Chapter, Days 6/7 … Discussion. Ballots, ballots. Getting there

Most of these days in discussion groups on the key documents of the Chapter. They will be voted on tomorrow.

Graham Neist FMS, Chapter facilitator

The other highlight was elections. We posted the news of Stephen Hackett’s election as Provincial yesterday.

Our Scrutineers: Bartha, Tinh, Pat Mara, Phil Reilly (veteran of many chapters)

Today it was the election of two delegates and their substitutes for the forthcoming General Chapter.

Tim Brennan overseeing the voting with canonical and Roman accuracy and aplomb

Delegates for the General Chapter, Sept-Oct 2023

First delegate, John Mulrooney;

second delegate, Peter Carroll

first substitute, Peter Hendriks

second substitute, Chris McPhee

Leading the liturgy, Tru Nguyen

And a pictorial bonus – with Vincent Long OFMConv. after the Mass.

MSC Chapter, Provincial Superior elected, Stephen Hackett MSC.

Fr Stephen Hackett was elected on the first ballot. He will succeed Fr Chris McPhee on July 1^st.

Stephen was educated in sseveral primary schools, including Our Lady of the Rosary, Watson, at Braddon and Doncaster East, Secondary at Whitefriars, Monivae College, Hamilton. He entered the MSC at Croydon in 1978. He made his first profession in17th January 1982 and was ordained on 11th October. 1986 after studies at the Yarra Theological Union, B. Theol.

His ministries have included Education, St John's Darwin and Monivae, Chaplain at the University of New South Wales, Superior of the Monivae Community, early parish appointment to Park Orchards-Warrendyte, parish priest appointments in Casuarina, NT, Camp Hill, Queensland and Moonah-Lutana, Tasmania. He also served as Viar General and Chancellor the diocese of Darwin. Since 2016 he has served as Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

His further studies: an M.Litt. (University of New England) on the theology of John S. Dunne and PhD (University of New South Wales), “The Architecture of Liturgy. Liturgical Ordering in Church Design. The Australian Experience in Perspective”. He currently chairs the National Liturgical Architecture and Art Council, is a member of the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research, and is a member of the ecumenical Australian Academy of Liturgy.

The Voting

Scrutineers

Stephen voting

First Counsellor of the General Administration presided at the Eucharist, Fr Andre Claessens

Announcing the official ratification of the election by MSC Superior General, Fr Abzalon Tovar, Andre, Stephen, outgoing Provincial, Chris McPhee.

The Chapter, Day 5, Praying, Reflecting, Provincial Nominations, Mass, Chapter Dinner

During the morning prayer, Danh offered a beautiful reflection on a seemingly dead branch, watering it and it giving bloom to a beautiful flower. (The video version is available, Google, Heart of Life Facebook.)

The sessions were of discussion. The afternoon heard presentations from the four nominees for Provincial Superior, Dominic Gleeson, Stephen Hackett, Peter Hendriks, John Mulrooney.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv. Presided at our Euchatist, guest at the Chapter dinner

along with Bishop Terry Brady, remembering his formation years as an MSC, Treand House staff came, Bridget Hawthorn, Anne Marie Snelling, Principals from Monivae, Daramalan,

OLSH Provincial, Philippa Murphy, MSC Sisters Provincial, Mary Drum, education and safeguarding advisers, Anne Benjamin, Phil Fitzgerald, Ros Everett – and special guest, our former provincial, Jim Littleton MSC.

Day 3 and 4: MSC Australia Province Chapter, Photos and names.

Photo thanks, Day 3, our MSC Blackburn team, Trieu, Nang and Hoa. Day 4, a special thanks to our confrere from Japan, Rey.

A day of reports that form part of the Provincial’s Report, John Mulrooney chair,

from Meta Jackman, Safeguarding and Joan Fernando on Finance.

Clare Shearman, Heart of Life Centre

Catherine Molihan,  Province Care, and Assisted Living.

Roger Purcell, Mission Office. Bern on Japan

Mark McGinnity, Education.

Tim Brennan presiding canonically over procedures for nomination of Provincial

Eucharist, Michael Nithan Stephan presiding. Prayer to remember John Conroy MSC.

Day 4: In the prayer, a reflection from Kimi,

a procession of branches symbolising our history, the range of ministries.

The Provincial’s report, Khoi chair, with its many contributions from different directors, concluded

with reports from Hoang on Vietnam,

Khoi on Formation,

Dominic Gleeson on the MSC Parish Formation Team,

Alison McKenzie

and Fred Stubenrauch on the Laity of the Chevalier Family.

The rest of the time was spent in prayer, reflection on the Report and reports, group discussion and presentation of discussion highlights.

John Conroy MSC Funeral Mass

Monday evening saw the recalling of memories of John in the Monastery Chapel.

The requiem Mass was celebrated in the Chapel on Tuesday morning.

Peter Hearn presided, assisted by Greg McEnnally MSC, chaplain at The Little Sisters of the Poor where John was cared for and died.

Concelebrating, Peter Guy, Pat Austin, Terry Bowman.

John’s family were present, and the younger members carrying the coffin.

The Chapter members, unable to be present at the Requiem, remembered him at today's Eucharist.

Thanks to John Walker MSC for photos.

MSC Chapter Speakers and Photos

Al fresci refreshing body and soul

Day 2: Beginning the presentation of the Province report, Chris McPhee introducing the Heart Spirituality themes.

We prayed and reflected – including Bob Irwin recounting his story.

The head of the company which prepared the draft of a plan for the future of St Mary’s Towers spoke to the draft. Graham Neist FMS is the Chapter facilitator.

Vince makes an intervention or two.

Themes of Laudato Si and the Laudato Si Platform Action and MSC commitment introduced by Pat Mara.

The two representatives from Japan, Bern and Rey, spoke of the region and its future. We met in groups – this is Group I (some other groups had lounge chairs!)

Hoang, Superior in Vietnam was the Eucharist Presider.

Michael Hangan, deacon from Moonah, member of the Chapter Secretariat, proclaimed the Gospel.

Gerard McCormick at the piano                    

Opening of the 2023 MSC Australian Province Chapter

We arrived. We received our name tags and keys. We shared a drink. We shared a meal.

At the opening ceremony, all delegates gathered in the Chapel. There was a roll call, asking if each was present, replying, ‘Yes, I am here.’ (Sadly covid at Douglas Park meant that some could not be present.)

The liturgy was led by Alison McKenzie, Anne McAtomney and music by Gerard McCormick MSC.

Chris McPhee lit the Chapter candle and took up the Chapter Theme, ‘Take heart, have courage, I am here’.

Some of his reflection.

Today, in this post Covid period of history, we must begin again… To re-ignite this heart of Jesus in ourselves – for us to become again the heart of God for our world, our communities, our ministry and mission…

More than ever, the world, the church, our community, needs more people of heart, more people of heart to spread the love of God instead of the law, to be a sign of hope and contradiction rather than authority and legalism…

I have been amazed by the faith of our young students in our colleges. I have seen our young MSC men, both here and in Vietnam, with energy and enthusiasm for the mission of God. I have been moved by the work of Heart of Life Centre and the many who are now engaged in heart spirituality. The amazing work at the Chevalier Institute, leading our college staff into the heart of God. The life-giving work of the Mission Office, restoring hope to a very poor world. The loving care of our ageing men throughout the province. Life’s Healing Journey to the seminarians at Good Shepherd. The spiritual direction, offering ways of seeing life, at Douglas Park. The reaching out to the sick in hospitals, to prisons, and to retirement homes. The continued opening of Word and Sacrament, Sunday after Sunday. The awakening of the heart that happens when our Parish Formation team enters a community. The perseverance and working walking with our First Nations People. The overseas retreat work… And the list could go on and on.

We have been sent to be a heart, a light into a world, we have been sent into a Church, community, a mission that says the divorced and remarried, the homosexual, and women are inadequate images of Christ… In a world that discriminates against race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, refugees, different religious traditions, the aboriginal or any other bigoted beliefs about a group of people that separates and divides the world into those who are in those who are out… All of us, as missionaries of God’s Heart, we have been sent to restore, to welcome, to accept difference, as being the very image of God’s self…

Senior member, Paul Castley, read the Gospel of the theme, Peter walking on the water, afraid and Jesus reaching out for him.

The Chapter Tree was prominent and various members brought up symbols, stole, cross, bread, Fr ChevLier and Fr Cuskelly writings, constitutions – and Michael Fallon and Michael Nithan read texts.

Business procedure followed, approval (by acclamation) of the different committees, Steering, Liturgy, Logistics, Chairs, Statements, Secretariat… 

And not forgetting that John Bosman played the didgeridoo after the acknowledgement of the custodians of the land.

Business sessions begin Tuesday morning.  (Thanks for the photos from Nang, Hoa and Trieu and the team - and see the streaming of the session on the Facebook page, MSC Vocations, Australia.)

Preparations for the Chapter opening tonight.

Our students met with the visitors from Vietnam at Douglas Park

Our MSC men explored ministries in Australia.

On the second day and on the third day, our men visited Chevalier School, the OLSH Sisters Convent, Caves in Goulburn, and different spots in Blue Mountains.

Greg also gave us some background about MSC Lay Association here in Australia and expressed his desire for the future journey of the group.

Fine example from the General House, Andre in the kitchen.

In the evening of the third day, Frank Dineen presided the Mass and we altogether prayed for God's guidance and blessings with the upcoming Chapter starting on Monday.

And the sad news that Frank has covid and some of our visitors as well.

An alert, Jesus in our consciousness after Lent, Holy Week, and in the light of Easter

Kanisas Fellowship

You may enjoy these thoughts (and challenges)

Kris Rizzotto has an extensive website worth looking at, https://krisrizzotto.com/ – and a Facebook page link with many religious and humorous reflections. including the following.

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone brother

2. He liked Gospel

3. He didn't get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father's business

2. He lived at home until he was 33

3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with His hands

2. He had wine with His meals

3. He used olive oil

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Californian:

1. He never cut His hair

2. He walked around barefoot all the time

3. He started a new religion

Indigenous

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Native American:

1. He was at peace with nature

2. He ate a lot of fish

3. He talked about the Great Spirit

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married

2. He was always telling stories

3. He loved green pastures

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Mexican:

1. He treated his mama like she was a saint

2. He always wore llantas and a serape

3. He was a carpenter who could fix anything

But the most compelling evidence of all – 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment's notice when there was virtually no food

2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn't get it

3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do.

Kris Rizzotto

Migration to St Mary’s Towers, Frank Dineen MSC (with red car)

Peter Hendriks writes:   We say farewell to Frank, who will be part of the St Mary’s Towers Community DP. He has had his sights on joining DP for a couple of years, and now it has become a reality.

The ladies in the office are very sad to see him go and gave him gifts and saw him drive away this morning. The rainy morning over here helped disguise their tears.

The MSC Community were in tears seeing the red car go with him.