"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...

 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...

The One Abrahamic Family In the biblical tradition, Ishmael and Isaac are brothers, or to be more precise, half-brothers. The first was born from Hagar, and the second from Sarah (c.f. Gen 16 and 21). The Arabs claim physical descent from Abraham through Ishmael; the Jews claim physical descent from Abraham through Isaac; and the Christians claim spiritual descent from Abraham through faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, all three religious traditions claim connection to the ancient Patriarch, each in their own way. Hence, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all kin; all belong to one family; are all sisters and brothers; are all daughters and sons of Abraham. Accordingly, we speak of the "Abrahamic r...

ATLANTIC HOSPITALITY: A mission for and with migrants                                 Traduction française ci-dessous I am Father Youssouph Stev YOUM, a member of the Society of Mary (Marist Fathers). I am currently on a mission in Senegal as the Director of a school still under construction in the suburbs of Dakar in Senegal. The mission of this school is to provide the populations of this locality with the same quality of education as those in the city and also to create employment for young people. It is therefore an ongoing project that integrates many aspects of educational, pastoral work with that of y...

Our Lady of Consolation Center: A Beacon of Hope for Children with Special Needs         traduction française ci-dessous Introduction Our Lady of Consolation Center (OLCC) for Children and Persons Living with Special Needs, Bambili, Cameroon, Africa, is a daycare center which has been serving the community for 18 years. Located in Bambili, Tubah subdivision, approximately 14km from Bamenda town. It cares for 30 children, 17 of them are girls while 13 are boys, with a dedicated staff of 4 including a physiotherapist, social worker, driver, and a steward. Established under the auspices of the Marist Fathers, this daycare center serves as a sanctuary for children with d...

Traduction française ci-dessous This Tribute to Pope Francis comes from the Justice and Peace Commission based in Rome: which represents some 800,000 consecrated religious worldwide. As Marists we are represented, and we collaborate, on this International Commission through our three Marist Commissions – Ecology - Migrants and Refugees - and Inter-religious Dialogue & Reconciliation - which were established by our Superior General, Fr John Larsen SM, after our 2017 General Chapter. In this Spirit we share this Tribute: With the Poor, for the Planet:    Remembering Pope Francis  To all Members of the JPIC Commission Union of Superiors General [M] -Union of Internationa...

L'économie de la mer est essentielle pour l'économie mondiale                   English Translation below Les mers et océans sont indispensables à la vie sur Terre : ils recouvrent 71 % de la surface de la planète, constituent 90 % de la biosphère, assurent la sécurité alimentaire de plus de trois milliards de personnes, permettent le transport de plus de 80 % des marchandises mondiales et abritent les câbles sous-marins transportant 98 % du trafic Internet international. Les nouvelles statistiques et analyses de l'OCDE mettent en évidence le rôle fondamental que joue la mer dans l'économie et les moyens de subsistance de centaines de million...

War and the Environment – an online Course                Le monde au-delà de la guerre   voir ci-dessous This course is about war and the environment. It is designed for anyone interested in or working on anti-war or climate change issues, and anyone who wishes to know more about peace and the environment. To meet the needs of those just described, the course focusses on how war and war preparation are major contributors to the climate change crisis. The course also involves a focus on how natural resources play a role in many of the armed conflicts worldwide, and how wars divert resources from meeting the human and environmental needs ...

Season of Creation 2025 Theme Presentation - Peace with Creation.                             Français & Español - ver abajo Isaiah 32:14-18 "For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks. Until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness, and tr...

La communauté mariste du 104, rue de Vaugirard à Paris, une communauté d'accueil                 Traduction anglaise ci-dessous René Godard sm La communauté mariste de Paris est dispersée entre quatre lieux du centre de la capitale française. Quatre Pères vivent au 104 de la rue de Vaugirard, dans le 6ème arrondissement. Deux autres, le Provincial et l'Économe provincial, au 89 de la rue du Cherche-Midi, à proximité. Une cour intérieure permet de circuler d'un bâtiment à l'autre. Les trois autres Pères vivent dans un autre quartier de la ville, au 68 rue des Plantes dans le 14ème arrondissement. Deux sont dans un foyer-résidence pour personnes âgé...

Bénévole au secours populaire Jean-Yves Denizet sm                                                                                     English Translation see below Je suis arrivé à Paris dans la communauté du 104 en 2012. Je désirais vivre une mission qui tienne compte de mon parcours. Un ami m'a recommandé de devenir bénévole au secours populaire. Depuis plus de 10 ans je me rends tous les lundis et jeudis, pendant 2 heures. Ma principale activité consiste à collaborer avec une ...

Introduction                                                                                                         Traduction française - voir ci-dessous "We are deeply shocked and saddened." Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon and President of the Episcopal Conference of Myanmar, expressed his deep sorrow and that of the entire Church for the brutal murder of Fr. Donald Martin Ye Naing Win - 44 years of age, which oc...

Myanmar's ongoing conflict can be traced back to the British colonial era (1824-1948), during which ethnic tensions were exacerbated through a "divide and rule" strategy. Following independence, a lack of national unity led ethnic minorities such as the Karen, Kachin, and Shan to establish armed groups advocating for autonomy. The situation deteriorated after a military coup in 1962, resulting in an authoritarian regime that centralized power and suppressed dissent. This protracted conflict has transformed Myanmar into a battleground between government forces and ethnic armed groups, with severe repercussions for civilians (Human Rights Watch, 2023). In February 2021, the military overthrew ...

The theme of this Jubilee Year is: "Hope does not disappoint". Fr Ted Keating SM - USA - writes the Introduction for us on the Project of Caritas International inviting us to Sign the Petition for unjust Debt Cancellation.       Traduction française ci-dessous Introduction We are happy to see that the Jubilee Year called forth by Pope Francis includes significant attention to the debt crisis in our contemporary global world. It is being shared here by Caritas and then by Pax Christi International with an invitation to other groups that are interested. Three strategic goals are listed by Caritas below. An article in The New York Times last month reported that more than 17 ...

Marist Mission Workshop (MMW), Thailand (2024)                                                   Traduction française ci-dessous Inter Religious Inter Cultural Dialogue: Diversity Enriches Community :   Bro. Rubel Raphael Nokrek, fms "Peace in One's Heart Starts in One's Hands," said one of the Buddhist Monks. It was a wonderful experience for me to participate the Marist Mission Workshop (MMW) in Ranong, Thailand last month from Sep. 04- Sep. 27, 2024. The program was organized by the Marist Fathers who is known as the 'Society of Mary (SM)' with the pu...

                                                                                                                                                 Traduction française ci-dessous On the 8th November, 2024 I attended an Interreligious seminar on Safeguarding and Ecological Conversion (Laudato Si) at the Fatima Rani Church, Bag...

Appel pour la paix en Terre sainte de 200 chrétiens européens de toutes confessions           English Translation: see below "Au cours de l'année écoulée, nous avons été témoins de l'escalade tragique d'une grave crise humanitaire qui continue d'affecter d'innombrables vies. Le 7 octobre 2023, plus d'un millier d'Israéliens ont été tués lors d'une attaque menée par des factions dirigées par le Hamas, et plus de 250 personnes ont été prises en otages. En réponse, Israël a lancé une opération militaire qui a fait de nombreuses victimes, avec près de 42 000 morts à Gaza. Les deux communautés souffrent profondément. La crise humanitaire dans la bande de Gaza s'...