Celebration of the Feast of Marcellin Champagnat at the General House
On the feast of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, on June 6, Marist brothers and lay people have gathered at the General House to celebrate the gift of life of the founder of the Marist Institute, as in so many parts of the world. The celebration of the mass was presided over by the Superior of the Marist Fathers, Fr. John Larsen.
An average of 90 participants attended the event. Among them, the religious men and women of the other branches of the Marist Family. They were also present the groups of the Gier 2024 ongoing formation program, who follow the course at the General House; the members of the Formation Program for International and Intercultural Communities. Likewise, the brothers of the Mediterranean Province who live in Italy, and the lay people who work in the General Administration, with their families, were present.
Referring to the feast of Marcellin Champagnat, Father Larsen said: “We celebrate today the marist family. We are bothers in the Marist family. It’s time for us to grow together as family.”
At the conclusion of the celebration, Brother Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, Vicar General, thanked everyone for their presence, and recalled that June 6 “we have gathered to celebrate not only our faith, but also our communion as a Marist family.” And added: “May the confidence that today we continue to build the work of God and Mary continue to be the engine that drives us every day in our actions and visions.” (English | Español | Français | Português)
Brother Luis Carlos highlighted, in the same way, the message for this occasion from Brother Ernesto Sánchez, Superior General, who is participating in the Norandina Chapter: “Our charism, inspired by the Spirit through St. Marcellin and the first brothers, has been nurtured and developed over 207 years via the witness and dedication of so many Marists of Champagnat”.