24 young African brothers meet for the first time

Twenty-four young African brothers gathered in Nairobi for the first time to meet with brothers of the general administration of Rome. 

“The main purpose of this encounter was to accompany the vocational journey of these young brothers, listen to their concerns and prepare their hearts for a new beginning of the Marist Institute,” said Brother Hipólito Pérez, assistant director of the secretariat ‘Brothers Today.’

Br Hipólito told the general house press office on July 22 that the event was “animated and accompanied” by two general councillors, Brothers Antonio Ramalho and Ernesto Sánchez, as well as himself. 

The group included brothers of temporal vows and perpetual vows.

They travelled from Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Central African Republic to attend the conference, which took place from July 19 – 21.

These five countries form the East Central Africa province (PACE) within the Institute of the Marist Brothers.

The encounter touched on the subjects of the Marist charism – mission, fraternity and spirituality – based on the experience of the Brothers in their communities.

“For three days we experienced the power of the Holy Spirit telling us that things must not be the way they are,” said Brother Adolphe Paluku Tandika on July 21.

"We need a change for a new beginning and this starts with ‘me,’ I must be the change I expect in others,” added the Congolese. “We promised ourselves to make a difference.

After the three-day encounter, the young brothers continued to meet for a work on the Constitutions, guided by Brother Antoine Kasindu.