Report of the Provincial, Brian Cummings on SM NZ to the 2009 General Chapter

1. He Titiro Whanui o
Te Ropu o Mere
Aotearoa
An Overview of the Society of Mary
in New Zealand
New Zealand

2. New Zealand
2009

3. Mission Statement
❖ to proclaim the Gospel as
Mary did so that it may be
inculturated by the people
of our time.

4. Where we are
8
28
6
12 8
47
19 6

5. Close to you
28 14
14
4
14
3.5

6. Reconfiguration
❖ 2008 Chapter endorsed
joining with Australia to
form new Province in 2012.
❖ Marist Asia Pacific a real
force for positive action
and decision making.

7. Religious in NZ
❖ Second Largest Congregation
❖ 40 Congregations in NZ
❖ Only male congregation of priests
with more than 10 members
❖ Jesuits, Dominicans, Franciscans,

8. SMNZ 2009
❖ Year 2009 2001
❖ Priests 121 159
❖ Brothers 18 25
❖ In formation 1 3
❖ Total 140 187
❖ Median Age 2009 69 years
❖ Deaths since 2001 39
❖ Ordinations since 2001 0

9. What we do
❖ 7 “Foreign Lands”
❖ 24 Formation, Education, Young
People
❖ 45 Parishes, Pastoral Areas, Maori
Pastoral Care
❖ 5 Support of the Province
❖ 8 Spirituality, Marist Laity
❖ 8 Chaplaincy, Bishop’s Conference

10. Good Shepherd College
❖ A joint project with the
Bishops of NZ and the SM
❖ Theological College - not a
seminary
❖ 6 Marists work there

11. Where we live
❖ 14 Living overseas
❖ Almost all in community
except some elderly/
retired.
❖ 29 Communities

12. Finances
❖ Almost all funded from
investment
❖ Very few members of the
province earn salaries
❖ Central Funding
❖ Means we determine our
mission

13. Province Vision
❖ “it is no longer possible to
carry on doing things the
way we have - but there is
still an opportunity to do
things if we have the
courage to change”

14. Seeing a way ahead
❖ A sense of Urgency
❖ A Guiding Team
❖ Change Vision and Strategy
❖ Communication so all onboard
❖ Empowering others to act
❖ Producing positive outcomes
❖ Creating a New Culture

15. Directions in Mission
❖ Three Major Strands
❖ “Foreign Lands”
❖ Formation, Education, Youth
❖ Missionary Parishes, Pastoral Areas

16. Significant
❖ Age Structure of the Province
❖ Life & Energy still - not only in
Under 65
❖ Loss of most young men from the
Province
❖ Lay Ministry & Marist Charism
❖ 2 in formation
❖ 4 applications for 2010

17. Ko taku toa te toa takitini
Together we will
achieve the goal