Bonding, Commitment, and Promise on the Lay Marist Vocation
“The future of the charism will be based on a communion of fully committed Marists…” (XXII General Chapter)
Monday, November 7, the 4th day of the International Forum on the Lay Marist Vocation, began with a recapitulation of the activities of the previous days and continued with the topic of the forms of attachment to the Marist charism.
During the first days, the review of objectives 1 and 2 was deepened. presenting the following synthesis by the fraternity groups:
Objective 1: To deepen the understanding of the Marist vocation with special emphasis on the lay Marist vocation:
“We develop a common understanding of our lay vocation that includes and embraces the whole human person. Our understanding is invitational, free and voluntary and seen as a gift from God. Our experience is respectful of all cultures and all faiths and is inspired by one’s own experiences and realities.”
In addition, the participants reflected and discussed…What do the following terms mean for us as Marists: inclusion, vocation, and formation.
Objective 2: To review and offer processes and itineraries of formation and accompaniment of the lay Marist vocation.
As the participants began to share, some common threads began to emerge…”An itinerary of discernment for the lay Marist vocation needs to be adaptable to varias cultures and contexts found in the institute; it involves personal accompaniment while respecting different realities; it requires both economic and human resources and shared through a global network.”
In the afternoon, the third objective of the Forum was presented; to reflect and propose possible ways of bonding with the Marist charism. We had the opportunity to listen to the testimony of 4 lay people from different provinces: Jaime Godoy Rivera (Santa MarĂa de los Andes), Claudia Aida Rojas Carvajal (Norandina), Maureen Hagan (USA) y Ana Amalia GĂłmez Haro (Mediterránea).
Each panelist shared the requirements needed to live a process of bonding or belonging to the charism, they shared significant moments of their lives and how these moments connected and/or invited them to consider the Marist charism as a way to live their lives. This opportunity served as a wonderful recognition and contribution to the growth of the province and the revitalization of the charism. Although there has been some good progress made, there are some challenges. Each province must continue to develop and evaluate formation processes and ensure the promotion of the Marist vocation for both the laity and the brothers.
Lastly, there were moments of reflection and prayer throughout the day, in which each of the participants maintained and shared their commitment to live the Gospel in the way of Jesus through the inspiration of Marcellin Champagnat.
