A discussion on five points from Mendes
As a follow up to the International Marist Assembly held in Mendes, the two educative communities in Athens set up a day of reflection to make ourselves aware of the special mission we have in Greece. Gathering at the meeting were: all those who are part of the educative communities, the teaching staff, the administrative teams, and – for the first time – representatives from our three parents? committees, as well as a group from our graduates association. All together 320 people were in attendance.
As reference texts we took the reports coming from various meetings: (a) our own local meetings (held in September 2006), (b) the Provincial-level meeting which took place at the Hermitage in 2007, (c) the European meeting of July 2007 in Guardamar, and above all (4) we made use of the report coming from the Marist Assembly held in Mendes September 2007.
Starting with the five points found in the Mendes document, the participants were asked to reflect in small groups and then to suggest actions both practicable and timely. These are actions which can be carried out in our Marist work, pedagogical and apostolic as it is, with the young people who attend our establishments, and even with young people outside our schools.
From the feedback given by the seventeen reflection groups, we were able to draw out a few important proposals which could be carried out immediately.
o Really live out and encourage Gospel values while showing respect for the cultural and religious differences among our students; to be open to dialogue.
o Better understand today?s youth culture.
o Get more active and involved in the life of the local Church.
o Take advantage of every chance we are offered for personal formation.
o Let our Marist school communities be more vibrant, bearing witness to their faith, to their family spirit, having an ever present concern to be apostles in the midst of young people.
o Take special care of children and young people and guide them personally when they are having difficulties in school or in their families, or if they are children who do not socialize well.
o Be active, at the Institute level, in efforts of collaboration and exchange with other Marist groups and educative communities; take part in Marist networking.
We are Marists who believe that God is addressing each of us, Brother or lay person, to share in Marcellin?s charism.
We are conscious that we are invited to deepen our unique vocation as consecrated religious or as lay person. In that way we will be able to hear what young people are asking of us and to live out our mission at the personal and community levels.
Bro. Georges Roussos