HISTORY
Beginnings: The
Mission to Japan
The Marist
Mission Centre was established in 1949 as the Japanese Marist Mission
League supporting the first Marists who went to Japan after the second
world war. An initial gathering took place in the Lower Town Hall
Sydney and was made up of ex-POWs, relatives and friends of Father
Lionel Marsden SM. They gathered to acknowledge the fulfillment of a
promise Lionel made during his years as a prisoner-of-war to go to
Japan as a missioner if he survived and, at the same time, to pledge
their financial support for Lionel and any other Marists who would
follow him to Japan in the work of evangelisation and assistance to
survivors of the ravages of war.
The
Japanese Marist Mission League's first honorary president was Father
James Murphy SM .
From
the
outset, because the initiative came from an Australian Marist, the
Region of Japan has always been the responsibility of the Australian
Province. In 1950 Father John Glynn SM was appointed as Director.
Through his efforts and those of Marists returning from Japan the
membership of the Japanese Marist Mission League expanded enabling the
purchase of land and buildings to establish mission stations in Nara
Prefecture, the area given to the Marist Fathers by the then Bishop
Furuya for the work of evangelisation.
At
the time
of the arrival of the first Marists in Nara there was one old
Japanese-style church and a small kindergarten. During the subsequent
years seven other churches were built, four more kindergartens, two old
people's homes and the Christian community of Nara expanded from a
handful in 1949 to over 3,000 by 2004.
Expansion
In
the
middle 60s, under the Directorship of Father Michael O'Halloran SM, the
name was changed to the Marist Mission Centre. The name change was
significant. As the economy of Japan improved so did the financial
independence of Marists working in Nara thus making possible a new
direction for the Mission Centre. At first attention was turned to the
South Pacific Marist mission areas which at that time were expanding
and were in need of support both in terms of infrastructure and
especially support for formation programs as local vocations increased.
The
Marist
Mission Centre expanded its support to embrace other missionary groups
working in many countries as far away as Upper Volta, Thailand and
other Third World nations. This approach broadened the appeal of MMC
and attracted supporters from around Australia with no previous
connection with Marists.
The
ever
expanding requests for support meant increasing the numbers of
committed friends and donors. This was achieved through the newsletter,
the establishment of an art union and personal correspondence with
supporters, the latter being a feature of the Mission Centre's success.
The
Society
of Mary mission outreach developed further during the 70s and 80s.
Mission districts were established in Africa, Peru, Venezuela and the
Philippines. This led to an increase of requests from the Marist
General Administration for funds for initial formation as more young
prospective vocations joined the Marists.
Competition
for the charity dollar intensified during the 70s and 80s and it became
clear that if MMC was to continue to attract funds the tax deductible
facility would be necessary. This was negotiated and in 1984 the Marist
Mission Centre became a registered charity under the title of
Australian Marist Centre Overseas Aid Fund with the right to issue tax
deductible receipts. As a registered charity MMC was then able to
access funds offered to the NGO community of Australia from the
Australian Agency for International Development, (AusAID) the official
government overseas aid agency.
Today
MMC
is one of the better established small NGOs in Australia currently
supporting development projects in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar,
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Korea, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon
Islands.
MMC is also
the principal contributor to the international missions of the Society
of Mary
|
The
Kofukuji temple in Nara, Japan
|
'Mary of
the Journey' by convert Keizo Kosaka. It depicts Mary leading
the child Jesus home to Israel after the flight into Egypt.
|
Pioneer
Director of MMC, the late Fr Michael O'Halloran SM.
|
The chapel
at Tutu on Taveuni Is, Fiji, one of two Marist Formation and Training
Communities in the Pacific
|
|
