| Issue 11 | April 2007 |
Christmas Reflection
Dear Fellow Marists, Greetings and Easter blessings to you all!
The suffering, death and Resurrection of Christ and the promise of new life that we can choose to live in all its fullness, are the experiences that we share individually and as a faith community in this most important of all seasons. We see the strong, silent figure of Mary, mother of both the dead and the Risen Christ. As Marists, it is to Mary we turn. As we journey with her the Way of the Cross, we bring our own stories of loss and brokenness, and we grieve fully, with her. But Mary's faithful disciple -ship and her role as Mother of us all is also our way into the Risen Life of Christ. She gives us a certain way of living, loving and being in this world that is authentic and which unites us with her Son. At the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, at a certain wedding at Cana, she instructs the waiters:
These five, simple words echo down the ages to us, here and now. Listen, be open to Jesus, and we will know who we are and what our unique purpose is in this world! Mary never points to herself but to the one who gives new life in all its fullness.
In this newsletter, it is with great hope and joy that Marist Laity Australia announces the news of its first Conference, to be held in Sydney in April, 2008. The National Committee has been planning and working towards making this an event not to be missed!
The keynote speaker, Anne Dooley, is a Marist lay woman, working with the Marist Brothers in the Melbourne Province. Anne began her career as a midwife. She will bring to the conference her "birthing skills" and her rich Marist spirit, bringing new life and hope to us all. We are also privileged to have Michael Whelan, sm as our second speaker for day one. Michael has agreed to speak on the Contemplative Mary. As Marists, we will learn, like Mary, to be contemplatives in our fragmented, distracted world. You will see in our brochure the wonderful choices of workshops. All presenters are experts in their field. Day 2 will end with a Conference Dinner, wine and entertainment in the spirit of Cana! Day 3 will be our pilgrimage to the sacred Marist sites of Sydney, ending with our concluding liturgy at St Charles Borromeo Church, Ryde.
Special thanks must go to Barbara Ashwell and Andrew Dumas who have used their computer skills and rich imagination to produce the wonderful brochure for the conference. Andrew has prepared the registration form, giving you the opportunity to pay on-line if you wish. Our beautiful web site is a tribute to his generosity and deep Marist commitment.
It is now up to you! The conference will only be a success if you participate!
Maria Baden.
 Marist Laity Conference April 2008 part2 |
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