IT'S TENNIS TIME!

24 October (Fri) – In the Yarra Theological Union (YTU) calendar, the lectures come to a close today for the second semester. So before entering into the next phase of doing term papers and preparing for final exams, Dorish Maru students rushed to the Sports Centre to flex their muscles and ease the tension from purely academic pursuits.

Watch the action in these photos which speak for themselves. It’s tennis time….

(To enlarge click on photo)

Michael M * Willy * Kasmir * Anton * Eddie & Kasmir

JOSEFA STENMANNS - A NEW BLESSED

19th October (Sunday) - The Holy Spirit Sisters (SSpS) of Melbourne community celebrated with many of their friends the beatification of BLESSED JOSEFA STENMANNS, who is co-foundress of their congregation.

‘Josefa’ (her religious name) was born ‘Hendrina’ in Issum, Germany in 1852; she died in Steyl, Holland in 1903 and beatified in Tegelen, Holland on 29th June 2008.

Being a silk weaver in real life, she was to become a weaver of souls… She was a woman of simplicity and love, deep faith and wisdom with a truly missionary heart and open to the whole wide world.

The main celebrant at the Mass was Fr. Michael Madigan, SVD, assisted by Fr. Jack Brady, parish priest of St. Anne’s, East Kew (venue of the celebration). The singing was provided by the joint choir of the Holy Spirit Sisters and the Students of the Divine Word Missionaries. Someone said that the choir was angelic. (photo below).

The MC was Sr. Christa. Since Sr. Mary John, the congregation’s Mission animator, couldn’t make it to Australia due to passport problem, Sr. Bernadette, the congregational leader, gave a beautiful and fitting Reflection after the gospel. One of the things that gave color to the celebration was that the Sisters put on their own respective cultural dresses in the countries they come from, e.g. Japanese, Korean, Fijian, Vanuatu, Indian, etc. (Photo below).

There was also a very moving offertory procession with a liturgical dance, choreographed by the Sisters. After the Mass, we were invited to a lunch and to a special cake to praise God for His great gift of BLESSED JOSEPFA. Among the guests were members of the parish, SVDs, other members of religious congregations, and many friends.

Blessed Josefa, pray for us!

TIME TO SAY GOODBYE!

17th October (Friday) - More than a hundred members of religious orders and close friends gathered together to farewell our neighbors, the Carmelite Friars, who are leaving their monastery at Box Hill.

The Discalced Carmelites came to take residence at # 96 Albion Road, Box Hill, in 1988 in the same year as we, Divine Word Missionaries, came to settle down at Dorish Maru College at # 100 Albion Road.

In their recent Chapter a couple of months ago, the Order decided to close down this priory of St. John of the Cross at Box Hill and merge with their other communities in NSW. Actually they have already been offered a house by the Broken Bay diocese where they will start a new community.

To our good neighbors and brothers, the Carmelites, especially to Des and to Shane, it’s time to say farewell but not good-bye. Hope to see you again. ~

1) Entrance; 2) The Monastery; 3) Des Willamson, OCD, Pior.