Marist Sisters Celebrate

On the 29th December the Marist Sisters will mark the centenary of the Sisters’ arrival to make a foundation in Australia. On that day 1907 Sisters Melanie, Cyrille and Odilon arrived at Villa Maria Hunters Hill and were welcomed by Marist Fathers and Marist Missionary Sisters (Missionary Sisters of the Third Order Regular as they were known at that time) who were resident on the property and with whom they stayed for a short time. They took up residence in a house in Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill and began teaching in St Peter Chanel’s school Woolwich and then later on in 1908 plans were made for them to open a secondary school for girls in Woolwich. To mark this historic occasion the Sisters will gather at Villa Maria for a time of prayer, remembering and thanksgiving. Various other occasions have been organised to celebrate the centenary year and to give thanks for the life and ministry of the Sisters in Australia over that 100 years. Today Marist Sisters have a number of communities in Sydney, and one in Laverton, Melbourne and one based in Barcaldine, Queensland. They minister in various ministries including school and adult education, youth work, hospital and prison chaplaincy, parish pastoral work, refugee and asylum seeker support, care of the aged, and outreach to the disadvantaged.

During this year the Sisters are also preparing to mark the 150th anniversary of the death of their foundress, Jeanne-Marie Chavoin on 30th June 2008 by celebrating throughout the Congregation a Jeanne-Marie Chavoin year. Each month communities are praying a prayer theme and various Marian feasts are being marked in a special way throughout the year. The year will culminate in June when Marist Sisters will gather in Rome for their General Chapter which will finish on the actual 150th anniversary of Jeanne-Marie Chavoin’s death.

Gail Reneker SM