Oceania Partnership Commission
On the 30th and 31st October the Oceania Partnership Commission – Subcommission of the Laity for Oceania gathered in Melbourne, Australia. There was a sharing of the current reality and developments of Marist life in each of the Administrative Units of Melbourne, Melanesia, New Zealand and Sydney. A priority of the meeting was to discern ways of supporting one another in the growth of Marist life, as Brothers and Lay Marists together, in our region. The following elements were seen as important areas of action as a work of the Commission: to provide enrichment and study opportunities for members of the Commission on themes of Communion, the People of God and the Church; to continue to identify and support the formation of emerging Lay Leaders in Oceania; and to create a ‘Marist Spirituality App’ as an important means of nurturing prayer and developing spirituality. The commission was also enthusiastic about the development of a daily ‘Marist Prayer Book’ for Brothers and Lay Marists to be introduced across the region at the beginning of 2013. At our next meeting there will be some changes in membership with new Commission members nominated for Melbourne, Melanesia and Sydney.
Members of the Commission are (pictured): Br Michael Callinan (Sydney), Carole Wark (Sydney), Alan Parker (New Zealand), Joe McCarthy (Melbourne), Tony Clarke (Secretariat of the Laity). Absent: Br Rodney Pauru (Melanesia), Br Carl Tapp (New Zealand).