Province of Brasil Centro-Norte
In a spirit of fraternity, Brothers, laity, collaborators, volunteers, teachers and students of the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte/PMBCN commenced in May 2013 the preparatory phase for the second International Marist Mission Assembly / IMMA. With the theme of "New Marists on Mission", the assembly will be held from 17 to 27 September 2014, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The provincial preparation for the event began on 6 May with the launching of the local phase for all the units of the Province, when the activities proposed for the programme of a lived experience of the themes of the Assembly were presented. The units studied together the guide proposed for the Second IMMA, on the basis of the themes. Around the same fire since then, 22 groups from 49 educational, social and administrative units, as well as religious communities, have brought together more than 400 persons from different areas of the Province to reflect on spirituality, vocation in the context of the new relationship between Brothers and laity, and evangelization. The local phase will continue until May 2014.
The objective of the local phase is to raise awareness among the participants of the international dimension of the Marist Institute, promote dialogue about Marist life and mission and have an experience of solidarity with children, adolescents and young people. In this phase as well, the choice is made of the representatives for the Provincial phase of the Assembly, planned for the period 19 to 21 May in the Vila Champagnat Formation Centre, in the city of Brazlândia in the Federal District. To allow the meetings of the local phase of the Province to be known and followed, the web page of the 2nd IMMA has been created to share the information of the groups formed. This space is devoted to the publication of news, photos, videos and distribution of general information about the Assembly: history, organizing committee, logo, calendar and the steps for realizing the event.
Around 50 news items have already been published on the Web and can be accessed at www.marista.edu.br/aimm
Music of the Second IMMA
To contribute to the animation of the groups during the period of the local phase, the Province has created a specific song for the Second IMMA in Portuguese, Spanish and English. The text and the melody, by the pastoral annalist of the PMBCN, Gilson Prudencio, is inspired by the reading of the guide and the design of the logotype of the Assembly. The music conjures up aspects of the continent where the Second IMMA will be held in 2014, the culture of the local population, as well as the charism and international character of the Marist mission. The recording took place in Brasilia, Federal District, in October and November 2013. The song has been an instrument for advertising and for the participation of the whole Province of Brasil Centro-Norte in the Assembly in the local and provincial, and later regional phases. The song is available on YouTube. To listen to it, go to link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJwvouSmjBc&feature=youtu.be&hd=1
So we continue celebrating and building together Marist life and mission in the world. And, following the call of the XXI General Chapter, we seek a "new relationship between Brothers and laity, searching together for a greater vitality" so as to be new Marists on Mission.