Brothers! You are always welcome in Fiji

Marist Asia Pacific Meeting

On Monday 13th of June 2011 the ordinary members of the Marist Asia Pacific (MAP)  meeting together with the Superior General, Fr.John Hannan and General Assistant Fr. Lote Raiwalui were accorded with a traditional ceremony of welcome by the students of Marist College Community, Bomana. This was followed with a sumptuous meal which was also prepared by the Bomana community. This occasion turned out to be a Marist Family gathering, with the community of Kanosia joining in, and the General Bursar, Kevin Mowbray, and the Provincial Bursar, John Crispin were also present. The MAP meeting proper started on Tuesday 14th – Thursday 16th of June. The meeting was held at Vangeke House, which normally provided accommodation for lecturers residing at the Catholic Theological Institute (CTI). We were grateful to CTI for the use of their facilities, and to the Catholic Fijian community in Moresby for catering for the three days of the meeting, and to the staff and the students of Marist College especially for accepting to host this meeting, and for being excellent host before, during, and after the meeting.  The meeting was fortunate to have  Fr.John Hannan, and Fr.Lote Raiwalui with us for the entire meeting. They were able to provide immediate response to some of the issues discussed. Appreciation was also expressed to Fr.Ben McKenna for his first MAP meeting, and to Frs. Larry Sabud and Suni Halapio for their last MAP meeting. The next meeting is planned to be held in Australia from Tuesday 12th – Thursday 14th June  2012.     This annual Meeting is normally composed of Provincials and Vicar Provincials of: Australian (Frs. Paul Cooney, Bob Barber), New Zealand (Fr.Brian Cummings, Phil Cody), Oceania (Frs.Ben McKenna, Suni Halapio), and Superior of the District of Philippines (Larry Sabud).

back row from left: Frs. Brian Cummings, Bob Barber, Phil Cody front row from left:Frs.Suni Halapio, Larry Sabud, Ben McKenna, Lote Raiwalui, John Hannan, Paul Cooney Bomana SM seminarians Welcoming MAP delegates roll over from the left:Frs.Larry Sabud, John Crispin, Brian Cummings, Ben McKenna, Phil Cody, John Hannan Marist College Seminarians fine-tuning the guitars, and the bamboo pipes before the Welcoming Ceremony roll over: another picture of the preparation for the ceremony taken in the College Library. Marist College seminarians and MAP delegation posing in front of the main domitory for the camera from left: Fr.David Willis(CTI president), Frs, John Hannan, Paul Cooney, left shoulder of Phil Codyi, Larry Sabud from left: Superior General, Fr.John Hannan, Peter Puamae are getting ready for thef Farewell meal roll over from left: Fr.Suni and Fr.John Hannan putting names to the faces on photos of the students of Marist College

MAP Meeting in Progress from left:Frs.Ben McKenna, Lote Raiwalui, John Hannan, Larry Sabud, Paul Cooney roll over: first day of MAP meeting around the MAP meeting table from left: Frs.Larry, Paul, Bob, Phil roll over from left: Fr.Lote,John Hannan, Larry, Paul Bomana SM Seminarians entertaining the guests at the Farewell party after the MAP meeting S.Antoine Tamaraka cutting up the pig roasted for the farewell feast rollover from left: Superior of SVD College and Fr.Phil