LAUNCH OF Catholic Beginning in Oceania—Marist Missionary Perspectives in Colin Library at Hunters Hill 4 May 2009By Maria Baden  On 4 May, a small but enthusiastic group of Marists attended a book launch, hosted by the Marist Fathers and held, appropriately, in the Colin Library at Hunters Hill.
Catholic Beginnings in Oceania: Marist Missionary Perspectives was launched by Fr John Hosie SM, Marist historian, who spoke convincingly on the centrality of Oceania to the whole Marist project. Marists were, in fact, the Catholic pioneers in New Zealand, Polynesia and Melanesia. It was Fr Jean-Claude Colin SM who sent many of the best of his men to bring the Gospel to this part of the world. The importance of the Marist teaching Brothers and the difficulties encountered by the women missionaries are also dealt with in detail.
This book offers a context to the massive nine-volume work of Father Charles Girard SM, which analyses some 8,000 pages of letters written by the earliest French Marist Missionaries and which was launched just recently in New Zealand.
 Catholic Beginnings is edited by Alois Greiler SM and is a series of contributions by Marist men and women, lay and religious.
“Reading each contribution is like moving from island to island – each distinct, each with its own founding story. Thus, the diversity of the presentations recalls the richness of the ‘Church of the Thousand Islands’.”
The idea for the book came from an international colloquium held in Suva, Fiji, in 2007, where papers were presented on the theme of Father Colin, founder of the Society of Mary, and his role in the History of the Catholic Church in Western Oceania.
It was significant that the colloquium was held, not in Rome but in Oceania and that many of the participants were Pacific Islanders. The book itself contains three papers, written by Pacific Islanders which give a powerful, authentic view of the theme from the “inside” or the “other side”. It is likewise significant that Catholic Beginnings in Oceania is having its initial launches in the countries of Oceania, not Europe.
Fr Andrew Murray SM thanked John Hosie sm on our behalf and then it was time for a taste of warm Marist Fathers’ hospitality. A touch of France with wine and fromage and a touch of Ozzie with sausage rolls, meat pies and tomato sauce! For those wishing to purchase a copy, the book is published by :
Australasian Theological Forum Ltd.
PO Box 504
Hindmarsh, SA, 5007
www.atfpress.com
PH: +61 8 8354 2299
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