Responding to Pope Francis' call "Out of the safe zone… to the peripheries", the Vietnamese Province and the Thach An community set out for Suoi Tuong mission, in Dong Nai Province. There is about 10km of road which is muddy and slippery during raining season, and dusty during dry season which makes it difficult to travel. Moreover, this 10km long road passes through a national preserved forest before reaching the Tri An lake which makes this mission more challenging. The people we serve are mostly Vietnamese born Cambodian. Many of them have no birth certificate. They returned to Vietnam with hope for a better life. They have lived in floating village in small and simple floating houses. Ho...

Influence is no longer enough- Traduction française ci-dessous By Fr Antonio Spadaro SJ, 17 October 2025 Religion in the age of algorithms Oxford, winter 2025. Beneath the baroque dome of the Sheldonian Theatre—where Arts and Sciences receive, from above, the Truth that dispels ignorance—two men, Biz Stone and Evan Sharp, cofounders of Twitter and Pinterest respectively, are talking about God. Or rather, about the sacred. The title of the event—Reconnecting with the Sacred in a Technology-Driven World—might have drawn a smirk from a rationalist of the last century, for whom technology was the ultimate proof of the eclipse of the divine. And yet the hall was packed with students, young people...

From Hands to Heart: Our Pledge to Care for Creation                                          Traduction française ci-dessous A Reflection from Balay Pasilungan – Fr Gil Casio sm At Balay Pasilungan, the culmination of the Season of Creation felt like a gentle prayer in motion. The boys gathered inside our small hall — some still sleepy, others excited — ready to trace their hands on colored paper. What began as a simple art activity turned into something quite profound. Each boy wrote a promise inside his handprint: "I will not throw garbage," "I will plant trees," "I will take care...

Pope Leo XIV addressed the Raising Hope Conference on 01 October - in this 10th Anniversary Year of Laudato Si. The text is below:             voir ci-dessous pour l'adresse en français ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV      TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN TNE"RAISING HOPE" CONFERENCE, ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ENCYCLICAL   LAUDATO SI' Mariapolis Center (Castel Gandolto) Wednesday, 1^' October 2025  EN - FR - IT - PL- PT My dear sisters and brothers, peace be with you. As we commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si' on care for our common home, I cordially greet the organizers, the speakers, t...

A Season of Creation Reflection from Ōtaki. Aotearoa New Zealand.        Traduction française ci-dessous Two whakataukī (Māoriproverbs) were the focus of our miha Māori (Māori mass) on the first Sunday of the Season of Creation. Kua pūmahana te whenua, me ngā otaota me ngā rākau. Earth has now warmed, so also have the weeds and the trees. Ko au te taiao, ko te taiao ko au. I am the natural world and the natural world is me. The first whakataukī is from the maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar), the second came in a mail-out from Forest and Bird, a national conservation group. The Book of Wisdom on the first Sunday of the Season of Creation reminded us that our human ...

The Marists were fare-welled from St Patrick's Church Sydney recently, after 157 Years of ministry.  Below are the words of Fr Michael Whelan SM, Parish Priest, and Mrs Kerrie Hannan, a Parishioner.            traduction française voir ci-dessous FAREWELL - Michael Whelan SM Many saints have come to this Parish. Among them Mary MacKillop, who told her Sisters, "We are but travelers here." Travelers must get used to saying "Farewell!" – a Middle English word that literally means, "Travel well!" St Patricks is first and foremost, people. Pilgrim people. Pilgrim people of God. Over generations, a certain spirit has emerged amongst these people. I wou...

The dangers of believing in exceptionalism                                      Traduction française ci-dessous In the long sweep of history, few ideas have proven as seductive, and as spiritually dangerous, as the doctrine of national exceptionalism. This belief, which casts certain nations as uniquely chosen or divinely favored, has been a potent ideological force behind imperial conquest, military aggression and moral self-exemption. One of the most consequential expressions today is the belief—shared by many Jewish and Christian Zionists—that the modern state of Israel is the direct fulfil...

Thresholds of Transformation for Seekers & Searchers is a personal and relational transformative process. It is not a course or a program but a multidisciplinary creative change process and transformative journey. Thresholds of Transformation was developed by Monica Brown, Hilary Musgrave & Donna Fyffe, and produced by Emmaus Productions. Seekers & Searchers is a unique and timely integration of:                                           Traduction française ci-dessous Laudatory Si /Laudate Deum The Universe Story Our Catholic/Christian Story The Gospel values of Jesus It...

On the occasion of a Day of Prayer and Fasting for Peace, proposed by the UISG (International Union of Superiors General) for August 2025, we join together in prayer with open and compassionate hearts.        Traduction française ci-dessous In a world torn apart by war and inhumanity – in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria, Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo and in so many other countries wounded by both visible and invisible conflicts – we cannot remain silent spectators. Entrusting ourselves to the intercession of Mary, Mother of Peace, we pray that all peoples may rediscover hope, justice, and the gift of reconciliation, in communion with many around the wo...

"Tutu: A Living Model of Marist Empowerment"                                               Traduction française ci-dessous Mission Report on My Visit to the Tutu Rural Training Centre (TRTC), Fiji (2-16 July 2025) By Fr Clinton Asunkwain Kube, sm 1. Introduction: A Journey of Learning and Hope The decision to visit the Tutu Rural Training Centre (TRTC), on the island of Tavenui, Fiji, was born during the visit of our Superior General, Fr John Larsen, sm, to Cameroon earlier this year. While visiting the Laudato Si' project in Nkoloman, Fr John expressed interest in see...

Vanuatu's Initiative:                                         Traduction française - voir ci-dessous Vanuatu, a small Oceanian island nation facing severe climate change impacts, spearheaded efforts to bring the issue before the ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Student Activism:  The case was initially sparked by a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, who formed the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC). Global Coalition:  Vanuatu rallied support from other vulnerable nations and organizations,...

Missio Dei.SVD 150th Anniversary: Witnessing to the Light from Everywhere to Everyone. Fr Stephen Bevans SVD [USA. Professor Emeritus at Catholic Theological Union of Mission and Culture, where he was teaching since 1986.Previously a missionary in the Philippines. He has lectured and taught in many different parts of the world.He has written / edited 21 books. "Community of Missionary Disciples" – 2024. A member of the World Council of Churches – on Mission and Evangelism]. His talk: International Conference on Mission Day 1 - Keynote Lecture - Fr. Stephen Bevans -Healing Wounds, -Challenged by Post-Modernity, -Learning from Cultures, -Inspired by Religions. Missio Dei – the mission of God.T...

What is Truth?                       Traduction française ci-dessous A Reflection of a Marist Experience at the U.S. Southern Border by Joseph McLaughlin SM, Las Cruces, New Mexico It is a 41.1 mile drive from my home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to the Holy Family Refugee Center in El Paso, Texas. In 2 ½ years some 40,000 immigrants have been welcomed, sheltered and assisted in their journey to different parts of the U.S. How often I have said "Bienvenidos a los Estados Unidos. Tengo mucho alegria que esta aqui." ("Welcome to the U.S. I am very happy you are here.") I was often overwhelmed and touched by the courage, hope and fa...

"Do not forget your mother's sorrow" A Marist Mission in Samsun, Turkey Donato Kivi sm                                Traduction française ci-dessous On December 14th, 2023, I arrived in Samsun, a city on the northern coast of Turkey. The date carried quiet significance—it was exactly one year to the day since the death of the priest of Mater Dolorosa Parish, which had been without a resident shepherd ever since. I arrived not knowing anyone and unable to speak Turkish. Yet, in true Marist fashion, I found the hand of Providence waiting. At the airport, I was met by Heinrich, an Italian layman married to a T...

Significance of Indigenous People in the Philippines to Climate Change The only dwelling place, our common home, is damaged, suffering, and crying like the poor. The poor are the most vulnerable brothers and sisters on the planet, sharing with us the same resources for living. The Declaration of the Mission of the Society of Mary Today in 2017 reminds us that "Mary, the mother of the New Creation, calls us to nurture life in all its forms, especially among our most vulnerable brothers and sisters and in our damaged planet."(#5) The indigenous people living in the remote areas, in the forest and the jungle, are the victims from historical injustice and climate change. However, their tradition...

The Value of the Person                                                                        Traduction française ci-dessous Marist writer, Fr Tom Ryan SM, has published a reflection, 'The Value of the Person: Jean-Claude Colin in Conversation', which explores the Marist Founder's insights along with those of the recent Popes and classic commentators. The essay is part of a worldwide focus on the sesquicentenary of Fr Colin's death, Nov 15,1875.   To download, click here.  THE VALUE OF THE PER...

Marist Mission Workshop – Interreligious Dialogue                                                    Traduction française ci-dessous A summary of an on-line Meeting: Date: 14 June 2025 Facilitator: Br. Ivan Vodopivec sm Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Patrick McInerney ssc Recorder: Fr. Hayden Powick sm Attendance:   Fr. Hermes Sabud SM,Br. Rubel, FMS, Sr. Suporna, SMSM, Fr. Charles Apeke SM, Fr. Yves Tuma SM, Br. Ivan Vodopivec SM, Fr. Patrick McInerney (Guest Speaker) SSC, Sr. Minh Tien RNDM, Fr. Hayden Powick SM Opening Prayer Led by Fr. Yves Tuma, focus...

-Balay Pasilungan: 36 Years of Planting Hope Fr. Gil L. Casio, SM                                                                Traduction française ci-dessous As we culminated the Tree of Hope Campaign on May 31, we marked a sacred moment for Balay Pasilungan—a time to remember, to give thanks, and to renew our commitment to a mission that began 36 years ago in the heart of Davao City. More than a shelter, Balay Pasilungan has become a true home—a sanctuary of healing and a place where the most vulnerable children, those who ha...

 Marist Spirituality in Today's Chaotic World by Jan Hulshof, SM, Hulst, Netherlands                                                       Traduction française ci-dessous "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" (Ps 11:3) People always thought they lived in a chaotic world, but now we are dealing with chaos squared. While people have always been greedy, now the top 1% of the world's elite owns 95% of our wealth, leaving 5% to the rest of humanity combined. Power-hungry people always had weapons to kill others, but now the most ...

 Climate crisis on track to destroy capitalism, warns top insurer Action urgently needed to save the conditions under which markets – and civilization itself – can operate, says senior Allianz figure Damian Carrington Environment editor – Guardian. Thu 3 Apr 2025 11.41 CEST The climate crisis is on track to destroy capitalism, a top insurer has warned, with the vast cost of extreme weather impacts leaving the financial sector unable to operate. The world is fast approaching temperature levels where insurers will no longer be able to offer cover for many climate risks, said Günther Thallinger, on the board of Allianz SE, one of the world's biggest insurance companies. He said that withou...