Association of Marist Laity

The Association of Lay Marists of Canada (AMDL) held a general extraordinary meeting at the College Laval on Aug. 29 in Laval, Canada.

This encounter was of vital importance for the country’s Marist laity, since it was necessary to have the approval of an assembly to modify the internal statutes, to comply with the requirements of the government of Canada to be able to work as an official organism.  

Many Marist works are directed by the laity in the province of Canada; those responsible for each work, or its representative, form part of the Council of Administration of the AMDL.

Marist laity founded the Association in 2014. Its objective is to gather all those who wish to live the Marist spirit, promote, and develop the Marist spirit through further development of the values and the charism of Saint Marcelin Champagnat, and to contribute to the vitality of the Marist works.  

“It is as if we were forming a new Marist community, where we are”, explained Patricia Deslauriers, of the Council of Administration of the Association.  “We are truly brothers and sisters of Champagnat mutually supporting one another in the service of our mission.”

Now, with the recognition from the Government of Canada, the AMDL will be able to receive and administer donations, legacies, and other goods and contributions with the desire of taking care of the legacy of the Marist Brothers and to assure the continuity of the works in collegiality with the Brothers. 

Starting this year, the Council of Administration of the AMDL is participating in the Council of Mission of the Province of Canada, which is a shared Council between brothers and laity, which will establish a strategic plan in view of provincial animation in function of the orientations of the last provincial chapter and the XXII General Chapter.

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Fernando Castro
Council of Administration of the AMDL