Marist Mission
On 17 March, the General House hosted the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the Marist Houses of Publication. Those taking part were: for the Edelvives Group – Spain: Br Julián Sanz Faices, Director Général and President of the executive Committee, Alberto Pazos Arranz, Director of Organisation and Development, Javier Cendoya Irezábal, Director of Management and Operations; for « Editorial Progreso » – Mexico: Br José Joaquín Flores Segura, Director General and Mr Francisco Flores, External Consultant; for « Gram Editora » – Argentine: Br Augustin Martínez, Provincial Econome and responsible for Gram Editora; for Editora FTD S.A. – Brasil: Br Délcio Afonso Balestrin, Director President, Antonio Luis Rios da Silva, Director Superintendant. The other participants were Brs John Klein, Councillor General, and João Carlos do Prado, Director of the Secretariat of Mission.
The meeting was a follow-up to the International Meeting of Marist Publishing Houses held in São Paulo, Brasil, in 2011, which had drawn up a list of items of common interest and formed the Executive Committee to put the planned projects into effect.
At the start, Br Emili Turú greeted the committee members and, through them, all their collaborators in Marist publishing. He emphasized the fine witness of the Publishing Houses in response to the 21st General Chapter, in searching for a work better integrated and taking account of the international dimension of the Institute. They are important means for the Marist mission and have to take up the challenge to be close to poor children and young people.
Those taking part did further study on the topics treated after the São Paulo Meeting and defined the strategies for implementing them: exchange of experiences, possible fields of collaboration, putting to profit synergies, new technologies, new business in common, creation of an International entity and a common label. Apart from the topics mentioned, they also spoke about basic ideas for constructing, and the documentation necessary for defining the identity, principles and mission of this new Marist network. The day finished with a tour of Rome and a convivial meal.
The meeting was judged very profitable and the concrete decisions will help put into practice the agreements adopted by the Committee.
On 18, 19 and 20 March, the members of the Committee went to Bologna in order to take part in the International Book Fair. They also planned a visit to the Edelvives House of Publications in Spain.