First week of General Conference
With fraternal meetings, celebrations, and tour in the city, on Saturday and Sunday, the first week of the General Conference concluded, which brings together in Rome the superiors of the Administrative Units and the General Council, from March 8.
The meetings of the first days of the Conference, from Tuesday to Friday, were marked by the reading and evaluation of the General Chapter’s calls and the beginning of the work inherent to the 5 areas identified by the capitulants where the calls of the Chapter have concrete implications in Marist life: our vocation as Brothers; our mission; brother-laity relations as Marist of Champagnat; the government and the use of goods. This rereading will be the common denominator that will guide the entire Conference.
In relation to the activities of the first week, we can highlight:
- Tuesday: reception of the participants, especially the superiors elected after the General Chapter (Br. Luis Carlos, Vicar General); Message from the Superior General: LOOK BEYOND… Leaders at the service of the Global Marist Family (Br. Ernesto, Superior General).
- Wednesday: analysis of the current context, rereading and dialogue on the calls of the XII General Chapter (Brothers Ken, Josep Maria and Luis Carlos); Introduction to the 5 areas of interest proposed by the Chapter (H. Sylvain).
- Thursday: area “in our style of government” (Brothers Óscar and Sylvain); leaders in new and challenging times (Brothers Luis Carlos, Ken and Ben); Launch of the book “Marist Voices”.
- Friday: area “as Marists of Champagnat” (brothers Sylvain and João Carlos, together with the Secretariat of the Laity, Raúl Amaya); area “in our vocation as Brothers” (Brothers Óscar and João Carlos); formation, Formation Guide and young brothers (with the Brothers Today Secretariat: Ángel Medina and Lindley).