By Fr. John Walenciej, SDB
Sydney, Australia - Apart of the SDB among the 30 groups of the Salesian family there is only one clerical congregation of religious – the ‘Michaelites’ (CSMA). They became an official group of the SF after the beatification of their founder in 2005. The extraordinary visitation of AUL province was instrumental for increasing communion between the Salesians and the Michaelites in our Region. After 45 years of presence in the EAO only recently (May 2013) the Michaelites established a Pacific Vice-province of Mary Help of Christians in Australia – Papua New Guinea.
First Pacific mission of the Michaelites started in the Papua New Guinea Highlands in 1970. In Australia - Sydney archdiocese – they established in 1999. First PNG Michaelite priest was ordained in 2011, at present there are some local vocations from PNG as well from Australia. The superior of Pacific, Fr. Janusz Bieniek is based in Sydney, looks for four presence in PNG and four presences in Australia (Sydney and Broken Bay diocese). Majority of the Michaelites in the Pacific are young, their mission is sustained by the ‘Knights of St. Michael Archangel’ lay association supporting with prayers and mission and formation projects of the Congregation. In Sydney they established in 1996 St. Michael Mission Society (SMMS) for PNG mission support.
The Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel (CSMA) known also as Michaelites was founded in 1912 by the Blessed Fr. Bronislaw Markiewicz, a Polish priest from Miejsce Piastowe, Poland. They have about 400 members (including 50 candidates for the priesthood and 6 novices) with 52 houses in 15 countries: Poland, Argentina, Paraguay, Italy, Germany, Belarus, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Austria, Canada, Aruba, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic and Porto Rico. Last 2013 were erected two Vice-provinces: North America and Pacific. Since 2013 the Michaelites have also consecrated their first missionary bishop Joseph Dąbrowski as the auxiliary of London diocese in Ontario, Canada (www.dol.ca).
Typical Michaelite mission are orphanages, schools and youth centers and work with unprivileged, handicapped, abandoned and poor children including missionary work through the parishes. Michaelites spread the devotion to Saint Michael and the Holy Angels. They are the guardians of the Shrine of Saint Michael the Archangel in Monte Sant’Angelo (Italy). The priests and brothers also run a publishing house “Michalineum” and publish a bi-monthly magazine on ‘St Michael and the Angels’ in Polish and in English. They practice the preventive system of education learnt from Don Bosco and are active also through the means of social communication (radio programs in Mt.Hagen-PNG and Sydney online radio CRADIO).In Sydney they are also involved in Catholic University (Identity and Mission in charge) and Catholic Hospital pastoral ministry.
During the Sydney St.Marys SDB community visitation (August 4-7) was established first bridge to the Michaelites through courtesy visits of the Extraordinary Visitor to Hurtsville and Horsley Park parishes including a personal encounter with Fr. Janusz Bieniek, CSMA – the Pacific Viceprovince superior. We wish the Salesian Family of Australia-Pacific will be enriched by the Michaelite charism contribution for the benefit of the Church and its Mission!
CSMA parishes in Sydney area:
- Hurtsville, St. Michael (http://www.stmichaelhurst.org.au)
- Clovelly, St. Anthony of Padua (http://www.stanthonyclovelly.org.au)
- North Ryde, Holy Spirit (http://www.holyspiritnorthryde.org.au)
- Terriga, Our Lady Star of Sea (http://www.ourladystarsea.org.au/clergy)
- Horsley Park, Our Lady of the Victories (http://ourladyofvictories.org.au)
