Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family
The Consecrated Life and Laity Commission of UMBRASIL and the Champagnat Movement Sub-Commission held their first National Meeting of Animators of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family at Brazlandia, DF, from 13 to 16 February 2010. This event marked the twenty-five years of the Movement in the Institute and allowed the participants to glimpse new horizons for the Marist laity.
Brothers and lay people of the three Provinces of Brasil (Brasil Centro-Norte, Brasil Centro-Sul and Rio Grande do Sul) took part in this meeting of the Marist Family. It unfolded in a spirit of of profound brotherhood, discernment, joy, and prayer.
The first day, the activities allowed the participants to review the road travelled by the ChMMF in Brasil. There was first of all discussion in small groups, then a sharing with all in the full plenary session. The participants were able to see the advances made, but also the paths still to be travelled for arriving at a common identity.
Under the guidance of Br. Pau Fornells, the second day?s work was divided into two important sections. In the morning session, the counselor spoke about « the identity of the ChMMF in history and in the documents ». In the afternoon one, Br. Pau Fornells did an analysis of the Movement from the perspective of the document on the vocation of Marist laity ? Around the same table. Brother Pau?s whole presentation gave proof of his faith in a people of God Church and of his great affection for the Marist laity, in addition to the great inspiration he has given the lay people by his witness, for them to « put out into the deep » (Lk. 5:4).
In the following days, the participants attempted to define the specific engagements to be taken on by their respective Provinces; and after profound discernment they also chose two lines of common action for the ChMMF in Brasil :
1. Promote the formation of the members of the CHMMF for a better understanding and a better living of the lay Marist vocation at the service of the mission in the Church.
Actions
* Draw up a plan of continuing formation for the members of the CHMMF at the national level.
* Promote formation and sharing of life meetings for laity and Brothers at the national level.
2. Provide an organic structure for the CHMMF in Brasil, guaranteeing the laity their autonomy and the place belonging to them, in communion with the Brothers and other forms of belonging to the Institute.
Actions
* Reinforce the action of the Sub-Commission of the CHMMF in UMBRASIL;
* Define a common model of organisation and animation for the CHMMF in Brasil, which applies at local, provincial and national levels;
* Develop a unique visual identity for the CHMMF in Brasil ;
* Create instruments of common communication.
Wishing to strengthen their feeling of belonging to the Marist Institute, the participants also formulated two important motions to promote the lay Marist role:
MOTION 1
Lay people and Brothers, gathered on the occasion of the 1st National Meeting of Animators of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family, at Brazlândia/DF, Brasil, from 13 to 16 February 2010, express to the Superior General and his Council the need to update the Life Project of the CHMMF in line with the challenges and calls of the XXI General Chapter and the new way of understanding and living the lay life in the Marist Institute.
MOTION 2
Taking into account the important work required by the restructuring of the CHMMF at the national level, we request the Superior Council of UMBRASIL for the enlarging of the Sub-Commission of the CHMMF: that there be 2 (two) lay people and 1 (one) Marist Brother more from each Province and District; in this way, the role of the laity in regard to starting, organizing, and animating the Champagnat Movement in Brasil will be promoted. We request also that at least one of the lay people be chosen by the Fraternities of each Province and District.
Marists of Champagnat, let us continue united in the sacred hearts of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and Champagnat! May they help us remain always faithful, in a creative way, to the Marist charism.