Marist Province of Mediterránea

During the 27th, 28th and 29th December, the first Provincial Mission Assembly took place at Guardamar (Alicante). Seventy-five participants, (thirty-three brothers and forty-two laypeople) attended the assembly; a third of them came form the non Spanish speaking part of the Province (Italy, Lebanon and Syria). There were practically representatives from all the colleges which, in other times, sent delegates. Even though the Provincial Council launched this initiative, it was the Council of Works, a recent creation during the II Provincial Chapter celebrated last summer, who was in charge of leading the various works.

At the beginning, each participant was given a basic document in which was found the reflections presented by different places of the Province. This document included two sections: ?Our convictions? and ?Our propositions or challenges in the future?, with a total of fifteen points to take into account.

Brothers Manuel Jorques (Provincial), Juan Ignacio Poyatos (Education Delegate) and Pau Fornells (Director of the Bureau of the Laity) developed three proposed areas: ?Challenges of the Province of Mediterránea in the light of the Marist Educational Mission?, ?Presentation of a work document developed with local contributions? and ?The document of the laity in the Marist Educational Mission.?

There were also meetings in groups and assemblies as well as experience boards. In effect, different experiences of mission in the Province were communicated: mixed communities of brothers and laypeople, distinct initiatives of solidarity, the Italian reality in the educational milieu, the District of West Africa, etc. ?

There were, fundamentally, two general objectives proposed: on one side, to reflect on our apostolate and the pastoral work that is carried out in the colleges and in non school works, and, on the other side, to bring our concerns and our proposals to the Marist International Mission Assembly which is to take place in Brazil.

As well as the Brother Provincial and a part of his Council, all the members of the Council of Works were present.

The ambiance experienced during these days was very close and, at the same time, open, even though there were participants from different countries speaking different languages. This required that the organisers seek the services of a team of translators for Spanish, Italian and French.

Brother José Delgado Garcia