II Marist International Mission Assembly
The XXI General Chapter, within the context of the “new relationship between brothers and laity, seeking greater vitality together”, invited the Institute as a whole to “organize another Marist International Mission Assembly in the spirit of Mendes”.
This mandate from the Chapter was assumed by the Superior General and his Council, who appointed a Commission to carry out the preparation and implementation of the Second Marist International Mission Assembly (II MIMA). This Preparatory Commission is integrated by: Mrs. Alice Miesnik, United States; Mrs. Monica Linares, Cruz del Sur; brother Mark Omede, Nigeria; Mr. Frank Malloy, Australia; Mr. Manuel Gómez Cid, Mediterránea; brother Paul Bhatti, South Asia; brother César Rojas, Brothers Today Secretariat; brother Javier Espinosa, Secretariat of the Laity; and brother João Carlos do Prado, Secretariat for Mission and Coordinator of the Commission.
An international assembly is a special moment in the life of the Institute which offers the opportunity for brothers and laity to share, reflect on, celebrate, and build together Marist life and mission on equal terms, looking at the present times and envisioning the future, as we remain faithful to the charism. It is also an opportunity to strengthen our international and intercultural dimension at the service of children and youth. As we know, the first Assembly was held in 2007 in Mendes (Brazil), under the motto of “One Heart, One Mission.”
But living and operating in the spirit of Mendes today requires a step forward in order to discover new horizons leading to the future, dreaming of the “New Marists in Mission”. The XXI General Chapter marked all its work with the sign of innovation, and invited us to “go in haste, with Mary, to a New Land”. New initiatives have emerged and consolidated in many parts of the Institute as a natural consequence. The II Marist International Mission Assembly wants to explore these new initiatives. It challenges us to live a new religious life which may generate a new way of being Brother, in a new relationship of communion between brothers and laity, with a significant evangelizing presence among poor children and young people.