A symposium for all Marists

A quite diverse group of Marist scholars, animators, formators and leaders will be attending the inaugural Marist Symposium in Rome in December this year.

Entitled “Sources and Streams”, the symposium aims to offer participants the opportunity to touch into both the origins of Marist life and mission as well as their contemporary expression across today’s Marist world.

The chair of the Planning Committee, Br Michael Green, emphasises that the event has not been planned as a conference for Marist historians.

“Although the symposium is being convened by the Spiritual Patrimony Commission, and will include a number of presentations on historical subjects, there will be something of interest for broad spectrum of Marists,” Br Michael explains.

“We have speakers who will be presenting also on research and experience in the fields of Marist education, spirituality, and formation.”

The range of registrations for the symposium reflect the broad range of topics.  Marists have registered from all around the Marist world – women and men, young and old, including a large number of Marist lay people.

“Increasingly, we are seeing that it is Marist lay people who are doing research and writing on Marist life and mission, and this is reflected in who will speaking at the symposium, as well as who will be attending as participants,” Br Michael says.

“We are also welcoming participants from the other three branches of the Marist family, including two Marist priests as presenters,” he added.

The organisers are expecting between 90 and 100 people to attend the symposium which will be held at the General House in Rome between 4 and 8 December this year.