Meeting of the Extended Secretariat of Laity in Lima

This annual meeting is held in the different Regions of the Institute in order to get directly in touch with local situations, generating a close and stimulating exchange.

The Secretariat meeting, which represented the seven Marist regions, was attended for the first time by Pep Buetas (Codirector, Europe), and João Luis Fedel (Brazil), new member of the Expanded Secretariat. The other members are: Brother Javier Espinosa (Director), Tony Clarke (Codirector, Australia), Agnes Reyes (Asia), Patricia Ríos (Arco Norte), Brother Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa (Africa), and Raúl Amaya (Cono Sur).

The meeting dealt with the monitoring of the Secretariat’s projects and lines of action stated by the three-year plan, trying to discern the path to follow and the best way to move forward.

The topics covered include:

• Reflection on the recommendations regarding bonding and belonging coming from the international meeting held in Rome last March. We realized the need for further discussion so as to move on with the discernment process underway at the Institute level.
• The present state of the Champagnat Movement Revitalization Process, whose importance we underlined, in agreement with the developments the Institute is undertaking.
• The animation and accompaniment of the communion process between brothers and laity through the Continental Commissions of the laity in the different Regions of the Institute. We realized the gradual integration of this process in the life of the Administrative Units, and the need to strengthen the Commissions’ role and resources. Among other initiatives, we have projected a meeting of the Continental Commissions in view of the bicentennial and the next General Chapter.
• The need to promote joint-formation experiences, which are already bearing fruit, and becoming essential for the lay vocation processes, as well as helping to configure a new way of being brothers.
• Formation of the laity in order to strengthen their leadership and facilitation skills. With this purpose we have planned an international course for lay formators to be held in May 2015.

An important activity was the meeting with the lay and mixed communities of Peru, who shared with us the experiences of vocational itinerary and communion process they are following, which are similar in the three Sectors of the Province (Bolivia, Chile and Peru), under the coordination of the Provincial Spirituality and Laity Commission of Santa María de los Andes.

We witnessed the richness of their project and its connection with the experience of other Provinces, such as Norandina, Compostela, L’Hermitage, Australia, Ibérica, and even with the Champagnat Movement Revitalization Process.

The exchange with the lay and mixed communities in Peru was an experience that spoke to us about joy, the hope for a Marist future, and the new relationship to which the XXI General Chapter is calling us. Their testimonies inspired us, especially when we saw some senior brothers committed to this journey together with the lay Marists, a journey that enriches both specific vocations and strengthens the single vocation we share. 

A word of thanks to all the people who welcomed and looked after us, making our work possible. May the laity and brothers of Santa María de los Andes find love and shelter in our Good Mother’s hands.