MEETING OF THE EXPANDED GENERAL COUNCIL

The meetings in Mittagong have let us take the vibrant pulse of our Marist presence in the Region of Oceania. It?s obvious that the geographical, cultural, and linguistic complexities in this part of the world are both its strong point and its challenge. The challenges in Australia and New Zealand are different from those in the Pacific Island nations. In the former, religious life ? and Marist life in particular ? is going through a dry and difficult time; in terms of mission, its contributions are highly defined, involving Catholic education, ministry, solidarity, and shared mission with the laity. In the latter countries, Marist presence is having a strong impact on society and presenting the dynamic face of a Church that is generating Marist vocations in ever-greater numbers.

The brothers in Oceania are becoming more and more conscious of belonging to one and the same Region, with common challenges for those willing to work on them together. There are many effective inter-provincial organizations. Notwithstanding, one sees the need for the three of Provinces of Melbourne, New Zealand and Sydney, and the District of Melanesia to forge new approaches in their efforts to foster the viability and vitality of our Marist life and mission in the Region of Oceania.