Marists, brothers and laity, journeying together
Retreat Colombia July 2009, was the generic ?spark? which identified each ?aid? which was opportunely provided for us by the animators and directors of our Retreat, Br. Pau Fornells and Ana Sarrate, respectively director of the Secretariate of the Laity and member of the International Secretariate of the Laity Team.
In the agreeable climate of Armenia, in the Retreat House of the Slaves of Christ the King Sisters, in two sessions from the l1th to the 12th of July, we gathered, sixty-nine Brothers and a significant presence of lay Marists, who, if not so high in number, made up for it in human and religious qualities and in commitment to live the Marist lay vocation, sharing shoulder to shoulder with the Brothers the charism and mission Marcellin bequeathed us. They were days of joy, gratitude and happiness.
Joy,gratitude and happiness for the time which, as gift and grace, was offered for us for an encounter with the Lord of our lives and for sharing in a climate of prayer.
With joy, gratitude and happiness we were accompanied by Robinsón Emilio Moná Moncada, and we were witnesses of his generosity in consecrating himself to the Lord with the taking of his vows in the Institute of the Little Brothers of Mary. With him we celebrate and give thanks for the presence of the Lord in his life.
Joy, gratitude and happiness marked the celebration of the jubilees, Gold, Diamond, and Platinum, of five of the Brothers of the Province.
Gold for 50 years of religious profession of Brothers Óscar Montoya, Bernardo Buitrago and José Israel Beltrán. Fifty years full of brilliance and splendor. Years purified in the crucible of apostolic endeavour and in energy spent in the service of God, of the Institute, and of the Brothers.
Diamond for 60 years of religious profession of Br. Fabio Urrea. ?A touch of heaven in each smile? and in ?each of his kind words?,although, like the diamond, he was hard and firm in his convictions.
Platinum for 75 years of religious profession of Br. Roberto López. ?How good it feels to have both arms?, Shakespeare is said to have exclaimed, speaking unfavourably of Cervantes and believing himself superior to him. But the author of the Humorous Knight explained that ?I lost the right arm for the greater glory of the left?. Roberto trained his left arm to do as well as his right, and, after the accident of which he was a victim as a boy in Popayán, struggled like him always ?with both fists?, as the same one says.? Master of the ?Harmonica? and sower of harmony among his Brothers.
50, 60, 75 years of creative fidelity, of happiness in service, of apostolic fruitfulness.
With the psalmist we bless the Lord for the lives of these five Brothers, and for the gift of brotherhood, to be fortunate because we love one another, and to sing our gratitude for the gift of the Marist vocation in Brothers and Laity.