Dempsey brings a strong justice and mission lens and executive management experience to the appointment. He was a member of the Society of Mary for 25 years, working in formation, education, and community development in New Zealand and in Asia.

Since 2020, Dempsey has been Director of Challenge 2000 in Wellington, leading a team of 40 youth, community and social workers.

NZCBC Vice President and Bishop of Auckland, Stephen Lowe, says the bishops are delighted to appoint Dempsey, someone with a strong understanding of the Church and a commitment to giving practical witness to the Gospel.

Dempsey replaces Siobhan Dilly, who is leaving after four years in the role.

Source: Supplied NZCBC

"What a shock and great disappointment! I appreciate commercial realities to which we are all subject, but it does not dull the pain," one reader wrote.

"The Marist Messenger has been an iconic Catholic staple in many households; just like the Columban calendar, it was always there. Our family was the "third generation of readers," wrote another.

The decision to close the Marist Messenger was announced to the media in a statement by the Society of Mary.

A separate statement on the Marist Messenger website says that the publication has been facing mounting financial pressures, particularly the increased cost of postage and the increased cost of print production, combined with a declining readership.

Messenger staff confirmed to CathNews that it was difficult to continually keep the magazine's subscription in line with production costs.

In The Marist Messenger's January editorial, Fr Pat Brophy SM, announced that he resigned to take up an appointment in Rome.

"I have been asked by the Superior General, Fr John Larsen SM, to take up a new role in the Marist General House in Rome," writes Brophy.

In 2025 he will become the Society's Bursar General.

"This was not how I imagined I'd spend the next 6 to 10 years of my Marist life. However, as the saying goes: people propose, God disposes," Brophy commented on his appointment.

He asked that readers pray for the next editor.

In its 24 February statement, the Society of Mary says it has been unable to find a suitable new editor to replace Brophy.

Superior General of the Society of Mary, Fr John Larsen SM (Centre)

At its peak, the Marist Messenger enjoyed 10,000 subscribers.

The publication is no longer economically viable with an estimated readership of 5,000 and 3,000 subscriptions.

Keeping the Marist Messenger operating required constant promotion in parish communities.

The closing of parishes during lengthy Covid lockdowns and people staying away from Mass for safety reasons have not helped.

In its 94th year, the Marist Messenger was a devotional magazine published by Marist Messenger Ltd, a private charitable company fully owned by the Society of Mary.

Through its daily reflections, it aimed to provide material that will help people pray with the Scriptures. Regular articles on prayer and scripture supported these reflections.

Reader surveys show that the daily reflections were the most popular element of the Marist Messenger.

Those with current subscriptions may apply to be reimbursed for the remaining period.

Generations of former students gathered to reminisce about their time at the celebrated school.

As one past pupil said: "We are unique. We are the only Maori Catholic Boys College in the world! So let's remember; let's celebrate; let's build a sustainable future".

Beginning with a powhiri welcoming 350 manuhiri - visitors and old boys - the weekend's celebrations include a banquet dinner, an archive exhibition and a special Mass with Cardinal John Dew.

Hato Paora opened in 1947, led by the founding rector, Pa Ihaka Gupwell.

In those days all the teachers were priests. The last of them left the school in 1994.

The school's vision was to create an environment for boys to grow into young men with strong te reo and tikanga Maori and to promote Catholic and Maori values, provide a solid education and encourage achievement and success.

Two early boarders at the school who returned for the weekend are Hoani Heremaia and Vivian Broughton.

They recall their time as boarders vividly.

Broughton says he risked punishment by raiding the orchard of apples and nuts, burying them and eating them later.

Even though some of the priests used the cane on miscreants, Broughton doesn't bear them any malice.

"It wasn't too bad. They were all pretty good when you got to know them as long as you behaved yourself," he recalled.

Heremaia said the school hadn't been open for long when they started and there were 60 to 70 boys there in those days.

Tiwana Tibble's last year at Hato Paora was in 1975 and since he and his five brothers attended, two more generations of his family had gone through the school.

His two sons and three grandsons went to Hato Paora, with his last grandson finishing last year.

"We had a strong relationship with the school over the time."

Tibble remembered being taught by the priests, including one father who was his maths teacher, as he went on to become an accountant.

But things had changed at the school since his day.

"It's probably a bit better now."

That number of students has fluctuated over time. The aim is to build numbers again, says current Principal, Nathan Mathews.

"The present roll is 100 with an aim to build to 130. This in part to recover from Covid times. Pupils come from various parts of New Zealand and now from local areas such as Feilding and Palmerston as well," Mathews says.

At present, he and Tata Lawton (current College Trust Board Chair) are co-authoring ‘A History of the Song of Paorangi', an account of the life of the College down the generations.

The Catholic Maori boys boarding school is one of only three Maori boarding schools left in New Zealand, but the school works hard to keep its special character alive through whanau links.

Source

• Stuff
• Supplied

He made a significant contribution to education in New Zealand not just in Catholic Schools, but nationally.

O'Neill was a teacher at St Patrick's College in Wellington from 1953 until 1981.

In 1960 he took a break from teaching to attend Cambridge University, returning to St Patrick's College at the end of 1962.

From 1964 until 1980 he was involved with the Education Department in Mathematics Curriculum Development.

He was instrumental in introducing the "New Maths" into the curriculum of New Zealand secondary schools.

During that same time, he was one of a group of authors who published a series of textbook Shape of Mathematics.

For a long time, almost every secondary school in New Zealand used these texts.

O'Neill also played a significant role in the process of integrating catholic schools into the State education system.

From 1973 until 1975 he was a member of the Integration Working Party.

From 1987 until 1994 John was the executive director of the New Zealand Education office.

He then served as the Vicar for Education in the Archdiocese of Wellington until 2001.

In 1990 he received a medal for services to education, and later in the year the QSO.

After 1995 he lived in retirement in Thorndon.

O'Neill would have been 93 on September 19.

His health had been failing for some time.

He was assessed for hospital-level care late last week and was hoping to go there on Wednesday.

But on Tuesday he began to fail and after seeing his doctor was admitted to Wellington Public Hospital.

John O'Neill's funeral will be Tuesday 3 September at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington at 1.30pm.

The Rosary on Monday 2 September will be recited at St Mary of the Angels at 7.00pm.

Source

• Supplied

Fr John Larsen is a member of the Society's district of Asia and has been on loan to its international formation programme based in Rome.

He succeeds Fr John Hannan and is the first non-European to hold the position in 24 years.

Larsen entered Mount St Mary's Seminary, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand in 1974.

After ordination in 1981, he taught for five years at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, during which time he volunteered for the foreign missions.

As well as the experience of mission in developing countries, Larsen has been involved in the formation of Marist priests and occupied the position of novice-master and formator in philosophy and theology houses in the Philippines.

He is a former district superior of the Philippines and was responsible for establishing the Marist Mision in Ranong, Southern Thailand. Local people still remember him fondly many years later.

The current district superior of Asia, Fr Pat Devlin, who worked alongside Larsen, says he is delighted with the election.

"I believe he will bring energy and vision to the leadership".

"He will be a blessing for the Society as he is a spiritual man with a broad vision combined with an interest and care for individuals, especially those in great need", Devlin said.

Fr Frank Bird from the Marist mission says John Larsen's influence on Burmese migrants in Ranong has been profound.

"Some HIV AIDS Patients and others still have a photo of Fr John in their homes alongside an image of Buddha.

"I think they recognise a holy man of great compassion.

"They remember his love, his breadth of vision, his personal and loving style of leadership that was also not afraid of the challenges involved in a migrant border-crossing town with its many difficulties", said Frank Bird.

Frank Bird says he has never forgotten visiting people with John Larsen as he did his daily visits to sick HIV migrants. He recalls this story:

"Approaching one particular home, he looked around carefully to see if any police who might endanger them were following.

"He pushed open a bit of corrugated iron to reveal a dirt pathway to an abandoned building. It was an area beside and above a dirty river.

"Next, going under the building and up some stairs, we came across a number of families and children who were obviously happy to see him.

"He walked among them as a friend," said Frank Bird.

The Society of Mary's leader in New Zealand, Fr David Kennerley, believes the election a bold turning and an answer to prayer.

He says Larsen's election continues the theme first highlighted by the retiring superior general - "Time to look outwards".

Larsen is the second New Zealander to become the superior general of the Marist Fathers and Brothers. The first was Fr Bernard Ryan who was elected to the position in 1977.

Source

The Society of Mary
Image: The Society of Mary

Kennerley said, ‘As part of our ongoing support of Challenge 2000 and commitment to working with youth, the Society of Mary has purchased the old Brigidine convent at 1 Wanaka St, Johnsonville, Wellington. This centre will provide a base from which Challenge 2000 can continue to offer a wide range of services and also develop other ministries, including an alternative education college and youth development and youth ministry programmes'.

Sr Anne Phibbs along with other Brigidine Sisters who previously lived at the convent said they are delighted their old home will be used by Challenge 2000.

‘After the Sisters left, two more owners made vast improvements to the building and it is very pleasing the ‘old Convent' should come back to life within the Church and in such good condition.'

"We congratulate the Society of Mary on their generosity and their concern for our young people; and we wish Challenge 2000 every blessing on their work and their time in the ‘old Convent'. May you all be richly blessed by God - and by St Brigid!"

The Archbishop of Wellington Cardinal John Dew said, "This is great news for Challenge 2000 and is a significant move and moment in your history. It will enable you to do a lot more of the wonderful work you do, serving young people and their families."

"The staff, volunteers, Board and Challenge whanau are absolutely delighted about the Society of Mary's purchase of a base for Challenge 2000", said Steve O'Connor.

"For us, it is a dream come true and something we have been hoping and praying for. It will enable us to work more effectively and better serve our young people and families."

"It is an excellent example of a collaborative gospel partnership in action. We look forward to the official opening and shift mid-year and thank the Society of Mary for this huge commitment."

Source

• wn.catholic.org.nz
• Image: wn.catholic.org.nz

The Marist Family is made up of the Marist Brothers, Marist Sisters, Marist Fathers and Brothers, Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary and Marist Laity.

The school was divided into four houses named after the founders of the 4 religious congregations in the Marist Family.

They were St Marcellin Champagnat founder of the Marist Brothers; Fr. Jean Claude Colin founder of the Marist Fathers and Brothers; Sister Jeanne Marie Chavoin of the Marist Sisters; and Marie Francoise Perroton, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary.

School Principal, Sr. Masela Tenisio said being the last day of this school term, they wanted to highlight the significance of the upcoming celebration.

Each house performed songs, dramas and items highlighting the history and the work of the Marist family.

What happened 200 years ago?

The Marist Family was formed on the 23rd July 1816 in Lyon France at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fourvière. Four diocesan priests and eight seminarians pledged themselves to found a congregational bearing the name of Mary.

St. Marcellin Champagnat, founder of the Marist Brothers, and Fr Jean Claude Colin, Founder of the Society of Mary, were among those who worked to carry out this promise. They were convinced that they were responding to a wish of the Mother of Mercy.

Sr. Masela said the 200 year anniversary would be a big celebration not only in Samoa but also around the world because the Marist family is a global one.

The main celebration will be held on Saturday 23 July, which will include a mass at the Mulivai Cathedral, entertainment, and a feast at the Tuutuu i le Loloto Hall.

Source

• sobserver.ws
• Image: sobserver.ws

Martinez has worked at The Logos project for more than ten years.

"The experiences and opportunities I received in my younger years have had a profound impact on me, and are why I am so passionate about faith and personal formation," says Martinez.

"Many years ago I lived in a Catholic young adult community run by the Christian Brothers and I was very involved in different ministries within the Edmund Rice Network."

"I also trained and worked as a chef after I left school at Marist College."

"I love the fact that each day I have the opportunity to support young people to grow in their faith and in who they are called to be," she said.

Founded in 1999 by the Society of Mary, The Logos Project works with young people in the Auckland region.

It runs a range of programmes designed to develop young people, helping them to know who they are what they stand for.

It is hoped that, by doing this, these young people will become women and men who make a positive contribution to their communities and to wider society.

Last year Logos ran:

• 37 one-day or overnight retreats in six schools
• 5 regular Special Character activities in two schools, involving 107 students
• 2 week-long OSCAR holiday programmes with about 18 participants
• 1 three-day retreat for 18 special character leaders from 7 schools
• 1 overnight retreat and many training and formation sessions of the Connectors, (Logos volunteers)
• A family violence programme, "Jade Speaks Up" in two schools involving over 140 students
• Eucharistic traning in three schools for more than 30 participants
• Sacrament programmes in three schools with 40 participants receiving the Sacraments of Initiation
• Weekly class Masses in 4 schools, fortnightly masses in two schools, and 16 other school masses
• Logos also assisted Caritas and the Marist Brothers to deliver programmes

As with most youth projects, Logos always struggles to find enough resources, human and material.

Much was put in place throughout 2015 to help strengthen Logos for the future.

The most significant of these is moving premises to a more suitable building.

The Logos Project has been based at the historic Josephite convent on St Benedict's St since 2007.

In January they moved to its new location in Eden Terrace.

It is a more modern building and more suited to the smaller team.

Source

• Supplied

"I thought 'I'll give it a go. They'll discover I'm not suitable. Then I'll go home and get on with the rest of my life'." But they never did. I'm still at it 50 years on!"

Listen to David Gledhill in conversation with Jerome Cvitanovich here.

In the late 1950s David joined students from around New Zealand to begin training at the Society of Mary's seminary in Hawkes Bay - Mount St Mary's.

The Society began in France but traces its origins in New Zealand back to the landing of Bishop Pompallier in the Hokianga in 1838. Two Marists came with Pompallier on that journey - Father Servant and Brother Michel. Their arrival is regarded as the beginning of the Catholic Mission in New Zealand - much of it focused on a mission to Maori.

Fr David's original plan was to volunteer for missionary work overseas. But in his last years of seminary training he was asked to consider staying in New Zealand.

In 1966, shortly after his ordination, his superior sent him a short note advising him of his posting.

"Dear David," it read. "You are appointed to Hato Paora college. You may do university if you wish. Kind Regards."

Hato Paora is a Maori boys boarding college near Fielding, founded in 1947. It was run in those days by the priests and brothers of the Society of Mary.

For the newly ordained priest the school was a culture shock. "I was a pakeha boy from the South Island. I really had no idea of the family Maori. Like most European New Zealanders, I thought we were all Kiwis... untiI I got to Hato Paora". Continue reading

Sources

• Radio NZ, interview and article by Jerome Cvitanovich.
• Image: Pa Piripi Cody SM

New Zealand Marist Mission promoter, Fr Tim Duckworth, SM, confirmed the move on Tuesday evening.

"The people of Fiji are resilient, but in many cases will have to start again from the foundations," Fr Duckworth said.

"With so many communities and villages flattened, local infrastructure is really stretched.

"Frequently people have lost everything: homes, schools, churches, food sources, livelihood, drinkable water and crops.

"It is going to take a lot of help to get up and running again."

Fr Duckworth's initiative comes in response to the massive trail of destruction left by monster Cyclone, "Winston".

Late last week, the New Zealand province of the Society of Mary made a substantial donation to the society's Oceania province.

One of the areas badly hit was "Tutu", the rural training centre in Tavenui, where 22 buildings have either been partially or completely destroyed.

Tutu was established in 1969 and helps people become more autonomous - training them to return home to farm their own land.

It offers five courses catering for young farmers, married couples, young single women, and new parents.

The Pacific Island Famers Organisation Network has said the Tutu "experiment" has been highly successful.

"The urgent needs (for Tutu) right now are $125,000 building materials, and food for 25 families and 72 course participants," said Fr Pio Fong Waqavotuwale, SM.

St John's College has also sustained extensive damage.

Those wishing to donate are encouraged to contact Fr Tim Duckworth:

• Email: duckworth@smnz.org.nz
• Phone: 04 499 3060

100 per cent of all donations will be sent to the Marist Fathers' mission in Fiji.

Any administration costs will be met by the Society of Mary New Zealand and one third of all donations is tax-deductible.

Sources

• Society of Mary
• Image: Marist Oceania Provincial Administration (supplied)

The annual Travellers' Choice Awards staged by the US-based site, Trip Advisor, are based on customer ratings of a restaurant for the food, the service, the atmosphere, the value and the overall experience.

"This is an exceptional result for us," Mission Restaurant manager Daniel Jaritz said. Continue reading

Dew has thanked the priests and brothers of the Society of Mary for their pastoral care and leadership in Otaki which the Society of Mary has provided almost continuously since 1844.

The Society only recently took up care of the larger new parish of Sts Mary and Joseph, which combines both Otaki and Levin.

But because of the ageing of its priests and brothers the Society of Mary has found it can no longer provide a religious community to minister to the pastoral care for the parish.

"Given the long history of the Marist presence in this area, this move is not something that we have approached lightly or rashly," said Father David Kennerley, the provincial of the Society of Mary.

"Indeed, it is with great sadness and regret that we have made this decision."

Society of Mary will continue to offer its assistance to the parish and the greater Wellington area in Maori Pastoral Care.

Source

• Supplied: Archdiocese of Wellington; Society of Mary
• Image: c2.staticflickr.com

They will leave Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Palmerston North, at the end of 2015.

A consequence of this decision is the Society will also scale back its support of Hato Paora College.

"The decision to finish reflects our need to consolidate our apostolates and to prioritise our ministries," Marist Fathers' provincial, Fr David Kennerley said in a letter, Saturday, to Marist priests and brothers.

Fr Kennerley says the Society hopes to continue to support Hato Paora College into the future, but obviously not with as significant a presence as it has up to this point.

The College, a Catholic Maori boys' boarding school, was established by the Society of Mary in 1947.

Currently Fr Matthew Crawford ministers full time at Hato Paora and lives in the Marist community at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Fr Kennerley says that the withdrawal from Our Lady of Lourdes parish marks the end of 14 years service and will be felt by many.

"We are grateful to all our confreres who have served in this parish and in other parts of this area for their energy and commitment," he wrote.

Writing to the Palmerston North Diocese, Bishop Charles Drennan said the priests in Palmerston North always felt the warmth of hospitality and welcome at the Marist Community at Our Lady of Lourdes.

"Our diocese has been greatly served by the Shamrock Street community over the years and it is with much sadness that I recognise the Society's need to allocate their men elsewhere in the mission of the Church," wrote Bishop Drennan.

The bishop said the Marists' vibrant, generous and varied ministry is what will be missed the most.

Members of the Society grouped by age met recently at Tatum Park to prioritise their ministries in New Zealand.

The meetings were requested by the Society of Mary's General Administration in Rome.

Reflecting on these meetings, Fr Kennerley said in his May Provincial Newsletter, that without being asked, both meetings had agreed the Provincial and his Council were left to make the final choice for prioritising the provinces' ministries.

In 2012, the Society of Mary took over responsibility of the Napier Pastoral area that comprises the Napier city parish of St Patrick, St Thomas More parish and the St Mary's parish in Taradale.

Source

• Supplied
• Image: maristmessenger.co.nz

He had just returned, on Saturday evening, from visiting small Christian communities at Tohatsi, Hanahan parish, hearing confessions of school children preparing for first communion.

Michael was the superior the Koromira Marist community on Buka in Bougainville.

He had previously been superior of the Bougainville region of the Oceania province of the Society of Mary.

The Bishop of Port Vila (Vanuatu), Jean Bosco Barames trained for the priesthood with Michael.

Jean Bosco and Tondicop studied together for ten years.

Jean Bosco recalls that they both came from small islands and they met for the first time in 1973 during their first year at St Joseph's High School in Rigu (Kieta), where they studied from 1973 to 1976.

They then went on to St Peter Chanel, in Ulapia, Rabaul, a kind of minor seminary, to complete years 11 and 12.

"I can't say that Michael was a young man with an aptitude for study but he was someone who was strong in his faith and his prayer, and an athlete. He played Rugby League and showed quite remarkable ability," said Jean Bosco.

"At the end of 1978 we completed our schooling and since we were Marist aspirants, Father Ed Duffy, the regional superior at the time, sent us to the south of Bougainville to stay with families for a few months, in the parish of Tabago."

In late 1979, they went to Fiji to prepare for their novitiate, which began in 1980.

They were professed together in January 1981 and went back to Papua New Guinea where from 1981 to 1983 they studied for the priesthood at Holy Spirit Seminary in Bomana.

They eventually parted company at the end of 1983, meeting up again in 1987, one or two weeks before their ordination to the priesthood, which took place on 4 December 1987.

After ordination Michael was appointed to work in Bougainville and John went to New Caledonia.

They worked together again in Bougainville from 2000 to 2002.

After teaching at St Patrick's College Silverstream for a number of years Craig went on to be involved in a wide range of ministries.

For some years he was the director of third order of the Society of Mary while also acting as its vocations director.

He then spent a number of years preaching parish missions and running school retreats.

As a retreat director he was ahead of his time in the use of audio visual presentations.

In 1977 Fr Larkin went to Rome for further studies.

On his return he joined the staff at Mount St Mary's Seminary at Greenmeadows and then he became the novice master.

In 1990 he returned to Rome for another two years of study and on his return, became the rector of the Marist Seminary.

Fr Larkin was elected provincial leader of the New Zealand Marists in 1997 and went on to become the vicar general of the Society in 2001.

After serving for 8 years in that capacity he remained in Rome assisting with the formation of Marists responsible for the Society of Mary's training programmes worldwide.

Fr Larkin returned to New Zealand in late 2013 after he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

In the course of his busy life he also found time to write a number of books on subjects related to Marist spirituality, iconography and spirituality in general.

In New Zealand possibly his best known publication is a small book, "Pardon in the Winderness"; helping people to prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation.

He had a life long interest in contemplative prayer as practiced not only by Christians but in other faiths as well.

Fr Larkin's funeral will take place at St Teresa's Church, Karori, Wellington on Saturday 4 July at 11am.

Listed as the number three wine destination in the world, ‘The Bay' is the only New Zealand wine region mentioned by the publication.

The region is also praised for the range and variety of restaurants and scenic spots.

"This bucolic region excels at classic Bordeaux varieties, while syrah is angling to become the areas's flagship wine. Beyond the bottle, however, the landscape, food and people are, as the country's marketing slogan campaign says, 100 per cent pure New Zealand," wrote Lauren Mowery.

As well as Mission Estate, the publication mentioned Craggy Range, Elephant Hill, Te Mata Estate and Clearview as wineries to visit.

Wine Enthusiast is a New York publication describing itself as "a prominent multichannel marketer of a growing line of products that satisfy, inform, enrich, entertain and inspire".

A 30 year old business, Wine Enthusiast company claims to be the number one source for information, education, events and travel.

Mission Estate is New Zealand's oldest established winery. Established by the French Marist Fathers and Brothers in 1851 it grew grapes for sacramental purposes, but also for table wine.

Today, surpluses from the sale of Mission Wine are spent in New Zealand and contribute to the charitable works and purpose of the Society of Mary in New Zealand.

Source:

• Wine Enthusiast

The event was attended by the Gap year students' families and friends as well as representatives and friends of Challenge 2000 and the Society of Mary.

Each of the graduates had an opportunity to speak honestly about their experience of the Gap Year, its highs and lows.

A number of them talked about how a group had gone from being a bunch of strangers to a community of friends.

They were grateful for the opportunity to be challenged to move out of their comfort zones, to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures.

The experience enabled them to discover skills and strengths they did not know they had.

One of the leaders of the Gap Year programme, Kitty McKinley, said she hoped that the Gap year had provided its participants with a positive experience of the Catholic Church meeting the needs of a new generation.

The other Gap year programme leader, Heath Hutton, was farewelled.

After a number of years with the programme he will be moving on to new challenges in 2015.

For the last five years The Society of Mary has assisted Challenge 2000, to provide eight young people with the opportunity to take part in a Gap Year programme.

Ideally participants have just completed Year 13 and wish to gain real life experience before choosing their future careers. The programme is also suitable for a young person who wants to take "time out" from University or work.

Source

Supplied

The homestead was owned by the society for 67 years and for 64 of those it was the house of formation for novice priests and brothers.

The house was sold in 1990 but the society kept the farm.

The house and farm were run as separate enterprises, though the farm provided food and income to run the house.

Fr Craig Larkin, a former novice master, says at a conservative estimate an average of 10 trainee priests a year attended Highden over the 64 years.

He said the numbers peaked from the mid-1960s to the 1970s then began to drop off.

The novitiate year now takes place in a multi-cultural community in the Philippines.

At present there is one New Zealander there.

Source

• CountryWide
• Image:farm1.nzstatic.com

The dispute began when the council used the Public Works Act to take 1.5 hectares from the winery to realign a road.

The council and Marist Holdings (Greenmeadows) fought a protracted battle over the valuation of the land.

A Land Valuation Tribunal ruling four years ago went Marist Holdings' way, with the value of compensation assessed at $306,000, almost double the council's original offer in 2006.

The council took the matter to the High Court, which, in 2012 ruled that the matter should be reheard.

The court advised both parties to engage new valuers.

The council and the winery owners met in July and agreed to settle the matter out of court.

The council's legal costs since 2006 have been $135,929, exclusive of GST.

Continue reading

Society of Mary Superior General Fr John Hannan told CathNews that he is pleased the threat of further sanctions, stipulated in 2010, have been removed and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will no longer adjudicate on them.

Fr Fagan, 86, a moral theologian, was silenced by the Vatican in 2008 following the publication of his book "Whatever happened to sin?"

The Vatican advised him if any word of their actions against him reached the media he would be stripped of his priesthood.

The Irish Times reports that Pope Francis is believed to have intervened directly with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on Fr Fagan's behalf.

Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese is also thought to be directly involved.

The Irish Times learned that Mrs McAleese wrote to Pope Francis last December requesting he intervene. Receipt of the letter was acknowledged by the Holy Father's secretary.

Mrs McAleese, in 2012, criticised the Vatican's treatment of five silenced Irish priests, labelling their treatment as "dreadful".

She described Fr Fagan and similarly silenced Redemptorist, Fr Tony Flannery as "good men who have loved this Church with passion".

Others who also understood to have been approached to intervene on Fr Fagan's behalf are

• the Society of Mary,
• Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin,
• Archbishop Charles Brown, the new papal nuncio to Ireland, and
• Fr Timothy Radcliffe, the former head of the Dominicans.

As part of Fr Fagan's silence, the Ireland province of the Society of Mary was required to purchase all remaining copies of the book, and disassociate itself from his views.

In 2013, the Marist Fathers Ireland published a notice on its website saying that Fr Fagan's writings in the book "What happened to sin" do not have the approval of or represent the views of the Society of Mary.

The Vatican has also dropped its veto on the 1950s writings of the late Fr Lorenzo Milani, who argued that the Church of that time was more involved in ritual than faith.

Sources

• Society of Mary (NZ)
• Irish Times
• Irish Examiner
• Marist Fathers Ireland
• Catholic News Service
• Image: Michael V Hurley