Setting Sail Together
October 2026 Marist Reflection - By Bri Grace
To reflect on the 2026 Marist Laity Oceania Conference…
To reflect on the 2026 Marist Laity Oceania Conference at the Pacific Regional Seminary in Suva, Fiji, is to look back on a journey that was deeply affirming, eye-opening and transformative.
Accompanied by my friend and colleague Seamus, I travelled to Suva representing Young Marists and Marist Laity Aotearoa. What began as an invitation to deliver presentations quickly evolved into a reciprocal experience of faith, culture and deep connection. A true testament to the living spirit of Mary in Oceania.
From the opening moment, Fr. Aisake Vaisima, head of Marist Laity worldwide, set a bold and clear vision for the six days together. Challenging everyone in attendance (Lay groups from each Island, Fathers, Sisters and Brothers) to reconsider what it truly means to be a lay Marist today.
He grounded his talk in the early tensions between Jean-Claude Colin and Fr. Eymard and reminded us that the Marist Laity was never intended to be a mere auxiliary support unit or a passive devotional circle.
Invoking the imagery of the Barque of Mary, he called everyone onto the deck to row together. His most striking insight for me was that lay Marists are not just cogs in the Society’s clockwork, turning only when priests turn.
Instead, lay Marists are like a distinct planet with their own orbit, gravity and unique vocation revolving around the shared center of Christ and Mary’s spirit. For Seamus and I, this vision powerfully validated the kaupapa we had used to ground our own presentations.
The Barque of Mary by Alphonse Chigot, and it evokes an early image for the Society of Mary, a small ship with the Virgin at the helm and the Society within, at work, leading all to her Son.
Laypeople taking initiative
Our primary goal in Suva was to encourage a shift from purely devotional gatherings toward active and practical responsibility.
In our first presentation, Marist Laity in Aotearoa, we traced the Catholic faith in Aotearoa back to its roots. Long before bishops or priests arrived on our shores, laypeople like Thomas and Mary Poynton kept the faith vibrant in the Hokianga, opening their homes and actively calling for the Church to come to them.
Faith in Aotearoa did not begin with institutional authority waiting to be served but it began with laypeople taking initiative and creating a space for mission. We also emphasised that mission is a mutual encounter rather than a one-way transfer. When early Marist missionaries arrived, they entered an established Māori society rich in spirituality, language and culture.
Missionaries like Bishop Pompallier had to listen, learn Te Reo Māori, and adapt, recognising that Māori did not need to discard their cultural identity to embrace Christ. Core Māori values such as manaakitanga and whanaungatanga were already living expressions of Christ present in the land.
This historical reality holds a powerful lesson for us today: true lay mission requires humility. It demands that we enter another person’s world, listen deeply, and ask not just, "What can we bring here?" but rather, "What is already here, and what do we need to learn from it?"
Just as the Marist charism is a tree with many interconnected branches (encompassing the Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, and lay entities like Logos, Marian Mothers, Challenge 2000 and Young Marists etc) our strength lies in relational unity and shared responsibility.
Setting sail together - “ask not just, "What can we bring here?" but rather, "What is already here, and what do we need to learn from it?"“
Say yes with courage
In our second presentation, centered on reflections on Mary in the Scriptures written by Fr. Mark Walls’, we explored the "hidden years" of Nazareth. Scripture says very little about these years, yet we see their fruit in how Jesus lived. Jesus learned from his Mother how to notice, listen, serve, trust and respond when God called. In an era where Church ministry can no longer rest solely on priests and religious, laypeople are called to step into leadership, while ordained leaders are asked to form, trust and make space for others to lead. Mary’s example shows us how to say yes with courage, encourage others into their calling and know when to step back so another’s vocation can flourish.
Beyond the formal sessions, the heart of the conference was found in the people and the relationships forged. Hearing the island's reports and engaging in "conversations in the spirit" revealed the vibrancy of faith across the Pacific. Yet, it was also an eye-opening journey. Hearing firsthand about the economic hardships and social injustices faced by our Pacific neighbours highlighted a clear calling for us in Aotearoa that we must foster deeper outreach, build ongoing regional partnerships and walk alongside our Pacific family in genuine and practical solidarity. We were also deeply moved by the quiet hospitality that surrounded us daily. Spending time with our new young friends—Luisa, Mary, Marieta, Carmel and Aguila, the daughters of the dedicated local women catering the conference—reminded us that the Marist spirit is lived out most beautifully in everyday relational moments.
As we look to the future, my hope is that this gathering was not an isolated milestone, but the foundation for an enduring regional partnership. There is immense potential in looking to our Pacific neighbours, fostering shared opportunities and continuing to build a dynamic lay Marist network across Oceania.
On behalf of Seamus and myself, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Society of Mary, Hannah van Schie, and our Young Marist colleagues for their unwavering support. A special thank you goes to Fr. Lote and the community at the Pacific Regional Seminary for their overwhelming manaakitanga.
May we all continue to step onto the deck, take our positions, and set sail together in Mary’s spirit, guided by her courage, rooted in her humility and united in our shared Marist mission.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
At the Marist Laity conference in Fiji the key presenter “called everyone onto the deck to row together”. When have you experienced a time where you have felt part of a group or team called to ‘row together’?
The church in New Zealand “began with laypeople taking initiative “ - when in your life have you seen lay people taking initiative?
“Recover the founding instinct; Mary-like presence, hiddenness, relationship, mission and accompaniment, and allow it to speak afresh in a world that has changed again ”
~ Tim Duckworth, sm
