First meeting of the Commission of the III Marist International Mission Assembly
Last December, the General Council appointed the commission which will prepare the III Marist International Mission Assembly (MIMA). Following the two meetings already held, in Mendes (2007) and Nairobi (2014), the third MIMA will take place in Spain, from April 8 to 14, 2024. The members of the commission in charge of preparing this event are: Alejandro Mena Goldaraz (lbérica), Br. Ángel Diego García Otaola (General Administration – Director of the Secretariat of Solidarity), Fatima Rodríguez Gonçalves (Brasil Centro-Norte), Javier Llamas (General Administration – Project Manager of the Champagnat Global Network), Br. José Sanchez Bravo (General Administration – Director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization), Maria del Socorro Alvarez (México Central), Mark Elliot (Star of the Sea), Br. Maurice Juvence (Madagascar), Monica Villacis (Norandina), Br. Nino Mayor Pizarro (Co-director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization) and Br. Warnakulasuriya Marian Madushan Sasmika (South Asia).
From the General Government, the Mission Area links will follow the commission: Brother Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, Vicar General; and Brothers Ben Consigli and Ken McDonald, General Councilors.
The Constitutions of the Institute state in number 119 that “the Superior General and his Council, in conjunction with the Administrative Units and other Marist bodies, make arrangements for an International Mission Assembly, a representative gathering of all Marists, brothers and lay people, who share the responsibility for Marist mission.” About its nature, the same Constitutions underline that it is “an opportunity to share experiences, understand current social realities, discern priorities, and propose future directions and strategies for Marist life and mission around the world” (Const 119.3).
First meeting of the Commission
On February 17th there was the first meeting of the commission. During this meeting, held online, the members had the opportunity to get to know each other and to express the expectations they feel inherent in participating in the organization of the III MIMA.
Three online meetings are planned for March and thus the commission will enter into the dynamic of preparing the fundamental meeting for the Marist mission.