Our Superior General, Fr Declan Marmion, formally visited our District of Asia from 16th February till 23
March, 2026. This was his first official visit to a unit of the Society of Mary since he was appointed as
Superior General at the recent General Chapter. He was able to visit the formation community in Davao City,
our mission parish community in Digos City, and the community in Eden which combines the International
Novitiate and the pastoral ministry in the local parish. He then travelled to Ranong, Thailand, to visit the
community and mission there. He met each Marist confrere and also visited the various places of ministry.
His visit strengthened our sense of belonging to the wider Marist world and he was able to help us reflect on
our present and future life and mission. The support and encouragement he offered was gratefully accepted so
that the Work of Mary continues with trust in God’s grace and the leadership of the General Administration.
After his visitation, Fr Declan Marmion, joined the members of the District in Thailand to celebrate the 20th
Anniversary of Marist Presence and Mission in Ranong. Bishop Paolo Trairong of Surat Thani Diocese opened
the two-day celebration with the Holy Eucharist. In his homily, Bishop Paolo has commended the Marists for
‘walking’ with Burmese migrants. “When we look at these twenty years, we see: Children educated with
dignity and hope, Migrant families from Myanmar welcomed and accompanied, brothers and sisters living
with HIV treated not as statistics, but as beloved children of God… All these are not simply ‘projects’. They
are signs of God’s mercy at work in our time.”
The Anniversary Celebration was followed in Ranong by the District Assembly, which aims to review our
District ministries and to foster fraternity. Our confreres reflected and shared the strengths, challenges and
opportunities of each community and ministry in the District. Both the Celebration and Assembly were blessed
with the presence and participation of Fr Declan Marmion and Fr Frank Bird of New Zealand Province as
observer.
Pat Devlin and Kevin Medilo
11 March, 2026
Society of Mary 