FRANCE

BR SIXTUS IN FRONT OF THE STATUE OF OUR LADY

AT LE PUY, FRANCE

10

‘IT IS EASY TO EDUCATE A CHILD THAN TO REPAIR

BROKEN MEN’

I had the privilege to be among some of

the Marist school leaders in Melanesia

that attended the Marist Leadership

workshop organised by the Marist Broth-

ers of the District of the Pacific. The

workshop was held at Lomeri, Fiji from

21st April to 24th April 2018.

The workshop, as I came to embrace it, was a build up from the

workshop that was held in 2017 around the same time. I also had

the privilege to attend and participate in this workshop. On that

note I wish to thank our District Leader for the ongoing support

for the leaders tasked to look after various ministries.

Obviously there were so many enriching and invaluable discussion

and sharing of information during the workshop. In writing this

article I wish to bring our attention to the above slogan because

our education system today has dramatically shifted away from

what it means to educate.

As I reflected on the different sessions and the discussions held

during the last three days, I came to remind myself that as Marists

we have never shifted from the original dream or philosophy of ed-

ucation as bequeathed by St Marcellin Champgnat, the founder of

the Marist Broth-

ers, some 200

years ago.

A REFLECTION ON MARIST LEADER-SHIP WORKSHOP IN LOMERI, FIJI

BY ABRAHAM HIHIRU, TENARU

The Montagne Experience gave Marcellin the

inspiration to listen and remain in the Word.

As School leaders we were challenged to listen

to our inner dwelling of Christ in us. We are

all given this unique gift of SELF and the invi-

tation for us school leaders is to understand

and discover who we are in order for us to be

in touch with God and likewise reciprocate

that same heart of obedience towards those by which we are called to

serve. Like Mary, she was servile or open to God’s call. At some point

Mary was able to challenge the call but at the same was open to it and

was willing to share it with her sister.

Today, God is speaking to us in various ways, either through events,

incidents, or the experience of life itself. As Marist Educators, we are

called to remain in the Word in a world that is entirely controlled by

secularism and materialism. These new waves of changes will indeed

and continue to have an overwhelming negative effect on our work and

those for whom we are called to educate. Our school vision and mis-

sion are our source of energy and nourishment that should thrive us

and remain as cornerstone of our school culture and help us grow

deeper in our commitment to the call to serve God and his people in

faith. Perhaps our ultimate mission as school leaders is to give an un-

derprivileged child the opportunity to recognise his full potential. All

the children that enter our schools have varying skills and innate tal-

ents by which we are called to nurture and develop.

As school leaders we are challenged to embrace the 5 PILLARS of the

Marist Spirituality into our school pastoral plan and articulate that in

the way we lead and manage the schools. The greatest question each

one of us must continue to ask is ‘what does it really mean to be at a

Marist school? Jesus said,’ Let the children come to me for the King-

dom of God is theirs”. School leaders are challenged to guide and sup-

port all young people entering their schools today. In a democratic so-

ciety like Solomon Island, PNG and

Vanuatu, we all have an obligation to

protect and form our young people

to become good citizens. In, any

case, we are all called to discipline

with dignity.

DISTRICT DATES & UPCOMING EVENTS

District Leader’s Visits & Travels May 4—10 - Laumanasa, Solomon Islands

May 24—31 - Mapac - Manila, Philippines

District Visitors Br Kevin O’Malley—District of Pacific—will come for a short stay at Laumanasa

from May 17—June 13, 2018. Cyril Benora and Carlvin Girina (Novices) - Community and Apostolic experience

at Mabiri and Vanga Point—May 15—August 10, 2018. Meeting May 28—29—Mapac Executive Board Meeting, Manila Philippines Prayers & Thoughts Br Hudson’s Mother—passed away recently Br Mark Poro’s Mother—passed away recently Br John Paul Mauro—his health Brothers discerning their vocation as Brothers and going through difficult mo-

ment in their religious life Cyril and Carlvin for their Community and Apostolic Experience Our young men in Formation

Vision Yumi wakabaut wantaim olsem wanpela family igo long niupela

time.

Mission Long dispela niupela taim, wok blong yumi emi blong mekim ol

yanpela i save long Jesus na laikim em.