“Together, friends, we journey on,
With faith and courage, spirit strong.
We’ll build a world where all belong
And lift up those who’ve waited long.”
We may have taken the above words ‘spirit strong’ literally in organising our ‘Gin & Geraniums’ St Paddy’s Day event to start 2025 here in Canberra. However, members and guests gathered with ‘faith and courage’ in radiant afternoon sun to bless and dispatch geranium cuttings around the campus, journeying in God’s bountiful creation.
This event was entrusted to our forebears in faith, St Patrick and St Joseph, with inspiration drawn from the colours of the Irish flag flying from the school flagpole on the day – green for Catholic, orange for Protestant, white for peace. Our liturgy of Pilgrim prayers affirmed our ministry of hope and reconciliation in a world longing for peace, a legacy of our Irish & Marist roots.
We concluded the formal part of the evening by promoting Association events to see beyond challenges in 2025 – the Marian lecture (May), Moments of Renewal (August), Canberra Metro walking meditation (September), Peace Moments at the Cowra Japanese gardens (October), and our Bio-Diversity partnership with Merici College in association with Rodney’s Plants Plus Nursery (November).
Pilgrims were reminded about our Spiritual Accompaniment program and we were fortunate to have the presence of one of our spiritual companions, John Foulcher, reminding guests about this ministry of accompaniment. John has recently published a book of prayers. Anne Hartwell, our newest member, who is active in prayer ministry with the Marian Mother’s Prayer group, also received her Marist Association pin and certificate.
Following their noses, fragrant with lemon and lime infused with exotic herbal tones, members converged on the Gin trestles to enjoy an array of Irish, Scottish and French gins, accompanied with ice and colourful mixes…mother’s ruin. Alas, there was refreshing summer punch too!
The group then engaged with the ‘Let me See Again – Pilgrims of Hope’ Local Group Resource, reflecting on the ‘layers of blindness’ and exploring ways to support others in their journey towards hope, healing and faith during Lent. This activity assisted members to see this scripture passage through new eyes and the reflection prompted much discussion.
We concluded the night with a meal at the Warragul Country Club for some Marist hospitality, gathered around the same table.
Brendan Bergin
Local Coordinator