‘Blue Marist’ sheds light on Aleppo situation during provincial assembly
In a video conference during the provincial assembly of the Mediterránea Province in Spain, a brother in Syria told how Marists there are hoping to “build Christmas” on a daily basis.
“We, Blue Marists of Aleppo, want to build Christmas each day, to give light to the others,” said Brother George Sabe in his speech titled ‘The whisper of Aleppo.’
His comments came during the assembly, held from Dec. 5 – 8 in Guardamar del Segura under the theme ‘With you 200+,’ in which Marists from the province’s four countries – Spain, Italy, Lebanon and Syria – took part.
“The airplanes in Aleppo are not beautiful objects flying in the sky dedicated to moving people,” Br George continued on Dec. 7. “The planes in Aleppo are objects of destruction and death.”
According to Hoja Informativa, the news bulletin of Mediterránea, “the assembly was stunned after his account.”
General councillor Brother Ernesto Sánchez, secretariat of mission director Brother João do Prado and the director of the secretariat of laity, Brother Javier Espinosa, participated from the general administration.
Brother Aureliano García, coordinator of works of Marist schools within the Province, underscored “the future is in our hands and we want to help map it out these days in our assembly.”
The event covered topics on the Institute’s history under the theme ‘The place of the Story’, Marist identity under the theme ‘The place of the DNA’ and the African term of communion, Ubuntu, under the theme ‘The place of the Fire.’
Br Ernesto spoke about the 200 years of the Institute’s history and the responsibility of creating the future and Br Joao presented the topic ‘Evangelising in the XXI century.’
During the closure of the assembly, provincial superior Brother Antonio Giménez noted “we have made pilgrimages to the places of fire, of the DNA, of the story, of the tent, of the whisper… we are well here!”
“Well no, it’s time to go back to Galilee, the Galilee of our work,” he added. “We must return to Galilee because He (Jesus) goes before us and we have to return together (with Him).”
The provincial chapter, which will cover the assembly’s issues, will be held in Guardamar from Jan. 2 – 5.
Document PDF – Maristas Hoy: Con brillo en los ojos y barro en los pies: Español | Français