Beginning of second mandate of Br. Hipólito Pérez
The 5th Provincial Assembly of the « América Central » Province was held in the Marist Formation Centre, zone 11 of Guatemala City, under the slogan « Marists to a new land ». It took place from 22 to 25 October 2010 to map out the programme for the second three year term of Br. Hipólito Pérez as Provincial. There were participants from all the communities of the Province: Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Porto Rico and Cuba. Brs Eugène Kabanguka and Josep M. Soteras of the General Council took part to share with those present reflections arising from the XXI General Chapter. They indicated the main calls coming from the Chapter: a new way of being brother in a new community; a new relationship between brothers and laity with a view to greater vitality and, lastly, a strongly significant presence among poor children and young people. After talking about the spirit which reigned at the Chapter, Brothers Josep Maria and Eugène invited the brothers to live it as a mediation of the voice of God, and thus promote the vitality of the Province. The participants, under the direction of Br. Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, defined the working dynamic.
They chose to share in groups, brothers and lay people, and then report back to the Assembly. Br. Hipólito guided a reflection on the five calls rising from the inter-community reflections during 2010. The calls selected for the Province were the following:
• Live and transmit the beauty of being brother and strengthen the vocation of the lay Marist.
• Renew community life.
• Cultivate Marist spirituality.
• Reinforce our presence among children and youth, especially among the poor and the marginalised.
These calls represent the « new land » for the Province. « We realise that there is a path to travel together, to respond to the situation that is ours as the days pass by » and « we feel ourselves invited, brothers and laity, to journey together united by the same charism we share » were the remarks of some of the participants. On the occasion of this meeting, there was a presentation of the history of the Province, written by Brothers Javier Espinosa and Alberto Ricica.
The work consists of two volumes collecting together a very varied range of experiences, foundations, history and contexts which retrace the 60 years of the life of the Province. Br. José Antonio Ochotorema explained the content of the Agreement with the programme « Edúcame » (Educate-me), which aims to provide free education to the most impoverished sectors of Salvador.