International Meeting of Marist Intitutions of Tertiary Education
On the 5th November, the inauguration of the First International Meeting of Marist Institutions of Tertiary Education took place at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCP), Brazil. There are forty people participating in this meeting, coming from ten different countries and representing twenty-one Institutions.
The objectives of the meeting are:
To reflect together on the document concerning Marist Institutions of Tertiary Education within the MARIST MISSION.
To initiate a process of becoming better acquainted with each other through information sharing.
To appraise the possibility of future collaboration.
The meeting started with a recital by the chamber orchestra of the PUCP, at the end of which the Rector of the University, Brother Clemento Ivo Juliatto, welcomed all the participants.
Following this, Brother Emili Turú, on behalf of the Mission Commission of the General Council, which called for this meeting, delivered these words to the assembly: ?Throughout these days, we intend to all work together, helping us all to assume the responsibility that has been confided to us, as recommended to us in Vita Consecrata (97): Because of the importance that Catholic and ecclesiastical universities and faculties have in the field of education and evangelisation, Institutes which are responsible for their direction should be conscious of their responsibility.? He then went on to remind the assembly of important texts from In the <084Emili.jpg alt=International Meeting of Marist Intitutions of Tertiary Education hspace=5 vspace=5 align=right>Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat, A Vision for Marist Education Today, as well as from the last General Chapter, and Brother Emili affirmed: ?As we begin this meeting, we feel part of a large extended family throughout five continents. We know that each one of us has been called to contribute our best, at the service of a collective undertaking. No one is insignificant. All of us are important. The large and the small university centres, the schools at the various grades and levels, the educational programmes for marginalised or neglected children and young people? We form part of a beautiful collective project, in the most different situations and cultures, trying to be present to the children and young people in the very places where we find them.? Finally, Brother Emili thanked all the participants, on behalf of the Superior General and the other members of the General Council, for the educational work that is being carried out in the different Institutions and for their service of animation so generously given.
It is fitting to highlight that this meeting has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of the PUCP as well as the Marist Province of Brasil Centro-Sul, who generously agreed to host this meeting.