Called to take care of one?s life
The IV Provincial Chapter of « Rio Grande do Sul » was held from 10 to 14 December, at the « Recanto Marista Medianeira ». It was an occasion for sharing the principal successes of the Province and its Management Units over the course of the last three years and, at the same time, to approve the priorities and recommendations for the next three years.
Br Inácio Etges, reappointed Provincial by the General Council for a second term, recalled that « the Brothers ought to be a sign and that the laity wish to see in us signs. To be the conscience and the memory of the spirit, intentions and values of our founder. »
The Chapter also elected the new Provincial Chapter, formed by Brothers : Claudiano Tiecher, Deivis Alexandre Fischer, Evilázio Francisco Borges Teixeira, Lauri Heck, Odilmar José Civa Fachi and Sandro André Bobrzyk.
Br Josep M. Soteras, representing the General Council, reminded the participants that it is necessary to incarnate and make the charism known in the common space of the mission, « where we are at the side of the laity. It is necessary to live in depth the fact of being sign, and rethinking, refounding the way of being Brother and being Marist. »
Eight lay people took part in the Chapter. They were elected to represent the teachers, collaborators, young people and administrative staff of all the Province’s fields of activity. The result of their reflections on their mission in the Institute, their wishes and expectations have been summarised in a text which can be consulted here (in Portuguese : http://maristas.org.br/capituloprovincial/missao-compartilhada)
The Chapter approved two priorities considered urgent for the period 2013-2015 :
1. Concern for the Brother’s quality of life, especially of spiritual and community life, of continuing accompaniment, in promoting his growth as « consacrated ».
2. Formation of leaders – Brothers and laity – in the Marist charism.
The following text has been defined as the guiding message for the whole Province, in giving orientation to the Institution’s decisions and directions over the next few years :
« We are called to take care of our lives, centred on Jesus Christ, in the way of living, in a relation of communion between Brothers and Laity, as a sign of hope for children, young people and adults.
Other details on the Chapter can be found on the site http://maristas.org.br/capituloprovincial