« Commitment, Fraternity and Life »
Members of the Canada province met from November 15 to 17 to dream together a future for the Marist charism. Participants were encouraged to keep in mind three basic attitudes – unity, gratitude and hope – as they entered into the gathering. The assembly itself encouraged people to experiment with new ways of being together around Marist charism and life, in order to co-create together the vision and transmission of Marist life and presence in Canada.
Friday was devoted to personal and communal reflection: reconnection with significant personal Marist moments and a look at relationships between brothers and laity. At the end of the day, the groundwork was laid for Saturday – what would be the right conditions and the risky ones to make a future possible?
Saturday took the theme of openness to ideas and others: creation of possible scenarios for the future and teasing out of key principles. The day ended with time given for what would be the work for Sunday – impressions and discussion of the proposals.
Finally, Sunday took as its theme: Me, Marist. There was a sharing of each one’s feelings around the experience of the previous days and the future. Time then to consider the proposals for concrete actions and involvement.
Finally, it was the words "commitment, fraternity and life" that concluded the assembly. More than 100 people left, smiling, confident of the possibility of a future for life and the Marist mission in Canada and ready to commit to its realization.
