Building a Culture of Vocation
Eight days after the conclusion of the 22nd General Chapter, a group of Champagnat Marists who are delegates from throughout the Norandina Province, gathered in Chia, Colombia, from Oct. 27 – 29 to carry out the first Vocational Colloquium at Norandina.
Framed within the activities of the bicentenary celebration, the different presences of the province have been sharing their reflections since February on concepts such as: anthropology of vocation, spirituality, accompaniment, vocational culture and a new vocation ministry for the 21st century.
Thirteen Brothers and 49 laity of Champagnat placed on the New La Valla table several dissertations about building a Vocational Culture, which guides the actions of the Marists of Champagnat within the province, with the always valid spirit of Saint Marcellin and under the protection of the Good Mother, thus going in haste to the peripheries to carry the faithful and real message of Jesus, as Good News for a wounded world that needs bridges that allow to penetrate the walls that the emergent reality puts before children and young people of this new beginning.
For three days, and with the grace of having been able to have among the participants some of the Brothers who attended the General Chapter and with the presence of Brother Tony León who showed through his paintings the new calls that will guide the Institute in the next eight years, the participants discerned around concepts, realities, challenges and strategies that allow Marists to live in communion within the vocational ideals, ready for the call and to the needs of all the Brothers making Jesus Christ known and making him loved.