Evangelical use of goods
A formation course for Spanish and Portuguese speaking Marists involved in administration of the Institute’s economy will take place from Oct. 1 – 26 at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná university in Curitiba, Brazil.
A second such course for English speakers will be held in the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos City, the Philippines, from May to April 2019. Around 25 participants are expected to attend each course.
The Institute’s department of financial services and the International Council of Economic Affairs are carrying out several initiatives, including the formation for people involved in the administration of the Institute’s economic affairs.
Brother Libardo Garzón, the Institute’s econome general, noted that “the objective is to provide formation for brothers and lay people involved in the management of the Institute’s assets that will allow them to properly manage the Institute in line with the Vatican document ‘Economy at the service of the charism and mission’ and the XXII General Chapter of the Institute, in accordance with the requirements of the current context.”
Aside from the workshops given by professionals, one of the methodologies that will be used will be the learning through the sharing of each one of the participants’ experiences.
The group will also visit several successful companies that relate to the topics that they will be covering in the course.
To better live the charism of Saint Marcellin throughout the month, participants will be encouraged to experience community life among themselves, living as true Marists of Champagnat.
Superior general Brother Ernesto Sánchez launched a video (https://bit.ly/2L64fWL) on May 18 for the participants of this formation course.
“The Chapter was clear that, apart from continuing to grow as a Global Family, there are several areas in which we want to apply it and one of them is ‘our management and use of goods’,” he states in the video.
“There are some principles that I believe are very valid, very clear, in line with – for example – resources at the service of life and mission; ensuring sustainability; all principles that are in line with the discernment of the evangelical use of goods; the idea of communion and solidarity,” he continues.
He stressed that “it is interesting that (the Chapter stated that) people are our most important resource” and “it seems to us that this time of formation in Curitiba is a good occasion also to take care of you.”
The course for Portuguese and Spanish is currently in the process of registration. For the English language, a survey is currently being conducted to collect the needs of the provinces and districts to design a programme that best meets their needs.