Part 1 - The Gentle Giant of Pasifika: General Councillor Br John Hazelman on a Life Shaped by Mothers, Inspired by Marcellin, and Called to Lead
- maristbrothers
- Oct 5
- 10 min read
If one were asked to choose a single word to describe Br John Matthew Hazelman, perhaps with some reluctance to narrow it down, that word would be maternal. He is a mountain of a man, a gentle giant, yet what truly defines him is the tender, nurturing spirit of a mother.
That spirit was first sown in him at home. The youngest of nine children, Br John was raised by a single mum whose quiet strength, resilience, and love became the foundation of his life. He was her shadow, learning from her not just in words but in the way she lived - with sacrifice, patience, and unwavering care. Everything she embodied became part of him, forming the heart of the man he is today.
So, it was little wonder that when his teenage years came, with their searching questions about purpose and calling, Br John was drawn to another motherly presence - Mother Mary. From his own mother’s embrace to Mary’s gentle guidance, he found himself carried by a maternal spirit that has never left his side.
His Marist journey has taken him across oceans and cultures - from the turquoise waters of his Pacific homeland to the vibrant, bustling streets of Asia, and back again to the islands he calls home. In 2022, he was elected to the newly formed Star of the Sea Provincial Council, marking a historic moment as the largest Province in the Marist Institute came into being.
When he first left home, Br John was a young Brother still finding his way. By the time he joined the Provincial Council, he had grown into a leader admired by his peers and deeply loved by the younger Brothers of the Pacific and Melanesia. That love is no surprise: shaped by his own mother and by Mother Mary, he has always been selfless, generous, and endlessly giving of himself.
On 3 October, the Marist world recognised these very qualities, affirming his spirit and leadership by electing him to the General Council at the 23rd General Chapter in Tagaytay, Philippines, making him the first Brother from the Islands - beyond Aotearoa-New Zealand - to be appointed to this role.
As he prepares to leave the shores of his island home for the very heart of the Marist Institute, The Star Post sat down with Br John to reflect on his journey as a Brother - the joys and struggles, the doubts and discoveries, and the hopes he carries into the next eight years.
Congratulations on becoming a General Councillor, Br John! How are you feeling at this moment?
It was a surprise to be nominated by a large group of Brothers as a General Councillor, especially knowing that Peter Carroll had already been elected Superior General by the capitulants. Nevertheless, I feel humbled by the trust and confidence the capitulants have placed in me for this role.
I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I believe I still have much to contribute in Pasifika - particularly in supporting sustainability plans for Fiji, encouraging new ministry initiatives in Port Moresby, and continuing support for Mabiri and Kiribati. I also deeply value the teamwork among the Province’s formators.
On the other hand, I trust and believe that another Pasifika Brother is well placed to speak and lead Pasifika, and our province is blessed with experienced formators. Also, joining the General Council offers me a chance to represent both Pasifika and the Province in service to the wider Institute.
"Joining the General Council offers me a chance to represent both Pasifika and the Province in service to the wider Institute."
I am aware of the challenges that come with such roles - the expectations and workload. Language will be a limitation for me. However, I am excited to support the new team, especially our leader. I look forward to being a Brother to our leader and other members of the General Council. I am eager to learn about different realities, to listen, and to offer brotherly support while empowering others in their own contexts.
Take us back to the beginning, Br John - where were you born and raised, and what was your childhood like?
I was born in Samoa on 21 September 1968, in a village called Lepea. It was an extended family environment, so I grew up surrounded by cousins, uncles, and aunties - a big family, very strong in the Catholic faith and very firm in the culture. From an early age, I learned the importance of family and community: that what you have is not just for yourself, but for everyone.
My dad passed away when my mum was three months pregnant with me. Dad was Fijian, and Mum was Samoan. Because of that experience, I think Mum treated me in a special way - I never knew my dad, so she tried to make up for it. I was youngest in the family. I have a sister who is three years older, and we were very close. She now lives in Wollongong, Australia. My other brothers were older and often busy with “boys’ things,” so my closest bonds were really with my mum, my sisters, and my cousins.
"From an early age, I learned the importance of family and community: that what you have is not just for yourself, but for everyone."
As a child, I was very shy and skinny. I spent a lot of time with my nieces and girl cousins, who were about my age, and they became my playmates. Growing up that way shaped me in quiet but important ways.
Faith came into my life early, though I wouldn’t have called it “faith” back then - it was simply service to the Church. My mum was very committed to the parish. She typed the parish bulletin and spent long hours helping out. I remember waking up at three o’clock in the morning and seeing her at the typewriter. She was a hardworking woman, and from her I quickly learned the value of hard work.
We didn’t have much, but I never felt we were lacking. Mum gave us what was essential, and at the time I thought that was great. Only later did I realise how simple things were compared to others. Looking back now, I’m grateful. Being the youngest, I was a little spoiled, but there was always someone looking after me.
One of the things I loved was serving as an altar boy. In fact, I wanted to serve even before I received my First Communion! I was drawn to it, and from that experience I learned the joy of service and the importance of commitment.
School was another happy memory. The first school I attended was run by Sisters. I still remember how, every day, I would bring flowers for the statue of Mary. My mum loved plants and flowers, and my brothers helped me collect them. At the time it felt natural, but looking back, it makes me smile.
"We didn’t have much, but I never felt we were lacking."
I was also very active as a child - always running, full of energy. We used to race home from school, me and the other boys, just to see who would get there first!
Was this the time when your faith began to draw you towards the Brothers?
Yes, I think so. I was about ten when I first entered a Marist Brothers’ school, and very quickly I felt drawn to the life. I remember a Brother once asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and without much thought I replied, “I’d like to be a Brother.” I didn’t fully understand what I was saying, but it planted a seed in me that never really left.
The Brothers had a chapel near the school, and we students often went there to pray before classes. I started doing that regularly, and it became a natural part of my rhythm. I even became friends with one of the older Brothers - he was considered a bit eccentric, but we connected. At that time, I had started growing my own vegetable garden, and I used to earn some money from selling the cabbages I grew. I would give some to the Brothers, and in return, I often noticed the wonderful smell of their food at lunchtime - which was another attraction for me!
Still, what impressed me most was their teaching, their presence among young people, and the way they coached sports like rugby. Since I was athletic myself and loved rugby, I found that very inspiring.
Through those years I was a rather shy boy - especially around girls. I was academically solid but not exceptional, usually somewhere in the top five at school. I still remember winning a scholarship, which meant a lot to me because my mother was raising us alone. It felt like a gift I could give back to her.
"Through those years I was a rather shy boy - especially around girls."
I joined Marist groups during my schooling, and when co-education came in my final year, I also began experiencing life in mixed classes. That was important for my confidence too.
But deep inside, the desire to join the Brothers grew stronger. By the age of 17, I actually knocked on their door and asked if I could join. The Brother who knew me and my family sent me back with wise advice: “You are too young. Do more studies first. Enjoy life a bit more, then come back.” He was right - it wasn’t the time yet. But the seed was still there, and I remained close to the Brothers, attending “Come and See” programs and continuing to pray.
After school, I became serious enough about the vocation to pause and think carefully. The Sisters at my old primary school invited me to spend a year teaching, and I took it up as a way of testing my sense of calling. That year brought clarity. I remember one Mass in particular: the youngest children, in Year 1 and Year 2, performed a liturgical dance, and it struck me deeply. I thought: This is what I want - to work with young people, to be part of their lives, to serve them.
"I still remember winning a scholarship, which meant a lot to me because my mother was raising us alone. It felt like a gift I could give back to her."
From then on, I knew I would join the Brothers.
What was your journey into the Brothers like?
There’s no single path - you begin with “Come and See” experiences where you live with the Brothers and understand their way of life. Then there is postulancy, novitiate, and different stages of formation. I remember the day I entered postulancy clearly. My family was invited, including my mother, one sister, and a brother. My mother gave me a small card with words on the back I will never forget, "Son, this is what you want, I let you go. I understand, and I support you. But remember, the door is always open.”
She only heard about my decision a week before I went to live with the Brothers - it was sudden for her. Being the youngest in the family made it even harder. I could sense her pain, though she didn’t say much, and I will always remember that moment and her blessing.
Afterwards, I moved to Fiji for the next stage of training. It was there that I worked through some deeper parts of my own story, most importantly the loss of my father, who died before I was born. That surfaced strongly, and I remember breaking down in tears as I confronted that absence for the first time. Fiji was also where I discovered a love of nature - gardening, fishing, being outdoors.
"My Mother wrote, “Son, this is what you want, I let you go. I understand, and I support you. But remember, the door is always open.”"
Later, I continued formation in the Philippines. Asia opened my mind beyond the small Pacific islands I knew. It also brought challenges.
I fell in love.
Even as a Brother, I experienced falling in love. It was an important time for me - because it helped me to be honest with myself, to understand human relationships more deeply, and to appreciate what love really means.
"Even as a Brother, I experienced falling in love. It was an important time for me - because it helped me to be honest with myself."
My mother’s reaction when I confided in her was typically protective - “That’s the devil talking!” - but I knew she simply wanted to safeguard my vocation. I learned that honesty, openness, and friendship are vital for living religious life well, and that love helps you become more authentic in how you love and serve others.
That person and I talked and decided to part ways, because I couldn’t give up being a Brother. It was always my path.
Thank you for your honesty, Br John. What happened after your time in Asia, did you return to the Pacific?
Yes. After time in formation, I returned to Samoa for teaching and made my final vows. Later, my superiors asked me to prepare as a formator myself. That journey took me to the United States, India, and then back to the Philippines.
India, in particular, shaped me with its interreligious dialogue, its simplicity of life, and its emphasis on friendship and relationship. It was also where I studied counselling, which became part of my professional training.
Most of my religious life was spent in the Philippines, where I eventually joined the staff of MAPAC, the international training centre for Brothers from across Asia and the Pacific. That experience exposed me to diverse cultures and opened me further to the richness of the wider Marist world.
Read part 2 here.
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