A Forum on prophetic and servant leadership for leaders in the Province of Brazil Centro-Norte
The Casa de Mendes, in Rio de Janeiro, welcomed the leaders of the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte from the 17 to 21 October for a Marist Leadership Forum. Aimed at directors and their deputies of the schools and colleges of the province, this formation session of time together in a brotherly atmosphere focussed on an analysis of the situation of the country concerning education, what it means to be Marist and becoming more familiar with resources important for the rebirth of the charism. The event, attended by the Superior General, Br Ernesto Sánchez, and the Provincial, Brother José de Assis de Brito, provided an opportunity to glimpse new possibilities for our Marist works, while respecting our current reality and our goals.
At the start of the Forum, Br Ernesto spoke to the leaders of the importance of a spirituality of the heart and of the co-responsibility of brothers and laypeople for the mission bequeathed by St Marcellin Champagnat. “In carrying out our mission we also share life. An administrator who is not transparent loses credibility. Leadership requires generosity”, Br Ernesto insisted. This vision was also taken up by the Provincial, Br José de Assis. In his address to the directors, he pointed to the charism as something essential for leaders, the new movements and public commitments happening across the Institute. He presented his analysis of the contemporary situation facing education leaders: “The leader needs to have a hopeful outlook, to listen, to have empathy and to maintain healthy and emotionally well-balanced relationships”, underlined Br José de Assis.
The event included discussions of topics relevant to the exercise of leadership and times for faith-sharing and fellowship. Among the topics discussed were innovation and sustainability. There was also small group work, the awarding of the best moments of the year and a pilgrimage to the national sanctuary of Aparecida do Norte, dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida.
By means of a letter at the end of the meeting, the directors committed themselves to strive for greater serenity, lightness and wisdom to face daily pressures; to strengthen their mission of educating and evangelising by being a point of reference for the young; to embed a feeling of belonging in their educational community; to value the multicultural character of their school as a feature of the Marist curriculum that respects distinctive regional traditions.