Brother Thomas installed as Provincial for three more years

The Provincial chapter of Madagascar was held in Ansirabé from 27 to 30 December 2010 in the Mahatamana Reception Centre. Brother Jean-Albert-Thomas Randrianantena was reappointed by the General Council as Provincial of the Marist Province of Madagascar for a second mandate. This began on 27 December with the holding of the Provincial Chapter. Brother Antonio Ramalho, Councillor General, represented the General Government. The new Provincial council accompanying Br. Thomas is composed of the following Brothers: Michel Razafimandimby, Raymond Razafimahatratra, Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa and Pierre Joseph Rasolomanana. After installing the Provincial Superior and electing his Council, the Chapter considered the most urgent matters raised. There were four matters on which the capitulants focused their attention: life of the Brothers, apostolate and mission, financial self-sufficiency of the Province and the relationship between Brothers and laity.On the first topic, the capitulants outlined what it meant to be a brother today in Madagascar and the horizons of the ?new land? they perceived in the life of the Province, according to the guidelines of the General Chapter. An event which is proving stimulating for living these new horizons is the celebration of the centenary of the arrival of the Brothers in Madagascar which is about to start. Community life, spiritual life and formation, initial and ongoing, also merited special attention.Reflection on the second topic, apostolate and mission, had as objective to find the way in which the Province could strengthen its apostolic educational presence so that they might become places of authentic evangelization. The capitulants asked: Where do we find ourselves in regard to applying the ?Marist educational mission? in our Province? At the same time, they asked how to live a strongly significant presence among poor children and young people and how to transmit Marist spirituality to those working with them.The self-financing of the Province is an objective which is stimulating initiatives and strategies which, together with good financial management and a responsible and centralised use of goods, promotes greater intercommunity solidarity.The Chapter reflected on the relationship between Brothers and lay Marists, as requested by the General Chapter, basing it on communion to give greater vitality to the Marist charism in Madagascar. They analysed the lines of collaboration of the Brothers with the various Marist movements and fraternities. Much value was placed on co-responsibility as an element in developing Marist life, spirituality and mission. The value of the vocation of the lay Marist was recognised. In fact, 5 lay people (three men and two women) took part in the first day of the Chapter meeting.