Highlights of the 4th and 5th week of the francophone group of seniors

The Hermitage and the Marist places that surround it are truly the “source” of Marist life: the fact of stepping on this “holy ground” is for us an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Champagnat, and of course also to follow our first brothers, these “wonderful companions”, as Brother Alain Delorme reminded us.

However, the “heart” of Marist life has had to move more than once, due to the ups and downs of political life, but also to respond better to the expansion of the charism throughout the world. This is how Rome has become a “home of light”, not only because of the presence of the General Administration, but also because it is a “multicultural home” where we find a Marist “microcosm”. We, the francophone group of seniors, were here for two weeks living the rhythm of pulsating life.

We have taken advantage of this time to delve into some issues that affect us directly.

Because a speaker had to withdraw, we took advantage of two days to analyse some topics already discussed; We also highlight the opportunity we had to meet the other two linguistic groups (Anglophones and Spanish-Portuguese speakers) who are going through a process similar to ours.

Brother Ernesto, Superior General, gave us a review of the life of our Marist family, of the challenges and signs of life that are very present, inviting us to keep a look of hope for the future, because it is God’s project – and not ours – that we are called to live, as “She, who has done everything for us”.

For his part, brother José María Soteras invited us to experience Abraham’s journey of faith through the first 12 chapters of Genesis, and that of Moses and the people of Israel on their way to the Promised Land. In recent years, much emphasis has been placed -and rightly so- on the place of the laity in updating the Marist charism: Mrs. Marta Portas came to share with us how the Marist laity is called to respond to this call.

Who speaks of Rome says a bit of tourism… The brothers had the opportunity to visit the places that most interested. For the group there were two more “community” visits. The first, two days in Assisi, to follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. The second was a visit to the town of Cerveteri where there is an Etruscan necropolis, close to the town and dating from the 9th century. BC. This necropolis is distinguished by its tombs carved into the earth and covered with a characteristic earthen ‘dome’, called ‘tumulus’. It is interesting to note: this civilization, with no apparent contact with the world of the Bible, already believed in life after life… How tourism can be a source of reflection…

____________

Br. Gilles Hogues

Francophone session of the permanent formation program for elderly brothers.

First week

Second week

Third and fourth week