Co-trustees of the charism of Champagnat

The second meeting of the European Commission of the Laity for the communion of brothers and laity was held in Barcelona from 2 to 4 October and involved Br Teo Aller (Compostela), Jorge García (Ibérica), Br Albert André (West-Central Europe), Pep Buetas (L'Hermitage / Secretariat of the Laity), Br Ventura Pérez (Mediterránea) and Br Javier Espinosa of the Secretariat of the Laity.

At this second meeting, the commission continued its work in sharing the different situations of each province with reference to the participation of the laity in the Institute as co-trustees of the charism of Champagnat.

There was sharing on experiences of joint formation, such as the vocational weekends of the province of the Hermitage, the joint formation groups of the province of Ibérica, and, from the secretariat, the latest experience of the province of Norandina.  There was also dialogue on the new experiences of mixed communities in Erandio (Ibérica) and Salamanca (Compostela), as well as on the project of the community of Llinars (L'Hermitage). There was reflection on the pastoral and vocational programmes based on the process of Santa María de los Andes, the standard document of vocations ministry of the province of the Hermitage and the conclusions of the last meeting in Las Avellanes.

The meeting also allowed us to visit some of the social works of the Hermitage province, such as the Gabellas Association in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona, and to experience a pleasant social with the community of the college of Sants-les Corts, which hosted us, and with the community of Llinars.

The sense of communion with the European provinces as well as with the other continental commissions continues to grow in us. To be a reminder of this communion in the spirit of Champagnat is our wish in journeying with laity and brothers.

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Jorge García Ochoa de Aspuru