Assembly of the Brothers of West Africa
The Marist Brothers of the Marist District of West Africa held their Assembly in Accra – Ghana from the 1st to the 6th of August 2021. This was only the second time in over 20 years of existence that all the Brothers in the District were able to organize an Assembly. It could also be considered the first Provincial Assembly. As announced in November 2020, Brother Superior General and his Council approved that the District of West Africa become a new Province from August 2021, during the first Provincial Chapter (from August 9 to 13, 2021).
Due to the restrictions of Covid-19, all the Brothers living in Ghana and the delegates of the 1st Provincial Chapter participated physically at the Assembly while the rest of the Brothers participated virtually via Zoom. Brothers Juan Carlos (Provincial) and Aureliano Garcia (Provincial elected) from the Province of Mediterránea and Brothers Ă“scar MartĂn and Ken McDonald both General link Councilors for Africa were also present.
The theme of the Assembly “Let us rise up and build” (Neh 2:18) was indeed very instrumental in leading and guiding the participants throughout the Assembly. Brothers shared at length about their hopes and vision and the group could sense that Brothers are indeed ready to take up the new challenge of becoming a Province.
The participants were taken through the different stages followed towards becoming a Province, the history of the Administrative Unit, presentations from different teams and the organogram of the new Province. Brother Ă“scar MartĂn also took the Brothers through the U-process and helped the group in a spirit of discernment for the priorities of the new Province while Brother Ken McDonald animated the session on Child Rights and Safeguarding children.
