Marists of Commpostela in Central America
The “Province of León” starts up its mission in Comayagua
In August 1989, the former Marist Province of León, at the request of the then Superior General, Brother Charles Howard and his Council, initiated a reflection on the search for a proper place for the mission, in view of the fact that its presence in Zaire was no longer necessary. To this end, the Provincial Council appointed a Commission which, already in 1990, opted for a Spanish-American country where there was no Marist mission. The brothers opted for Honduras, and, within this country, on the 4th January 1992, they decided on the city of Comayagua, since it offered better conditions to fulfill the proposed objectives . In the process of discernment, some criteria had been established: a ministry with an educational-pastoral character; one that did not require a very large number of personnel; one that was aimed at achieving economic autonomy ; one that gave consideration for the most needy in society; one that made possible the emergence of Marist vocations.
Having made contact with the bishop of the diocesan capital, Monsignor Geraldo Scarpone, in 1993 the brothers accepted his offer to organize and direct the educational centre “La Inmaculada Institute”. Similarly, the brothers were offered the opportunity to collaborate in social work for street children, called Horizons for the Future, which had been started years before as an initiative of laypeople involved in the Courses of Christianity.
The city of Comayagua is situated in the central region of Honduras. It has more than 120,000 inhabitants. It is one of the most populated cities next to Tegucigalpa (the capital) and San Pedro Sula. The illiteracy rate of the municipality is approximately 16%. Only a very small percentage attain higher education or university level. During the years 1997-2003, in the city of Choluteca there was another community of three brothers who collaborated in various diocesan activities, such as the cultural centre “Casa de la Juventud”, the diocesan radio station, the college of “María Goretti”, the Regional Catholic University, the publication “Iglesia en marcha”…
Marist Institute of the Immaculate Conception and “Horizons for the Future
Currently the “Marist Institute La Inmaculada” has 30 educators within the teaching and administrative personnel, 5 people in charge of service and maintenance, 1050 students, all of them in 19 groups of secondary classes, and the community of 5 Brothers. The social centre “Horizons for the Future” welcomes 36 children and young people and has a team of educators. Since the beginning of the Marist presence in Comayagua, a brother from the community has been accompanying and animating this centre. It is worth mentioning that at the present time the Association Horizons for the Future has 132 members, who provide financial support, in the form of fees.
The school is currently a reference point for educational and evangelisation quality. A good number of the educators work full time in the centre. The third part is committed to the animation of youth groups, such as Aventurate y Remar, in which more than 200 students take part. Another good group is part of a Fraternity of the Champagnat Movement. The attention to the most needy which was the founding inspiration is maintained with the reception of more than 200 students with scholarships, as well as the evangelical investment of quality with the 36 children and young people of the centre “Horizons for the future”, street children in a country where seven children seek to go daily, alone and without papers, to the United States, according to a recent report.
27 years beyond the borders
There have been 27 years of Marist presence in Honduras, a country of 9.3 million inhabitants and an area of 112,492 km². A history of missionary outreach in Compostela, with Brothers of all ages who have wanted to live the experience of being sent beyond the borders. The challenges of this moment continue to motivate the discernment of the community:
-To face the high levels of poverty and inequality that the country is experiencing (48.3% live in poverty); as well as violence and insecurity, among the highest in the world, with 68 violent deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants; only three out of ten children have access to secondary education. This context of the country stimulates evangelizing action, consistently and solidly, in the educational community.
– The lay presence is significant in the two centres. But, for them as for the Brothers, there appears to be an urgent need for a consistent process of lay empowerment at all levels. With committed Marists, says the last Chapter, it is possible to project the future with hope, to grow and to transmit the charism. There are no Honduran Marist Brothers, but it would be possible to make the Marist story last in Honduras, with a group of lay Marists.
– Honduras is part of the Central American region, with Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, where there is a Marist presence from the Province of Central America. Progressively there has been growth in the organization and communication between the two provinces. The challenge remains to continue sharing efforts, exchanging experiences and responding together to the same reality of the region.
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Comayagua, April 2020