A pilgrimage begins the celebration of the Centenary

The whole Marist family of Chile assembled on the Pilgrimage which announced ?let?s go to the feast? for the 100 years in this country. At four stations, we record the courage and confidence in Mary of many lay people and brothers who have spent their lives in this work.Brother Jesús Pérez, Mission Delegate in our country, gave the ?let?s get going?, with a message from Brother Emili Turú, Superior General of the Congregation. To the beat of the Centennial Hymn, the pilgrimage set out along Avenue 5 April in the commune of Maipú, in Santiago de Chile.?Build the house for us, give us your inheritance? was the first stop, when there were already more than 2,000 Marist pilgrims. With them we reviewed the history between 1911 and 1929, marked by the arrival and installation of the brothers in our country and symbolized in the distribution of seeds to the Rectors of the various works. The next station received the name ?You will be Champagnat today?. This was the period between 1931and 1964, when Marist work was consolidated on the world level. Three giant figures represented Brothers Eulogio, Diógenes and Luis, whose example inspires us to continue journeying for a further hundred years.The figure of Brother Basilio Rueda, Superior General between 1967 and 1985, marked the 3rd Station: ?Now we must not move backwards?. He was the one who, after Vatican Council II, initiate important changes in the Congregation. We highlighted one of his letters, entitled: ?A new space for Mary?.The last station took place in the interior of the votive chapel of Maipú, dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen, Patroness of Chile. After the approximately 2 kilometer walk, we record the ?New Marist Presences? which have been evident from 1988 up to the present. Great importance was given to the example of Brother Fernando de la Fuente, one of the martyrs of Zaire.All the pilgrims placed their badges in some linen cloths reading: ?With your hands we continue the Mission?, a concrete invitation to ?dream the future?, as the slogan of this centenary says. Thus we began the Mass, marked by signs such as the presentation of 100 sunflowers by representatives of the various works. Brothers and lay Marists also brought to the altar sandals and soil; the soil the brothers trod when they arrived, the soil of our present works, and the new land God is inviting us to discover.Finally, Brother Provincial, Antonio Peralta, invited all to build a Church with a Marial face. As a sign of missioning, two representatives from the colleges, works and Marist fraternities will receive a picture with the Centenary logo.