Brother José Bernardi celebrates his 100th birthday
With great joy and gratitude for his life, Brother José Bernardi of the Province of Brasil Sul-Amazônia celebrated his 100th birthday on March 12. In the presence of the Marist Brothers, friends and family, he commemorated the date with a festive Mass and lunch held on March 24 at the Cultural Center of the Colégio Marista Graças in Viamão.
Brother entered Marist formation at the age of ten and discovered his passion for music while still in the Juniorate. A harmonica player, composer and singer, Brother Bernardi is a great reference for Marist music, being the author of several melodies, including the Hymn of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family. In the video of the program Marist Memories: stories of love and life he tells, in Portuguese, how music is part of his life.
Celebrating the joy of living
The Mass in thanksgiving for Brother Bernardi’s centenary was celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of Viamão, Bishop Bertilo João Morsch, who stressed the importance of valuing life and the people who share the mission with us: “We are gathered here to celebrate the greatest gift that God has given us, life! Its value is inestimable, and the great secret is to know how to value it and to be sure that God is always with us,” he said.
On this occasion, Brother Bernardi also received tributes from the Marist Brothers and the laypeople who are part of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family, a lay expression in which he has participated since its foundation.
