International Formation Course for Leaders Animators of the Lay Marist Vocation

During the first semester of this 2022, the International Formation Course for Leaders Animators of the Lay Marist Vocation, promoted by the Secretariat of the Laity of the Institute, was developed. It is the second edition of this course, after the one held in Rome in 2015. The novelty is that it was developed entirely virtually, with simultaneous translation into the four languages of the Institute, over several months and covered all the Administrative Units. More than one hundred laymen, laywomen and brothers were trained.

The general objectives of this International Course were:

1. To train lay men and women to assume responsibilities of animation in lay formative processes at all levels (local, provincial and international).
2. To motivate for the co-responsibility of the lay processes of the Institute, in harmony with the Secretariat.
3. To promote an approach to the current theological thinking of the Church in relation to the laity.
4. To help in the awareness of the call to be mystics and prophets as lay animators.
5. To favor the understanding and experience of spiritual itineraries for vocational processes.
6. To create awareness and international unity of the Marist laity.

The experiences were organized in two large groups divided by regions. The first group was made up of the regions of Africa, Asia and Europe, who began the meetings in January. The second group was made up of Oceania, Arco Norte and South America, who began the formative experience in March.

Topics offered

The topics offered were:

1. Theology of the laity and lay Marist vocation: Vatican Council II, Ecclesiology and Theology of the Laity. In-depth study of our Marist reference documents on the lay Marist vocation.
2. Leadership and animation of the lay Marist vocation: The person and role of the leader, leadership competencies and tools, servant leadership. Accompaniment of itineraries, personal, community, provincial processes and how it is concretized in our provinces.
3. Lines of the future in the lay Marist vocation: Lay Marist vocation for mission: society, family, Church, Marist congregation. Spirituality: interiority, ecological conversion, contemplation, integration of life. Future horizons of the lay Marist vocation.

One of the important fruits was the possibility of interaction between different realities and cultures, which strengthened us as a Global Charismatic Family and brought richness thanks to the diversity of views and experiences.

In September we are receiving the last projects of lay vocational animation by Administrative Unit, practical work that is a requirement to obtain the certificate that certifies participation in the course. We hope to be able to share with everyone these materials, which can be interesting contributions for other realities of the Institute.

Facilitators

We are especially grateful to the facilitators who animated the formative themes together with the Secretariat of the Laity. They gave generously of their time and effort to prepare in detail the assigned modules and thus deliver an excellent formation rooted in experience. They did so with a deep sense of mission, co-responsibility and hope for our future. The facilitators were: Joao Luis Fedel and Adalgisa Oliveira (married couple, Brasil Centro-Sul), Chema Pérez-Soba and Silvia Martínez (married couple, Ibérica); Nohemy Pinto (América Central); Ana Saborío (América Central); Ana Sarrate (Ibérica); Ernesto Reyes (Santa María de los Andes); Tony Clarke (Australia); Br. Ismar Portilla (Norandina); Brother Graham Neist (Australia); Brother Luis Carlos Gutiérrez (Vicar General); Brother Ernesto Sánchez (Superior General).

We trust that the Lord and our Good Mother will continue to encourage us in the animation of the Marist charism and vocation and will give us the strength and confidence to continue to walk where His will leads us.

Agnes Reyes, Manuel Gómez and Raúl Amaya

Secretariat of Laity