A blessed time of Sabbath rest
The Third Age Spirituality Program kicked off on October 14 at the Marist International Formation Center in Manziana, Italy, and will run until December 8. The participants are thirteen Marist Brothers and three Marianists Brothers.
Since 2003, some Brothers of the Marianist Congregation participate in both the English and Spanish-Portuguese language programs that are held in Rome.
The Third Age Program is intended to offer their participants an opportunity to come apart from their present life context for a while to review their life journey in gratitude and grace and be nourished for their life and mission in the years ahead. It can be a blessed time of Sabbath rest, personal renewal and openness to God’s transforming presence in their life.
The group is headed by the Brothers John Klein (America) and Bob O'Connor (Australia) who led the group through orientations for the coming days.
As part of the program, Br. Tony Leon, director of the Brothers Today Secretariat, gave inputs on "Being a Brother Today"; Br. Emili Turú, former Superior General of the Marist Brothers, talked about "Mystics and Prophers’. Input continued with presentations by Brother Stephen Olert FSC on Wellness, Life Planning and Taking Care of Yourself. The issue of Health and Wellness will be addressed shortly by Dr Gerri Abbatiello.
Are part of the host community the brothers: Joe Walton, Joachim Sperandina, Angel Medina, Antonio Peralta Porcel and Teafilo Minga.
Pilgrimage to France/France and Spain
During the program the brothers will make a pilgrimage to the respective places of Marist and Marianist origin. The Marist Brothers will be staying at the Hermitage. The Marianists meanwhile will be able to enjoy the inspiration of their Chaminade pilgrimage, travelling to their places of origin in both France and Spain.
Participants
The Marianists Brothers are: Brother Michael Sullivan (America), Fred Silberels (Hawaii) and Father Mike Reaume (Ireland). The FMS group are Tom Chim (Singapore), Joseph Peiris(Sri Lanka) Bryan Stanaway (New Zealand) and Brother Terence Costello (Fiji, District of the Pacific) , Juan Castro (Mexican brother working in District of Asia), Jeya Lourdusamy (India), Rosendo Yee (a brother from Philippines working in Malaysia) and six australian Brothers: John Furlong, Paul Hough, Frank McIntosh, Anthony Robinson, Peter Stewart and Michael Hill.
