In Sydney on July 23rd 2023 over 100 people are partaking in the celebrations of Fourviere. They will begin at Bradfield park North Sydney for the acknowledgment of country. will then walk across the harbour bridge like those first Marists who climbed the 800 steps at Fourviere. There will be a presentation at St Patrick's Church Hill, the first Marist church in Australia and the sharing of a meal. The pilgrims will then join a special Fourviere bus to Hunters Hill where there will be a Fourviere Liturgy and Final celebration.
But for those who cannot join these celebrations, please join us as we celebrate online and invite you to join the Marist Millennium Pledge.Why? We often get lost in the mundane process of life. Getting caught up in the busyness of life. The pressures that work places on us to perform more and more or the demands of family commitment can at times stifle our spirit. At these moments, we may lose a sense of meaning in our life. We can allow the culture for success or the culture of entertainment to dictate our direction. This often means that life is very shallow as we chase one great idea and move to the next. We may not get a chance to stop and enter deeply into the spiritual life.
Mary’s Yes As a Marist, we try follow and model Mary in our own life. The “Yes” is not just the “yes” to the invitation which we may have somewhere along the journey of life. The “yes” can appear in many different forms. Following Mary is an ongoing process of discernment and discovery, of entering into the deeper reality of Mary’s spirit alive in us.
Millennium Pledge The “Marist Millennium Pledge” is a Formation tool which can use to help structure our discernment and way of living as Marists. Across a total of 12 months a person is invited to discern about ten things where God is calling them to follow Mary and Jesus. These commitments will take time to emerge. Over several months, through our own prayer life and our encounters with spiritual friends or Marists these pledges will begin to appear. There is no need to rush this process.
Commitments These commitments will allow us to move deeper into the reality of following Mary’s way to Jesus. They may be different or similar to other Marists. This is ok as they mark different moments along the road of faith. However, like a tuning fork that resonates at a certain pitch, a second tuning fork, when brought closer, will begin to sing like the first fork. Thus, our lives resonate with the pitch of what it means to be Marist. The commitments we make bring us closer to the life of Mary living in us as she follows Jesus.
Beginning How will the Millennium Pledge begin? Through prayer. Pray this prayer with your family or community present with you each week. You may want to ring a tuning fork or bell before you pray this prayer to remind you that your life resonates in the way of Mary.
Marist - Can you identify examples in the content that explore the concept of Mary as the first disciple, drawing inspiration from the Marist emphasis on following Marys example of faith and trust? How do the characters embrace their own calling and respond to the invitation to discipleship? (By A. D. - Marist Laity - from AUSTRALIA. - 2023-7-23)
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Print in Colour and place it in a prominent place in your home, workplace or community.
During the year, have a conversation with your priest, spiritual friend or other Marist about what you have been committed to. It is hoped by the end of the year, around Christmas time you would have found these ten pledges and be committed to living them each day.
Ask the priest, spiritual friend or other Marist to walk with you.
