Humbly wearing an apron to serve others
On June 15 to 17, 96 teenagers and young people from the Marist Youth Ministry (MYM) in the Marist Province of Central-South Brazil got together in Curitiba for a Youth Assembly. These people – representing nearly 4000 MYM participants from the School Network, Educational and Social Units, Professional Education, Marist formation houses and Marist University – had the opportunity to discuss and share regarding the challenges and new proposals for the MYM, and also exercise their responsibility by choosing the new Provincial Youth Commission: a body made up by young people collaborating with Marist Ministries in the youth evangelization process proposed by the Marist Institute.
“The Commission: no higher rank, but plain service”was the main slogan inspiring the different activities during the weekend. Following in the footsteps of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, it was emphasized that any member of the Provincial Commission must keep a perfect balance between sensitivity, planning and action: he or she must be ready to listen to the challenges posed by young people from the different Units, remaining aware of his or her mission as consultant, purposeful leader, and representative. This implies a number of responsibilities, especially a clear commitment to the needs of young people and to the Marist charism.
In the next two years, the people “wearing the apron” of service will be: Bruna Silveira (Florianópolis), Daniel Luiz Pitz (Florianópolis), Glauber da Paz (Brasilia), Gustavo Queiroz (Curitiba), Heloisa Catai (Londrina), João Gabriel Sedrez (São Paulo), Luane Stradiotto (São Paulo) and Mariana Chain (Curitiba). Wearing the apron means serving others like Jesus did: taking a towel and washing the disciples’ feet.
The first Youth Commission, acting from 2010 to 2012, opened a new path, and exercised the true leadership of young people. The Marist Ministry in Central-South Brazil is grateful for all the work done by Andressa Picioli, Bruno José Godoz, Gabriel Bernardo da Silva, Guilherme Perotta, Jhennifer Cristina da Silveira, Ligia Gomes, Lucas Alessandro and Vinicius Vidotti Tashima. Now it’s time to pass the baton, or better, the apron, on to the next generation.
The Youth Assembly marked an important democratic step in the history of MYM. We now wish to remain constantly in touch with the young people newly elected as members of the Commission, so that the MYM may keep its face young: Youth Ministry carried out by young people.
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Amanda Sabiar Podanoscki and Diogo Luiz Galline