"Our years at Mount St Mary's were some of the most memorable of our lives. Let's re-live the memories, re-invigorate the friendship and share where our Mission is taking us now", say the organising committee in their invitation.

The committee, Gerry Forde, Shaun Davison, Dennis Farrelly, Nick Prendergast, Mike Fitzsimmons and Chris St Clair have put together a programme that includes being jolted awake with the customary 5:55am seminary bell, followed 30 minutes later by morning prayer.

The provincial of the Society of Mary, Fr David Kennerley, will welcome participants and bless the occasion.

Other key moments of the weekend are a discussion of a "Marist Alumni proposal" and the laying of a plaque for old boys who have died.

The weekend also has its lighter moments with a tour of the new cellars, a "high tea" in the Mission Estate's award winning former chapel restaurant, singing the top ten hits from the hymnal and the opportunity to chat over a few wines late into the night.

The reunion at the once Greenmeadows seminary, now historic Mission Estate Winery follows several successful catch-ups around the country to mark the launch of the book On a Mission, edited by Shaun Davison.

The reunion is for seminarians from 1970 onwards, and takes place on the weekend of 10 - 12 April, 2015.

Places are limited to 180, including partners.

Those interested are welcome to contact Gerry Forde or visit Facebook.

Sources

• Society of Mary
• Image: Facebook

Deacon Samuel Maetara, 33, is from Malaita Province in the Southern region of the Solomon Islands. He says that he feels called to serve the poor, rejected and marginalized and believes that he is called to do that as a Marist priest.

He began his formation at Marist College, Bomana, Papua New Guinea in 2005.
 In 2007 he went to Fiji for his noviciate year before returning to Bomana in 2008 to continue his studies.

In 2009 Samuel transferred to Marist Seminary Auckland and continued studies at Good Shepherd College. In 2011 he worked at Chanel College, a high school in Samoa, and this year returned to continue his formation at Marist Seminary and complete his studies at Good Shepherd College. During the year he made his lifelong commitment to Marist life by taking Final Vows.

Tom Rarakani, Samuel's oldest brother, traveled from the Solomon Islands to represent his family at the Samuel's ordination.

Tom has a background in teaching. At one stage he had a senior role in the ministry of education for the Solomon Islands and currently he is a fulltime student at the University of the South Pacific (Honiara Campus), where he is doing a doctorate in Business Studies. He is married with children and hopes to complete his studies next year.

Source

• Marist Seminary Auckland
• Image: Marist Seminary Auckland