'Now is the Time'

This was the catch cry and theme for our recent Joint Formation Encounter between Marist Brothers' and Lay Marists in Mittagong. In the words of Br Pau Fornells, the Director of Marist Bureau of the Laity, he said

• It is a time of thinking of the Church being born.


• It is a time of building together, as Marist Companions, the Church that Jesus spirit wants here today in Oceania.


• It is a time of listening to the call of God together again.


• Yes, it is a time of sharing our call: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in the whole Judea and Samaria, and until the confines of the earth” (Act 1, 8).


• It is a time of being brothers and sisters in the same mission trusted by the Lord: the children and young, especially the most in need.


• It is the time of the Spirit that He wants to outpour once again on his Church.


• Yes, it is a time of making community, gathered around the same table.

Attached is the photo of the members who attended the Formation.

Joint Formation GF 10

Have just returned from 5 wonderful days on Joint Formation Encounter with the greatest bunch people (minus one I work with!!..haha Peter if you're reading) in Mittagong, the spiritual home of the Marists just outside of Sydney.

Arrived back home in Brisbane last night about 8:30pm and started trying to explain to my wife what had been happening over the past 5 days. I realised today talking to many people at work who thought I had been on holiday that like many deep spiritual encounters it is hard to explain it. To all my new companions who shared the few days of intensity they will know what I mean.

I am so grateful for being invited and received so much that I hope I can pay back with a little revitalisation in my own community. Here's to all of us growing the marist family a little bit more each day.