Brother Maurice Berquet appointed Provincial
The General Council, in its meeting of 4 December 2009, appointed Brother Maurice Berquet as Provincial of the Province of l?Hermitage for a three year period, commencing on 7 April 2010. The Brothers have expressed their support for Br. Maurice, recently returned from Rome, where he completed his service to the Institute as General Councillor, confident that he will be able to bring what the province needs for this new step.
Brother Maurice Berquet replaces Brother Xavier Barceló, who has completed his term of service as provincial, winning the appreciation of all for his simplicity, fraternal attention for each, and his great capacity for team work. Br. Xavier has worked hand in hand with his Vicar, Br. André Déculty, and has accompanied, discretely but very wisely, the first years of the Province?s existence.
Brother Emili TurĂș, in his letter appointing Br. Maurice and presenting him to the Brothers, pointed out the progress of the province in recent years, emphasizing the road travelled in the integration of the Brothers and communities of the different countries of the province, the Marist laity, the various possibilities for continuing formation offered to lay persons and Brothers, and the major commitment of the Brothers to the mission in general and the poor in particular.
Among the challenges facing the new provincial, Br. Emili pointed out the ageing of the Brothers, the number of those entering on retirement, youth and vocations ministries, mission and spirituality shared with laity, lay persons assuming responsibilities in the province and consolidating their presence, the importance of the colleges, of the presence of the Brothers among children and youth, of the social works, community life, the personal and community life of prayer, etc.
Brother Maurice begins his ministry on the threshold of the celebration of 200 years from the foundation of the Institute and in close proximity to the inauguration of the restructured house of the Hermitage, from which the Province takes its name. It is anticipated that the Provincial Chapter in which he takes up his post will be held at the Hermitage, coinciding with the inauguration of the new house and the works of remodeling the historic building.
The Province of l?Hermitage currently includes Argelia, Catalonia, France, Greece, Hungary and Switzerland.