Fouviere Day at Christchurch

The Marist Family in Christchurch gathered at Sancta Mary Church at Addington (previously Sacred Heart Church) Christchurch for the celebration of Fourviere Day on 23 July. The event was hosted by Fr John Craddock SM and the Marist Community of five Marist priests at Addington and the Armstrong Community of Marist lay brothers which is close by the former Nazareth House. The Marist Brothers in Christchurch and two SMSM sisters joined in celebrating with members of the parish, a Marial Mass. The SMs hosted a lunch afterward.

During the Mass, we recommitted ourselves to the Fourviere pledge made by the first Marists 119 years ago. The focus of the Mass was the Gospel of Mary’s acceptance at the Annunciation and her rushing off to support Elizabeth. Fr John took the theme of conception and birth from the gospel of the Marial Mass. He linked the conception and birth of Mary and Elizabeth to the conception and birth of the Marist conception at Fourviere and the birth of the Marist orders soon after.

The professed Marists, SMs, FMS and SMSMs at the Mass renewed the original pledge at Fourviere and processed the icons to the Mary shrine in the church. Our Brother Mark Oliver was our representative bearing Marcellin to the Mary shrine in the church.

A comment was made that this would be the most southern commemoration of Fourviere And indeed it was.