29 Student Brothers and 8 Staff Brothers
After a week of Orientation, our first semester at the Marist Asia Pacific Center (MAPAC) commenced on June 8 for our 29 Student Brothers and 8 Staff Brothers. Our chaplain is Father Simon Kewandi (seated third from the left), from Papua New Guinea. We also have 15 Sisters from 3 congregations, who join us as external students. The program runs for 3 years.
Our aim and purpose here at MAPAC is best summed up in our Mission Statement:
In a spirit of solidarity, the Marist Asia Pacific Center aims to serve the local Churches of Asia and the Pacific by providing post-novitiate formation for Marist Apostles. It has as its focus the holistic formation of an integrated Marist apostolic personality.
The Center develops Marist apostles with a clear sense of mission and community for evangelization and education, especially among the least favored. These Marist apostles are constantly alert to the needs of youth, to the calls of the Church and to the signs of the times.
Br. Des Howard FMS