Living the themes of Spirituality and Solidarity
If there is one word to describe the feeling of the young people here at the International Gathering of Marist Youth 2019 is excitement! To begin the third day, the planning team motivated the participants through a series of activities, songs and dance movements that that filled the Marist Hall with lots of energy and enthusiasm.
In addition, the participants viewed a video prepared by the young Marists, who gathered in the Notre Dame school in Kipadawan, located in the Philippines. In December 2018 the young Marists of the Philippines hosted their own Marist Youth Festival and recorded a special message of welcome and shared words of encouragement creating a sense of solidarity and emphasizing our global Marist presence. Both festivals will have explored the same themes as prepared by the planning team.
Also, the participants were invited to reflect on the themes of Spirituality and Solidarity over the next two days. Through and interactive presentation prepared by Sr. Grace Ellul, Superior General of the Marist Sisters and Sr. Anne McCabe, member of the General Council, the sisters led the young adults through a journey of the heart, inviting them to take time to strengthen their relationship with God through personal prayer.
Sister Georgeanne Marie Donovan, Superior General of the Marist Missionary Sisters, focused on the theme of Solidarity using the mission and experience of the sisters. For the students to gain a better understanding of the importance of solidarity the group was divided into to two sessions were each young Marist had an opportunity to participate in one of several solidarity projects taking place throughout Guatemala City. Among the places visited were: la Escuela Marista (Marist School), the school center of Bro. Moisés Cisneros, the Casa Alianza Project (which focuses on children with developmental issues), Ciudad Anini (A program for sexually abused young women) and el Hogar y Centro Ocupacional de ancianos San Vicente de Paul (A center for the aged and infirmed).
Each group took a day to focus on these two important elements of Marist life and then switch on the following day.