MARISTS MEET TO DISCUSS EVANGELICAL USE OF GOODS

The recent publication, The Plan of Discernment Regarding the Evangelical Use of Goods, was the focus of attention of a seminar sponsored by the Province of Nigeria. About fifty brothers, including the Provincial Council met September 3-10, in Uturu, Nigeria for their annual province seminar. Brother Dominick Pujia, director of BIS and a member of the Commission for the Evangelical Use of Goods was invited to facilitate a portion of the Province?s discernment process.
The Plan of Discernment Regarding the Evangelical Use of Goods is the result of long process of discussion and reflection which has gone on within the Institute since the time of the 1985 General Chapter.
The plan follows a method of See-Judge-Decide-Evaluate. Provinces, apostolic works, and communities around the Institute are urged to use the plan to begin a reflection on the way they acquire, administer, use and share their material goods, and to take some concrete actions to follow more fully Gospel values with regards to the use of material goods.
While reflecting on its acquisition, administration, use and sharing of material goods, the brothers of the assembly identified four values they believe God is calling them to focus their attention upon: Promotion of Justice, Detachment, Respect for Creation and Acting Realistically. The brothers recommended several strategies to the leaders of the Province when dealing with their material goods.
The meeting closed with prayer and a general feeling of thanksgiving for what was accomplished. A foundation was laid. A direction was decided upon. Now the difficult work of taking action and evaluation lies ahead.