Chronicle from Los Negrales

It is in the spirituality house of the Claretian Missionnaries, situated at Los Negrales, between Villalba and Alpedrete (Madrid), that 15 Marist Brothers coming from different parts of the Institute have gathered.

The course is directed by Brothers Angel Medina (district of Paraguay) and Afonso Levis (Brasil Centro-Sul, Brasil). The group is made up of the following Brothers: Jesús Bayo (Santa María de los Andes, missionary in Cuba), Paulo Lorenzoni (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil), Jaime Andrés (Hermitage, Barcelona), Adelmo Bald (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil), Abel Pérez (Santa María de los Andes, Chile), Carlos Bidegaín (America Central), Pablo Walter (Cruz del Sur, Uruguay), Francisco Navarro (Mexico Central), Tomaz de Aquino (Brasil Centro-Norte, Brasil), Crescenciano González (Norandina, Équador), Jose Cardoso (Brasil Centro-Norte, Brasil), Alfonso López (Norandina, Équador), Cesare Novelletto (Mediterránea, Italy)

In keeping with the aim of the course, the ages range between 54 and 66. The course extends over eight weeks arranged to cover eight corresponding themes: my sacred history, understanding of its existential stage, communication and relationship with others, spirituality centred on Jesus, community building, apostolic mission, renewed religious life, synthesis and future considered with fruitfulness and hope.

The course was inaugurated on the afternoon of the 5th August with the opening of the doors and the symbolic traversal of several of the thresholds of the house which has welcomed us. The two Brothers in charge – Angel and Afonso ? were the ones who guided the first week. Each day begins with morning prayer and the Eucharist. The theme of the week aimed at each one meeting the other participants and growing in knowledge of the self. Each had to reflect on his past and on the circumstances which have intervened up to the present, principally our values and our problematic situations. This leads to a better self knowledge in the light of faith. This is achieved by using a daily orientation time, personal work of reflection and study, and periods of group sharing in a climate of prayer. One important aspect that we have discovered this week is the capacity to create a climate of openness and communication which encourages Marist brotherhood.

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Text: Brothers Jesús and Alfonso
Photo: Brother Pablo