Rosemeadow Local Marist Association Gathering

2^ND DECEMBER 2025

Prayer �“For the�Traveler” (Gavan)

Our prayer to begin today’s Gathering is a simple blessing by Irish poet and mystic, John O’Donohue.

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“For the Traveler,” by John O’Donohue (2008)

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“For the Traveler,” by John O’Donohue (2008) ( Lorraine)�

Every time you leave home,

Another road takes you

Into a world you were never in.

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New strangers on other paths await.

New places that have never seen you

Will startle a little at your entry.

Old places that know you well

Will pretend nothing

Changed since your last visit.

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For the Traveler,” by John O’Donohue (2008) (Steve)

When you travel, you find yourself

Alone in a different way,

More attentive now

To the self you bring along,

Your more subtle eye watching

You abroad; and how what meets you

Touches that part of the heart

That lies low at home.

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For the Traveler,” by John O’Donohue (2008) (Ben)

When you travel,

A new silence

Goes with you,

And if you listen,

You will hear

What your heart would

Love to say.

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Full poem is here:

https://rolfpotts.com/for-the-traveler/

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find rest for your souls… Jeremiah 16:6�

where the good way is…

Stand by the roads,

And look,

and ask for the ancient

paths,

where the good way is;

and walk in it,

and find rest for

your souls.”

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Jeremiah 16:6

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Personal Reflection…..How have you walked as a Pilgrim of hope this year?

• How have you walked as a Pilgrim of Hope this year?

Share some of your thoughts about your journey with a partner

Pope Francis

We live our life and mission in this spirit of hope which opens new horizons, making us capable of dreaming what is not even imaginable”

(Pope Francis, On Hope, 2018).

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What is on your Horizon? �What are your dreams of Hope?

Community = Family Spirit

As a community, we continue this journey together, as

pilgrims of hope looking beyond

to how we can be a

living response to God’s love in the

lives of others.

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� “We are but travellers here”�

In the words of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s Saint,

“We are but travellers here”

Of course we are grateful for those who we share the

journey with.

When we are grateful for the gift of others, we are

grateful for the gift of God at work, and this makes way

for hope.

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Our Gift to others….. Our Prayer space

Mary Undoer of Knots, a devotion made popular by Pope Francis.

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As we draw our journey together for the year to a close and thinking

I invite you to take a moment to think of a student or

colleague that you want to hold in prayer.

We are going to pray for them now.

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Final prayer

Our final prayer and blessing for each of these people

and indeed all who are gathered together today is a very

simple one from Paul’s letter to the Romans:

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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

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Pray for One Another…

Mary Our Good Mother Pray for Us

Fr John Therry Pray for Us

St Marcellin Champagnat Pray for Us

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Pray for Us

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And let us always remember to Pray for One Another

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit. Amen.

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2026 Theme – Gather around the image – what do you see? What resonates with you?

Handouts

Mr Tony Clarke Director, Marist Mission and Life Formation

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• What if the world’s peace and flourishing began not with grand gestures, but a humble yes?

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• Grace is that yes. It is God’s love, freely given, undeserved, unmeasured, and without conditions. It is offered to everyone. When we receive it, something begins to change within us, reshaping our actions, our capacity to love, and how we engage with the world.

Mr Tony Clarke

Grace, like love, is always a gift. Once accepted, it overflows from our hearts and radiates outward, moving us to share God’s love with others.

Mr Tony Clarke

Grace is God’s love in action: listening deeply, serving humbly, washing feet, kneeling in honour of the dignity of others, and rising with the conviction to stand for those who are powerless

Mr Tony Clarke

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At his inauguration Mass, Pope Leo XIV reminded us: “Now is the hour of love. The heart of the Gospel is the love of God that makes us brothers and sisters. We are called to offer God’s love to everyone…”

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Let us be that message. Be that grace. Now is the hour. Transform the World with God’s Love.

How can we lead this Theme in 2026?

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• Brainstorm ideas

A model to consider for promoting the theme across the College in 2026

Fr Claude Maréchal AA model to look at for creating identity, mission and community.

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Maréchal’s model has six components:

1 a story to enter

2 a language to speak

3 a group to which to belong

4 a work to do

5 a way of proceeding

6 a face of God to see

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Identity

Mission

Community

“Fill up” on Grace in 2026….

Let us be that message.

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Be that grace.

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Now is the hour.

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Transform the World with God’s Love.

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Marist Prayer App

Merry Christmas