Leaders for a global family
During the Chapter in Rionegro, the brothers elected the superior general and his council. It is the leaders of the Institute who, during the next eight years, will put into practice the Institute's appeal: “Journeying together as a Global Family.”
We invite members of the government to introduce themselves and tell us how the challenge of this new mission has been so far. Today we present the text written by Brother Óscar the province of Compostela, elected as general councillor.
Br Óscar Martín, general councillor
I am Spanish, born in Burgos and I am 51 years old. After my Marist formation in Arévalo, Burgos and Salamanca, my life has been focused on my mission as a teacher, tutor, pastoral leader…
I like teaching, and I like collegiate life. In addition to teaching, I was fortunate to be able to study philology first and theology later, and for that reason I have taught language, literature, and above all, religion. What I like the most is the work of tutoring and pastoral work with young people, who have been and are my passion.
I have also been blessed for having always lived in very fraternal and challenging Marist communities, and that has helped me a lot in my path.
I was coordinator of the leadership in my province, and provincial. When I finished, I had the wonderful opportunity to go work at the Marist novitiate in Matola, Mozambique, where I was very happy, dedicated to that mission of formation and solidarity.
How did you experience the experience of your election?
It was an intense experience, full of nuances: of gratitude to the Brothers for their trust; of having me feel very intensely “Marist”, very loved and with a deep belonging to this family that I love; of fear of the challenge of this new mission.
To those who asked me this during those days, I told them: it was the brothers and it was God who put me here. I trust them, in their support and in their closeness to this service, and to the Father.
How have you been experiencing until now your new life in the General House?
The change was not easy at the beginning. I was very happy in Compostela; and I was also very happy and committed to my mission in Mozambique… And I still miss it.
At the same time, the welcome that was given to the brothers, the good atmosphere we have created in the community of the general council, the trust and closeness of Brother Ernesto our superior general … have facilitated the transition.
The structure is large and sometimes complex, but I believe in the community and in teamwork to serve the Marist Institute as well as possible; to serve all the brothers and laity who share Champagnat’s dream.
Given the experience of the General Chapter, in your opinion, what should be the line of action of the Council for the next eight years?
The General Chapter itself has defined the priorities very well: journeying as a global family. And, for that, let us build communities that are home and beacon of hope, rediscover a spirituality of presence and mercy that unifies our lives, build bridges and new fraternal relationships, multiply the close presence among the poorest and in the peripheries and take care of our common house.
There are many and strong challenges. Hopefully, we, the general government, will know how to encourage this path, being ourselves a true community and a team that enlightens. And that we can do so “with tenderness and courage”, as the preparatory document of the synod of young people says speaking of Mary.
May she help us live this mission with these attitudes, with effective structures, a lot of transparency, service, and great closeness, as the Chapter asked us to do.