A dream come true

On the 16th and 17th October, the Councils of the Provinces of Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil Centro-Sul, Brasil Centro-Norte and of the District of Amazônia met at Brasilia to approve the Statutes of the Union of Marists of Brasil (UMBRASIL), which will co-ordinate the activities and the initiatives of all of Marist Brasil, and will represent it with ecclesial and public organisations. UMBRASIL is a civil society that will defend the rights of the nine Marist entities, will maintain its works such as universities and will act for the Provinces in legal matters. This organisation will be animated and led by an Executive Secretary and three co-ordinators ? one for religious life, one for mission and one for management.

The creation of this organisation of animation and representation, conceived during the meeting of Councils in 2004, is the concretisation of a dream of communion and partnership between the nine interested entities.
UMBRASIL will commence its activities in 2006 and it will be situated in Brasilia, where all the Provinces have communities. This is an important stage in reorganising our presence in Brazil.
Full of confidence, we place this project in the hands of Mary so that it will be enlivened by the Spirit and produce the fruit so ardently desired.