Marist Vocation Animators for a New Beginning
Leaders and speakers will gather at the general house from Nov. 10 â Dec. 14 in what is expected to be one of the Instituteâs most significant gatherings on vocations for both brothers and lay Marists.
âSince the year dedicated to vocations in 2006, such an important event has not yet taken place, especially under the new perspective of a vocation for both brothers and laity,â said Brother HipĂłlito PĂ©rez GĂłmez, assistant director of the Brothers Today secretariat. âThis meetingâs goal is to encourage and energize vocations in different contexts of the Marist world, whether in the provinces, districts or in local communities.â
The event, titled âMarist Vocation Animators for a New Beginning,â will have 40 participants, including the coordinating team and guest speakers.
âWe are very excited about this programme and it is a blessing that there are so many people participating,â he continued. âIt will also happen during Advent, which is a sign of illumination and on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a sign of hope.â
The encounter includes three parts: the first part centres on a personal spiritual experience, the second part in the theological implication and the culture of vocational ministry, and the third on ways of planning and carrying out the best practices to promote vocations.
The eventâs icon is a clay lamp meant to symbolize two elements that coincide with the topic of vocations.
âThe first element is that it is a mystery of God and that we cannot control it,â told Br HipĂłlito . âThe second element is that it is an issue of the heart and involves the passion we put into it, both at a personal level and in community.â
The speakers are superior general Brother Emili TurĂș; Brother Miguel Angel Espinosa Barrera, vice director of the Secretariat of Mission; Pep Buetas, co-director of the Secretariat of the Laity; Brother Ăscar Martin will cover interiority, Cristina MelĂ©ndez of the AsociaciĂłn ADSIS; Father John Larson SM; Brothers Carlos VĂ©lez e MĂĄrcio Henrique Ferreira (experienced in vocational ministry); Brother Ernesto SĂĄnchez, councillor general; Brother Sean Sammon, former superior general.
The organising team includes Brothers Tony Leon and HipĂłlito PĂ©rez GĂłmez of the Brothers Today Secretariat; Brothers TeĂłfilo Rodrigues Minga and Dennis Cooper, formators in Manziana; Brother Ernesto SĂĄnchez, councillor general.