« Break down frontiers, look for new dawns »
From 28 September to 4 October, a group of 25 Brothers from 6 Provinces composing the Arco Norte (United States, México Occidental, México Central, América Central and Norandina) met in the conference centre of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia. The meeting was co-ordinated by Br Carlos Saúl Corzo, seconded by the Formation Commission of our Province.
Br Libardo Garzón, Provincial of Norandina, opened the meeting with a message of encouragement, congratulations and thanks, placing in relief the meaning of our style of life and the mystery of God hidden in the mission which we carry out. He emphasized that the vitality of our Marist life depends, in great part, on our own formation and the faith processes which we foster for the good discernment of vocation among youth.
The first two days were animated by Mme Sofía Uribe Arbeláez who, from her vision of psychoanalysis, dealt with the theme ofAccompaniment in religious life : understanding, possibilities and challenges. She treated the subject through a personal and group approach, such as that presented in our Formation Guide.
On the third day, a rest day, we were able to share with the community of the interprovincial novitiate of Guatapé. We had a beautiful tour around the Piedra El Peñol and the village of Guatapé. The weather proved splendid and offered us a magnificent sunny day.
The last days, helped by Brothers César Rojas (of the Secretariat Brothers today), Carlos Saúl Corzo and Carlos Vélez (members of the Sub-commission of Brothers of America), we reflected on several proposals, challenges and support strategies to present to the Brother Provincials of Arco Norte in order to follow it up with the aid and animation of the Brothers of the Sub-commission.
Each work day began with morning prayer, each afternoon with Marial prayer around our good Mother, and each day ended with the celebration of the Eucharist, animated by the Brother participants of the different Provinces. Father Jaime Escobar remained very close to us and very well grasped the spirit of the Meetings, summed up in the slogan that had brought us togethery : « Break down frontiers, look for new dawns »
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Br Marco Antonio Vargas