Fifteenth Meeting of the Educational Works of the Province of L’Hermitage
The 2020 Meeting of Educational Works (ROE) of the Province of L’Hermitage took place this year from the 4th to the 7th February at Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage, France. The educators were able to reflect on the following themes: the reality of young people, the Marist charism, a new European structure, the rights of children and young people, workshops on innovation and experiences of solidarity. The Provincial teams of the Mission Council, the Bureau of the Brothers, the Bureau of the Laity and a youth think tank (reflection based on the reality of young people) were present.
The Provincial Council welcomed the participants through a summary of the ideas that emerged during the Provincial Chapter held last summer at the Hermitage. According to the Provincial Council, the basic axes of our present and future involve reflecting on the reality of young people and on how we carry out the Marist charism in the European framework.
The awareness of the work that the Marist Institute is developing in the defence of the rights of children and young people was presented by Brother Carlos Alberto Rojas, Director of the Institute’s Bureau of Education and Evangelisation, who appealed to the message of the General Chapter: “We want to walk with children and young people who are marginalized in life”. During his address, Brother Beto presented a project of the Institute: Stand up, say what you think and take part! through which he called on the children and young people of the Institute to contribute in the preparation of a document on how to encourage listening and participation by children and young people. A document with guidelines and criteria that will be presented to the General Council in November.
Brother Carlos Alberto presented another project that caused great expectation was the Network of Marist Schools of the World, an invitation to create working networks in order to guarantee the vitality and viability of the Marist school. A project of global innovation that connects schools around the world to better serve a common good. We are talking about some 500 schools in 81 countries around the world. The launch of this network is planned for April 2021.
The presentations of the meeting alternated with participatory workshops, exchange of good practices and innovation, presentation of various solidarity experiences that the province is carrying out, as well as moments of celebration and prayer.
At the conclusion of the ROE 2020, Brother Provincial, Pere Ferré, thanked all the participants for their presence (especially the young people), and highlighted the commitment to the mission and the importance of networking, and sharing the same vision on fundamental subjects, such as the defence of the rights of children.