Marist partnership between Lay Marists and Brothers
We in New Zealand from September 30 – October 4th (Sacred Heart College, Auckland) completed a wonderfully successful Shared Formation Experience based on the experiences of St Paul Trois Chateaux in 2009, although much abbreviated. Here you find the final statement from this event.
We arrived from four Pacific nations (Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand), each with its own Marist identity, tradition, history and culture. We lived as equals. We confirmed our commitment to Marist partnership between Lay Marists and Brothers.
As Champagnat Marists, we firmly believe that we are continually being called by the Holy Spirit to strengthen our commitment to make Jesus Christ known and loved, by:
- developing our understanding of Marcellin’s charism and supporting one another in this
- enabling disadvantaged young people to achieve their potential.
The Marist mission of Marcellin’s people in the Pacific affirms our ministries as we work to bring young people to Jesus in the Way of Mary. We are called to connect with the charism enabling us to work effectively with the people of the Pacific.
Now that we have greater clarity regarding the Lay Marist vocation, we have together (Brothers and Lay Marists) a treasure in our Champagnat charism which we know has a future.
We feel a true sense of belonging in which we learn from the past and the present as Champagnat Marists, sharing the same spirituality and mission. The Holy Spirit is challenging and calling us to create new ways to:
* Deepen our Marist spirituality, focusing on the mission of making Jesus Christ known and loved, sharing our vision as we do so.
* Strengthen our community by:
– drawing others to the charism by developing formative processes both shared and particular
– enhancing openness in existing communities through shared formation experiences
– developing networks
*Enhance the mission by supporting each other in our ministries with commitment, action and creativity in mission. We must become organised with relevant structures yet to be established.
We need the support of one another to continue and deepen the journey. This Shared Formation Experience has affirmed for us the value of St Marcellin’s charism, and has supported us through the establishment of warm, caring and supportive relationships. We feel the Holy Spirit calling us to develop relationships that lead to a productive Marist mission, maintain their strength and keep the fire of the mission burning.
Like St. Marcellin, we are called to action with courage and conviction.