Marist Asia Conference Meeting in Negombo
With the theme, “Working and Walking Together,” the Marist Asia Conference (MAC) meeting this year took place at Good Shepherd Retreat House, Negombo, Sri Lanka last May 6-8, 2024. It was participated by the Provincials, Vice-Provincials of East Asia and South Asia together with the MDA District Superior and his deputy, Lay Marists from different Administrative Units and Link Councilors from the General Administration, Brothers Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa and Jose Maria Soteras.
During the first day, the committee reports on Marist Life, Mission and Services were delivered by the following point persons: Br. Ador, Elma, Br. Farancis and Br. Suresh. They highlighted the different collaborative initiatives and program within the region on the areas of Initial through the Formators’ Colloquim, Vocation Promotion Animators’ Workshop, Formation on Spirituality of the heart, Marist Spiritual Patrimony symposium, Laity Forum, Program for Preparation for Perpetual Profession, Mentoring Temporary Professed Brothers, Servant Leadership, Marist Education throught Champaganat Global Netwrok of Schools, Child Rights, Ecology, Volunteers, Youth Ministry, Solidarity, Social Services, Fundraising and Project Management Online Formation by FMSI, Bursar and Sustainability
The succeeding two days were dedicated:
- to plan for the January 2025 Marist Asia Assembly in Thailand where Br. Graham Neist, of Star of the Sea Province acted as facilitator.
- to review and update the MAC Statues and Structures where the following Brothers and Lay Marists were identified to work on:
- Marist Life: Br.Rommel C. Ocasiones (Chairman). Br. Dominador A. Santiago, Ms. Elma Rafil, Br. Raj Kumar, Mr. Chalana Pragnarathna, Mr. Jude Fernando, Br. Juan Castro, and Br. Nguyen Viet Bao.
- Marist Mission: Br. Jiji Dhasan (Chairman), Br. Mark RoberthLaurea, Mrs. Leann Jester Rosali, Br. FarancisRehamat, Mr. Ruchira Wijendra and Br. Anselmo Kim.
- Marist Services: Br. Suresh Durai (Chairman), Br. Danilo M. Sevilla, and Br. Nguyen Van Tri.
“Working and Walking Together as Marists of Champagnat” and “What is God calling us to BE and to DO in our Marist Life and Mission in Asia?” were the invitations for the all the participants as they ended that meeting.