On 12 January, Br Douglas Dawick passed away in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Below is an obituary written by Br Darren Burge, the Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province. It was with great sadness that I received the news that our Br Douglas Dawick died in Auckland on 12 January at 1.00 am. Br Doug was peaceful in his final hours as he had slept most of Sunday and was well cared for by the staff at the hospital. Doug was 87 years old and had been a Marist Brother for 69

On 10 January 2026, a special Mass was celebrated at Tōtara Point in North Aotearoa New Zealand, marking 188 years since the first Catholic presence in the country. The occasion brought together the local Catholic community, clergy, religious, and members of the wider Marist family to honour both the beginnings of the Church in this land and its continuing mission today. The homily was given by Bishop Steve Lowe who reflected on the Church as a woven kete (a traditional Māor

On 1 January, Br Doug Walsh passed away in Melbourne, Australia. Below is an obituary written by Br Darren Burge, the Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province. It is with great sadness that I advise you that Br Doug Walsh died peacefully last night at 6.35 pm in Melbourne. His family, including his twin sister, Maureen, together Br Harry Prout were with him, and praying with him throughout the day. Doug was peaceful and comfortable. Fr Wayne, the Parish Priest of Heidelber

The third day of the Chapter focused on the critical work of discerning and shaping the Calls of the Chapter. The day began with a beautiful Fijian prayer led by Brothers Petero Navuku, Melquiano Obe, and Jacinto Fuli Falo. Br Petero, a Fijian Brother, opened the prayer by reflecting on the lali , a traditional drum that calls people together. The lali is sounded in times of celebration, in moments of quiet reflection, and in times of difficulty, when people gather for str

The second session of the day was characterised by a process of spiritual conversation, with significant time dedicated to shared reflection and dialogue. Br Darren Burge presented the strategic documents that had been developed by the Provincial Council over many months. He explained that the intention was not to produce a detailed operational plan, but rather a set of guiding principles that express both the aspirations of the Province and its core vision. Drawing together

Day 2 of the Provincial Chapter began with an invitation for the Brothers to reflect on what was “bubbling within” them as they entered the day. Br Tony Leon guided this reflective opening, encouraging participants to attend to what was speaking to them inwardly. He also acknowledged the tragic events that unfolded at Bondi Beach the previous evening. This was followed by two minutes of silence, as the Brothers held in prayer those who lost their lives, their families, and al

On December 14, the Second Provincial Chapter of the Star of the Sea Province officially began in Nadi, Fiji. The gathering opened with a beautiful celebration of the Eucharist, followed by a deeply moving traditional Fijian ceremony. The Chapter brought together 25 Brothers from across the Province, joined by Br Peter Carroll, the newly elected Superior General and former Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province. The newly elected Provincial, Br Darren Burge, led the openi

On December 14, the Second Provincial Chapter of the Star of the Sea Province officially commenced in Nadi, Fiji. The day began with a beautiful celebration of the Eucharist, during which Br Darren Burge, with the prayerful support of his Brothers, was commissioned as the new Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province. As Br Peter Carroll, the Superior General and former Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province, was unable to arrive in time for the morning liturgy, the comm

On 7 December, the Marist Brothers community in Kaikohe marked the close of nearly 50 years of presence and service in the north of Aotearoa - New Zealand. A beautiful and deeply moving Mass brought the community together as local parishioners, friends, and former students gathered to honour the Brothers and express their gratitude for decades of ministry, accompaniment, and friendship. Br Peter Horide, Provincial Delegate to Aotearoa - New Zealand, has penned a heartfelt ref

Sixteen young Cambodians from the Marists’ LaValla Programme for Inclusive Education gathered this week for a heartfelt farewell as they set off for the airport - each proudly dressed in new tracksuits in the colours of the Cambodian flag. Their destination: the Asian Para-Youth Games in Dubai, UAE, taking place from 10 to 13 December, where they will represent their country on one of the region’s most significant sporting stages. The students travelling come from LaValla’s f

Advent is a season to pause, prepare, and take time to do something meaningful as we ready ourselves for Christmas. At the Champagnat Marist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality in Lomeri, Fiji, our Brothers and local community welcomed the season in a simple and genuinely eco-friendly way. In the weeks leading up to Advent, the initiative - led by Br Petero Navuku - brought the community together to gather scraps and unused materials from around the centre: leftover timber fr

Student leaders from 18 NSW/ACT Marist schools gathered at The Hermitage for the annual Marist Youth Ministry Student Leaders’ Gathering (SLG). Alongside the usual program, this year’s gathering included a significant milestone. On Tuesday, 11 November, the first group of Buy a Tree (BAT) seedlings was planted at the Hermitage. The Director of The Hermitage, John Hickey, and the grounds staff had prepared the planting area ahead of time. Principals holding the trees present

At the end of this school year, the Marist Brothers Community in Cairns will conclude after an extraordinary 96 years of presence, service, and ministry. Last week, the community gathered with mixed emotions to honour nearly a century of Marist life at St Augustine’s College. Across those decades, 191 Brothers lived, taught, guided and shaped generations of young men in Cairns. At the farewell celebration, Br Darren Burge offered a heartfelt reflection on this legacy and the

Br Darren Burge, the newly appointed Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province, is in Timor-Leste this week for his first international visit since assuming office. The trip provides him with an opportunity to engage directly with the Brothers across the country and to observe firsthand the steady growth of the Marist mission in the region. Brother Darren Burge and Tony Caddy with the Scholastic Brothers at Vila Marista Boa Mãe, Triloka   His visit commenced at the Triloka F

In Solomon Islands, current available data indicates that roughly 6% of the population lives with deafness or hearing impairment (Jones, 2024). Due to inadequate infrastructure and national data collection systems, this number could be significantly higher. The available data suggests that some cases of deafness in Solomon Islands may be linked to side effects of malaria and/or associated medication. In other instances, hearing impairment may occur in children born to mothers

The Board of Marist Schools Australia has announced Dr John Kyle-Robinson will take up the role of National Director of MSA effective 27 July 2026. He succeeds the current National Director, Dr Frank Malloy, who announced his decision to conclude his tenure in 2026 which will mark his tenth year in the role and his fifteenth year at Marist Schools Australia. “John has rich experience in Catholic education spanning more than 35 years and is more than qualified to take on the l

The Marist Brothers’ Star of the Sea Province is pleased to announce the appointment of Br Darren Burge as its new Provincial, following the election of Br Peter Carroll as Superior General of the Marist Brothers at the 23rd General Chapter held in Tagaytay, Philippines. The Star of the Sea Province, the largest in the Marist world, spans 11 countries across the Pacific and Asia. Br Darren’s appointment marks a significant moment of continuity and renewal for the Province as

On 8 November, Br Dominic Tsibuen marked a beautiful milestone - 25 years as a Marist Brother. His Silver Jubilee is a celebration not only of years, but of a life lived with faith, purpose, and a kindness that has touched many. Brothers gathered with the two priests Fr Willy and Benjamin in front of the St Marcellin Chapel As a young student at Hutjena High School, Dominic was taught by three Marist Brothers who left a lasting impression on him - Br Julian Hakumin, who was t

On 30 October, Br Kevin Murray passed away in Sydney, Australia. Below is an obituary written by Br Darren Burge, the Acting Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province. It is with great sadness that I advise you that Br Kevin Murray died peacefully on 30 October in Sydney. Kevin remained conscious and talking until the last minute, his heart finally failing from old age. He was 96 years old and had been a Marist Brother for 76 years. Br Kevin Murray: 09.09.1929 - 30.10.2025 T

Across the scattered islands of the Pacific, geography and limited resources often make access to quality education uneven for young students. While some schools enjoy the benefits of modern technology, others struggle with outdated or insufficient equipment - leaving many students at a disadvantage in today’s digital world. Recognising this gap, the Star of the Sea Province, with immense support from its partners and Marist networks, has launched a major initiative to help b