Laity lovers of the Marist Charism

In 1985, the General Chapter of the Marist Brothers launched the Lay Movement, called Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family (MChFM).  In 2012, after 27 years that the Foundation has been functioning, and on the petition of several Administrative Units, the General Council named a Commission to promote reflection and lead the implementation of a process of renewal of the Movement.  This Commission met for the fourth time, from July 25 to 31 in the General House.   

Ana Sarrate, coordinator of the Commission, says that “the principal work of this Movement has been to see the end of this process, concerning the redaction of the new Life Project for the Movement and the Incorporation of a complementary document that will include the practical aspects of the functioning and organization of the fraternities”.  

The work was motivated by the words of Br. Emili Turù, who invited the team to work in harmony, according to the conversion that the Church is leading, carrying out with Pope Francis.  Br. Antonio Ramalho, General Councilor, the liaison person with the Laity, was also present in the meeting, and also Br. Javier Espinosa, the Director of the Secretariat for the Laity.  

In the Encounter it was possible to draw up the general outline of the Life Project, thanks also to the contributions of the Fraternities of the Movement.  It is expected that the definitive drawing up of the Project will be finished by 2016.

Another area of work, as it was said, was the document that accompanies the Life Project. “It is a question of a new text that intends to be a practical and simple guide which will be useful in the concrete aspects of the life of the fraternity and of the Champagnat Movement in general: the formation of its members, animation and local organization or in other levels, the sense of belonging and the future challenges”, explained Ana Sarrate.

Br. Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa, Provincial of Madagascar and member of the Commission, says that the work in groups “is delicate because it is necessary to preserve the original spirit and, at the same time, take into account and keep in mind the new challenges on the way to the Bicentenary”.  

Claudia Rojas, from Colombia, has said that “The proposal for work was centered on identifying the criteria that are transcendental within our fraternities and that constitute what we have called “BEING”, which will be reflected in the future, in the new Life Project of the Movement”.

Ana Sarrate, who together with the Secretariat for the Laity leads the process of revitalization of the Movement since June 2013, analyzes the situation of MChFM: “We have been able to prove that the Movement is very alive, that its members love profoundly the charism of Marceline and have an authentic concern to be transmitters of this gift”.

The International Commission of the Process of revitalization of MChFM is formed by the following persons: Alfredo García, Agnes Reyes, Paty Ríos, Danilo Farneda, Claudia Rojas, Layza Gómez, Edison Oliveira, Br. Adalberto Amaral, Michel Beaulac and Br. Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa.