In search of a future for Marist Europe

The prayer opening the third day had as theme: « You are salt and light ». Salt taken directly on the lips to experience what the Marist charism should imply for the continent. And to speak with the Lord about it at the moment of defining the options for the future.

The Brothers meeting at the Hermitage were invited to be aware of the feelings they had faced with the task of dreaming of the future of the Marist work on their native continent, and to share them with one or two of their neighbours. In the general sharing, there was mention of feeling a certain resistance and dismay at setting out towards an uncertain  horizon; the present moment was seen as a matter of chance; there was the desire to continue nourishing the life already there; but the fear was also expressed of taking decisions which were not sufficiently considered and which would have consequences. The assembly felt the urgency of not letting the train pass by. ‘If you do something, it is possible that you may be mistaken, but if you do nothing you will certainly be mistaken.’ The risk may come from putting into practice only two of the three invitations of the Chapter: move, change place, but without personal conversion.

After this introduction, the participants were set to imagining future courses or options. Once the sharing was over, the possible choices were given to a small group to summarise. The morning’s work concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist before dinner.

The afternoon began with Marial prayer, with the future of Marist Europe entrusted into Mary’s hands. She goes ahead of us and with her « we feel impelled by God to set out for a new land which facilitates the birth of a new age for the Marist charism. »

Then a sheet was distributed with the summary of future options coming from the tables. The material was ordered in five subject groups: 1. The networks of Marist communities in Europe. 2. Joint formation. 3. Ministry with children and youth. 4. The Marist European Conference and its dynamisation. 5. Marist life and the marginalised. Each of these blocks was given a numeric value by the participants. During the break, the information gathered was examined and the results passed on to the Provincial Councils. These results will help direct the subsequent work of the Councils and the Marist European Conference.

Br. Maurice Berquet, Provincial of the Hermitage and president of the Marist European Conference, presented five graphic proposals of a logo which will identify the institutional image of Marist Europe so a choice might be made.

The Councils then met to reflect on the options for the future worked out during the day and to give their opinion on the logo project.

Evening fell on the Hermitage. Low clouds hid all but a few timid rays of the setting sun. The seeds of the future Marist Europe are in train of germinating in the hearts of the Brothers. They are encouraged by the boldness and steadfastness of  Champagnat who, in this very place, took a long, hard look at all the dioceses of the world.

____________________

Read more:

1. March 12th: Those responsible for Marist Europe give the region a push
2. March 13th: Prophets of hope
3. March 14th: Marist Europe today – Realities and challenges
4. March 15th: In search of a future for Marist Europe
5. March 16th: Closure of the Meeting of the Extended General Council around the reliquary of Champagnat

Photos: L'hermitage 1 | L'Hermitage 2 | March 13th | March 14th | March 15th | Group

Participants
General Council
Antonio Ramalho	Emili Turú	Ernesto Sánchez Barba	Eugène Kabanguka	John Klein
Josep María Soteras	Joe Mc Kee	Michael De Waas
Compostela
Antonio Leal	Eduardo Montenegro	Máximo Blanco	Nicolás García	Oscar Martín Vicario
Raúl Figuera	Tomás Briongos
L'Hermitage
André Deculty	Gabriel Villa-Real	Jean Pierre Destombes	Jean Ronzon	Jaume Parés
Maurice Berquet	Miquel Cubeles	Pere Ferré	Xavi Giné
Ibérica
Ambrosio Alonso Díez	Alberto Oribe	Alfonso Fernández García	Carlos Martín	Ernesto Tendero
Moisés Alonso	José Abel Muñoz	Samuel Holguín
Mediterránea
Antonio Gimé- nez de Bagüés	Aureliano García	Damiano Forlani	Fernando Alés	Juan Carlos Fuertes
Juan Ignacio Poyatos	Onorino Rota
West-Central Europe
Brendan Geary	Maurice Taildeman	Robert Thunus
Translators and comunications
Alain Delorme Translator	Antonio Aragón Translator	Jack González Translator	Salomon Neville Translator	Antonio Estaún Comunications