East Asia launches Process of International Forum on the Lay Marist Vocation

Around 130 brothers and lay across the East Asia Province gathered for the launching of the process of the International Forum on the Lay Marist Vocation held last March 19. Joining the East Asia Champagnat Marists were brothers from Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Rome, as well as laity leaders from Madagascar and a CMMF member from Doha, Qatar. Part of the event was the sharing of Br. Sylvain, General Councilor, on Joseph as Patron of the Marists and how significant this day is in relation to the launching of the forum. Luiz da Rosa, Director of the Communications Department in Rome shared about communication links to foster global connections.

The International Forum with its theme “Welcoming, nurturing, living and sharing our vocation” with the subtitle “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Joel 3:2) aims at allowing the laity with its varied experience of Marist life to be in a process of dialogue and discernment to seek answers to a series of questions being asked by lay Marists from different parts of the world. The results and the agreements or consensus will help the laity to take concrete steps to live the lay vocation in a more conscious and committed way during the coming years.