Assembly of the CMMF of the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte
The 7th Provincial Assembly of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family (CMMF) was held in Brazlândia from November 15th to 17th. Under the theme of the International Forum promoted by the Secretariat of the Laity, “Lay Marist Vocation: Welcoming, Nurturing, Living and Sharing our vocation” and the motto “Let yourselves be led by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16), the representatives of the fraternities of the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte gathered for a program that included the itineraries Welcoming, Caring, Living and Sharing. The Province has 27 fraternities of the CMMF.
Advised by Eder D’Artagnan Ferreira GuimarĂŁes, the assembly was organized by three work teams (Spirituality, Animation and Logistics and Sustainability). The highlight of the first day of the meeting was the launch of the e-book Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family – 40 years / We are a Global Family.
On November 16, the second day, in the morning, Eder discussed the theme “Taking care of the lay Marist vocation and cultivating it starting from baptism”. In the afternoon, the Provincial Coordination Team presented the accounts for the three-year period. The president of the assembly introduced the debate on the priorities of the CMMF for the next three years and, on the 17th, was appointed the new coordination team. Once defined, the team was presented and the priorities defined by the assembly were read out.
Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family
In 1985, the 18th General Chapter of the Marist Brothers, becoming aware of the richness of sharing the Marist charism with lay people, launched the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family. The members of the movement are organized in “fraternities”, and there are around 300 fraternities spread throughout the world. In their communities and families, these laypeople help to spread the Marist way of being.
The Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family is one of the many examples of marist lay people living the Marist charism. Article 6.1 of the Brothers’ Constitutions Says: As an Institute, and in our Administrative Units, we continue to discern how best to support the development of movements, such as the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family, and other duly approved entities, each with its own statutes and structures. Each is responsible for the leadership and coordination of its activities and processes.