First Professions and Retreat in the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte

From December 15-20, about 80 Brothers of the Province of Brasil Centro-Norte gathered in Mendes at the Marist House of São José das Paineiras, which celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2023. This year also marked the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Province. One of the highlights of the retreat was the first profession, on the 20th, of Brothers Hiury Haffid and Levy Menezes, who had just finished their novitiate in Cochabamba.

The objective of the meeting was to enable reflection on mission and fraternity through Marist spirituality. Two daily motivations were facilitated by Brothers Afonso Murad, Adalberto Amaral and Rafael Ferreira Junior.

The meeting was also marked by various celebrations: a tribute to the nine Jubilarian Brothers who celebrated 25, 50, 65, 70 and 80 years of consecrated Marist religious life in 2023; a thanksgiving for the 20 years of the Province; a celebration in memory of the deceased Brothers; and, on December 20, the celebration of the aforementioned first profession of the two new Brothers of the Province, Hiury and Levy. During the retreat, Brother Eduardo d’Amorim took the vows of stability and other brothers renewed their vows.

“Our Annual Retreat is an opportunity to return in a meaningful way to the Marist-Christian sources through joy, encounter and the common journey,” said Brother José de Assis Elias de Brito, Provincial.