Future developments in Oceania
Twenty-nine Marists gathered for the third chapter of the province of Australia from Sept. 23 – 26 in Mittagong, a town located 115km south of Sydney.
Vicar general Brother Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, general councillor Brother Ben Consigli, and Brother Tony Leon of the Brothers Today Secretariat took part on behalf of the general administration.
During the first day, Br Luis Carlos delivered a message from superior general Brother Ernesto Sánchez and encouraged the participants in their three-day reflection. Br Ben offered a reflection on their consecrated life as Brothers.
On Sept. 24, the first session was devoted to the theme of the Institute’s global Marist reality. Br Tony gave a presentation on his experience of the Institute at an international level.
Participants went on to explore the issue of the Marist Association with an emphasis on the Brothers engagement with the Association, its members and local groups. A report on the province’s finances was then presented and at the end of the session, they reviewed the responses communities provided to the discussion they were requested to have about brotherhood.
On the morning of the chapter’s third day, three issues were covered: the 2020 Plenary and what Marists would want to say to the Church at this time; the issue of future developments in Oceania, and finally, other emerging issues.
The Chapter attendees then wrote down a set of affirmations and commitments, which formed the basis of their final Chapter
Statement, and passed the Province Norms and Rules of Procedure for the fourth provincial Chapter and elected the new Council to serve until 2021: Brothers Greg McDonald, Graham Neist, Darren Burge, Peter Carroll, Jeff Barrington, Dennis Cooper and Peter Rodney.
On Sept. 26, the Statement was finalized and during the concluding Mass, Brother James Hodge renewed his vows as a Marist Brother.
