mcoleman117@hotmail.co.uk       http://www.maristway.org

Dear Friends

Sorry for the delay in issuing this Newsletter. To be honest I simply could not get started and then it was too late for January. Lots of things have happened which will have a great deal of effect on the future – the financial chaos, a new Mr President in U.S.A. and the events in Gaza. We need to pray about all these things. You may like to use:

direct your love that is within us,

that our efforts in the name of your Son

may bring mankind to unity and peace".

I will be attending the Pilgrimage Directors Meeting in Lourdes on the feast day, 11^th February. No doubt we will hear a great deal about the credit crunch and the difficulties of pilgrimage in 2009 – plus ca change… At Christmas I was joined by nineteen pilgrims to celebrate the great feast at Our Lady’s shrine. The 31^st Marist Lourdes Pilgrimage from Hull will travel by coach and ferry on Saturday 23^rd May and return Saturday 30^th May. Cost, including full board and insurance: Hotel Esplanade £375.00, Hotel Padoue (opened last year and 3 minutes from St Joseph’s Gate) £502.50. All things considered Lourdes is sure to be much quieter this year than during the Jubilee of last year.

Early in the year I was informed that the Wallsend Marist

 way Group had decided to cease to meet. This is a great

 pity for they have been loyal and active members for

 over twenty years. We hope that they have benefitted from these years and thank Susan Corless for her dedicated leadership. Sidcup group continue to meet and were well represented at the training days in Walsingham. Pat Cleary went to his Maker during the year and one, long serving member, celebrated her 90^th birthday recently.

MARIST FATHERS – PROVINCE OF EUROPE

                                                                          After a number of years of consultation and

                                                                           discussion this was offically founded 1st June

                                                                           2008 with Fr John Hannan SM Provincial

                                                                          and Fr Joaquin SM Vicar Provincial. The First

                                                                          Chapter took place in La Neyliere from

                                                                          27th December until 6th January and delegates

                                                                          had to work their way through a very

                                                                          complicated agenda and grapple with all the

                                                                          language and cultural difficulties. Nobody

                                                                         said it would be easy and we ask God to bless all

                                                                         who took part. There are now 7 regions in Europe and Fr Noel Wynn SM is the Regional Superior for England.

The Marist Sisters have also been in the process of change. Sr Mary Frances Boyle, from 2^nd February, is the Regional Superior and Sr Pauline O’Neill becomes the Sector Leader. We assure all those in administration our prayers and support.

M. Coleman SM Marist Way Region of England Animator