Lay Marists in Africa

On Tuesday 28th February 2023, the Representatives from Africa who participate in third phase, last November, of the International Forum on Lay Marist Vocation, met online. The objective of the meeting was to share experiences during and after the meeting in Rome. They also shared some guideline for the follow up of this important event. The sharing was based on what is priority in Africa, mainly Lay Marist Identity and formation. They discussed on how they can use their experiences and information from the forum to animate Lay Marists and all who are interested in Marist life and mission in the Continent. Each participant of the meeting will try to follow the guideline, and feedback shall be presented in the next meeting.

The group plans to have 5 meetings at regional levels during this current year 2023. This includes meeting with the representatives in the Forum, meeting of the Africa Lay and Brothers Commission, meeting with the Provincial Superiors in Africa, and meeting with all the Lay Marists of the Region.

Note that all the meetings are online as the participants have limitation on the possibility of presential meeting. Communication in general is a challenge for the Marist in Africa, however they are making efforts to get in touch with each other in the region.

International Forum on the Lay Marist Vocation

The International Forum is four-year journey (2021-2024) of reflection and shared discernment among laypeople, laywomen and brothers. The themes of the Forum deal with the Marist vocation with emphasis on the lay Marist vocation, formation itineraries, accompaniment of vocational processes, bouding to the charism and possible juridical structures for the Marist laity. These are relevant current and future issues related to the vitality of the charism and the path of communion as a Global Charismatic Family.

A meeting in Rome last November brought together about 100 brothers and lay people. It was the third phase of this reflection process on the lay Marist vocation.