Brothers of the Americas prepare for Perpetual Profession in Medellin

The Formation Program for the preparation for Perpetual Vows is a fulfillment of article 75.2 of the Constitutions, which asks the Brother to dedicate a period of three to six months to a more intense personal and spiritual preparation for Perpetual Vows. This is what is happening in Medellin, Colombia, with a group of eight brothers from Mexico (José Eduardo, Mario Alberto, Nicolás Ríos), El Salvador (Roberto Constanza) and Brazil (Carlos Maraes, José Valter, Julianderson André, Rafael Fernandes). The program began on September 12 and will continue until December 9. Joining the young brothers are Joaquim Sperandio (Brasil Centro-Sul), Orlando Escobar (Norandina), Enrique Escobar (México Occidental) and Sebastião Ferrarini (Brasil Sul-Amazônia).

The program includes the development of one topic per week. So far the following themes have been explored: my sacred history; humanity and transcendence; the world in which we live; spirituality of the heart; religious brothers in the church; emerging themes such as ecology, interculturality, new areas of mission and the media.

For Br. Nicolás, from Mexico, the highlight is community life, which includes times of group and personal prayer, physical exercise, house cleaning, food preparation, reading, walks and deep reflection. “The work done on Saturdays in the communities on the outskirts of the city makes our meeting more realistic,” says Brother Rafael, from Brazil.

With the aim of getting to know a little of the culture, history, geography and Marist presence in Colombia, the group visited the novitiate community, Marist works and other cultural and tourist sites in Bogotá, Armenia and Ibagué, as well as Guatapé and the monolithic Peñol.

Between October 28 and November 2, the group was joined by the Provincials of Western Mexico, Brother Luis Enrique Santana; Central Mexico, Brother Luis Felipe; Central America, Brother Juan Carlos Bolaños; Brasil Centro-Sul, Brother Vanderlei Siqueira dos Santos; Brasil Centro-Norte, Brother José de Assis Elias de Brito; and the Vice-Provincial of Norandina, Brother Miguel. “It was a moment of evaluation of the journey and of fraternal encounter,” said Br. Juliandersom of Brazil.

The meeting will end with a spiritual retreat and the return to their respective countries will be on December 8.