
International communities for a new beginning
To the communities of the current District of Asia (MDA) (…), we wish to add a number of new communities. This time, however, they will be distributed throughout the world, and will be set up and accompanied in close collaboration with each of the Marist regions. (The dance of the Mission, p. 15)
During February, Brothers Jeff Crowe and Angel Medina, visited the communities where members of the Project are living, to continue their mission of accompanying participants of the initiative “International communities for a new beginning,” Lavalla200>. We invite you to take this “trip” with us.
Thailand
Bangkok: there we meet with Brother Juan Castro, superior of the district of Asia (MDA), and with the Brothers of the district community. The fraternal treatment of each other allowed us to know a bit better the path that as Marists is being done in the region; we also spoke about the relationship between the MDA and of the Lavalla200> initiative.
Cambodia
Brothers John Nyuydine and Bernhard Tremmel waited for us in the capital, Phnom Penh. A trip of nearly six hours allowed us to reach the city of Saen Monourom (province of Mondul Kiri), where Br Max Meier, the third member of the community, received us. A few of the activities of the Brothers includes accompanying a group of youths that reside in a “hostel” of the parish and giving English lessons to those who have been adding Brothers and youth to neighbouring homes in a spontaneous way. They only speak Khmer or Buonona, but they also want to learn English and participate in the classes with the Brothers.
Back in Phnom Penh, before leaving Cambodia, we could get to know the “La Valla School,” a Marist work of the Australia province for children and youth with different disabilities; most of the personnel that look after them have some sort of physical disability. The spirit that you breathe there is endearing!
Philippines
The new house of the postulancy is in Davao, southern Philippines; the group of 14 youths, accompanied by Brothers Paco García, Luis G. Sobrado and Marc Poro, to which Brothers Larry Lavalle and Ricky Gómez from Lavalla200> have been added; The family atmosphere speaks for itself of the Marist spirit that young postulants grow.
Australia
Br Jeff travelled to Manila too meet with a Brothers who will take part in Lavalla200> this year. From there, he continued to Australia for a short break; in Sidney, he was able to meet with Br Lawrie M. of the Mount Druitt community that, since last year, forms part of the international communities. We hope that a married Mexican couple, Argie and Rodri, and a Brother from the Philippines, will be able to join the community as soon as they obtain their visas.
Hong Kong
Brother Angel travelled to Hong Kong where he was welcomed by the community of Saint Francis Xavier College and had the opportunity to spend a few days accompanying Laura, a young lay woman from Bolivia, who is studying Chinese as part of her preparation for the MDA mission.
Sri Lanka
Brother Angel's last stop before returning back to Rome was the joint novitiate of the MDA, the South Asia province and East Timor (Australia) in Tudella, Sri Lanka.Those days were experiences of true fraternal sharing with the Brothers Nicolás Fernando, Rod Thomson, Peter Walsh and Reál Sauvageau, the formators, as well as with the 12 young novitiates. The experience of the community’s life is an expression of a new beginning, similar to that of Father Champagnat, 200 years ago in La Valla.
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Brothers Jeff Crowe and Angel Medina – Lavalla200 Team