IX Meeting “Integra Confessional”: “you cannot teach without passion”.
The FTD Educação, Publishing Housethe Province of Brasil Centro-Sul, held, from June 5 to 8, the IX edition of the “Integra Confessional” Meeting, an initiative that seeks to inspire Confessional Education. This year, the theme of the meeting was “Charism, Memory and Education: the path towards a collaborative and supportive school management”. The theme was based on Luke 24:15: “Jesus came near and walked with them”.
The event was attended by 175 representatives of the 274 religious congregations that manage 781 schools associated with the FTD, a Marist institution with 120 years of history.
The event included panels with several Catholic institutions, among them the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB) and the National Association of Catholic Education of Brazil (ANEC). There was also a moment of formation with Ricardo Mariz and Emília Cipriano.
The “Magna Lecture” was given by Dom Angelo Zani, Secretary Emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education of the Holy See.
Another highlight of this year’s edition was the Message sent on behalf of Pope Francis by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, to the participants, which is reproduced below.
Message of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See
In the name of Pope Francis, I greet with esteem all the participants in this IX “Integra Confessional” Meeting, addressing a word of thanks to the promoters of this praiseworthy initiative of sharing and reflection. Enlightened by the Gospel passage that narrates the experience of the disciples on the road to Emmaus, you are invited to experience during this assembly the encouraging presence of Jesus, who also today draws near and sets out on the journey with humanity (cf. Lk 24:15). After this experience, the disciples said to one another: “Were not our hearts burning within us as he spoke to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us? To educate is to make our hearts burn! In this regard, the Holy Father recalls that “one cannot teach without passion” (Address to the Italian Catholic Union of Teachers, Leaders, Educators and Formators, 14/111/2015).
To every religious or lay representative of Catholic education in Brazil or Latin America and participant in this meeting, I leave the challenge to let oneself be captivated by the method of Jesus, which does not mean a list of external techniques, but a style cultivated interiorly from the wise dialogue with the Father. The method of Jesus is naturally reflected in the journey to Emmaus and can be developed in the following points: initiative of closeness, attentive and inclusive listening, prolonged dialogue, sharing at the table. The risen Master’s way of relating transfigures the memory of his disciples, who pass from sadness and discouragement to hope and uncontainable joy.
I wish you all every success in your work, while conveying to you the spiritual closeness of His Holiness Pope Francis, who, in sending you his Apostolic Blessing, encourages each of you to learn from Jesus the ardor of mercy and the art of solidarity.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See