Marists of Brazil create Administrative Council for Integrated Network of Basic Education

Inspired by Champagnat Day, UMBRASIL announced the creation and the beginning of the work of an Administrative Council that will lead the processes of the Integrated Network of Basic Education in Marist Brazil.

In the light of the calls of the General Chapter of the Marist Institute and under the protection of the institutional values, the announcement was made during a live celebration of Champagnat Day and in thanksgiving for the Marist mission in Brazil.

The event was led by Brother Inacio Etges (Provincial of Brasil Sul-Amazônia), Brother Benê Oliveira (Provincial of Brasil Centro-Sul) and Brother Ataíde José de Lima (Provincial of Brasil Centro-Norte) and was attended by several Brothers from the country.

The Integrated Network of Basic Education of Marist Brazil is based on the desire for an interprovincial journey, which began in 1960, in harmony with the Marist way of doing things, through various projects on different fronts.

In the specific case of Basic Education, since 2017, Networked content has been developed, such as the Curriculum Matrix, the Marist Education System, Religious Education and Large-Scale Assessment. Another milestone on this path has been the Strategic Planning 2015/2021, which has among its objectives the development and implementation of a model of Networked Education for Marist Basic Education in Brazil. In the last Ordinary Assemblies of UMBRASIL, the decision of the Network made its progress concrete with the creation of a Board of Directors.

The Council is composed of representatives of the three Brazilian Provinces. Natalino Guilherme de Souza is the President, whose members will be Br. Délcio Afonso Balestrin (President of the Marist Group, Brasil Centro-Sul), Br. Lúcio Gomes Dantas (Coordinator of the Evangelising Education Committee of Brasil Centro-Norte), Br. Odilmar José Civa Fachi (Vice-President of the Marist Network, South Brasil-Amazon), Br. Vanderlei Siqueira dos Santos (Executive Director of Basic Education of the Marist Group, Brasil Centro-Sul), Antonio Luiz Rios (Superintendent of the Marist Group, Brasil Centro-Sul), Elísio Alcântara Neto (Superintendent of Brasil Centro-Norte) and Rogério Francisco Caldas Anele (Superintendent of Schools and Social Units of the Marist Network, Brasil Sur-Amazonas).

The Superior General, Br. Ernesto Sánchez was also present and hoped that the Brazilian initiative “will go beyond borders, that it will be lived in an attitude of sharing and learning from other Marist parts of the world. This will facilitate our journey as a global family.

Watch the video for some moments of the celebration