Australian Marists ?rejoice? at first profession of 2 brothers

The province of Australia expressed delight after 100 people gathered for the first profession of Brothers Jack O’Sullivan and James Hodge in Sydney, Australia.

Brother Matthew Clarke, the province secretary of the province of Australia, told the general house press office on Aug. 26 that “rejoicing and feeling glad came very easily.”

“This happy occasion in the life of our Australian Marist community and in the life of our Church was uplifting for everyone as we gave thanks to God for the new life that Jack and James bring to our community,” remarked Br Matthew.

He underscored that there was “a strong sense of connection with the province of the United States, since the liturgy, which was prepared by the three novices, mirrored the one when Sam Amos made his first profession a week earlier in the United States.” 

Four Brothers – Michael Callinan, Rod Thompson, Justin Golding and Darren Burge – provided the ceremony with music that, according to Br Matthew, “was a particular feature of the liturgy.”

The main celebrant of the ceremony, which was held in the neighbourhood of Eastwood on Aug. 15, was the Marist priest Father Bob Barber. 

The provincial superior, Brother Jeff Crowe, brothers and members of Australia’s Marist Association, and family and friends of Brothers Jack and James who travelled from their home regions – Shepparton and Brisbane – also took part in the event.