Marists of the District of Canada held the 2024 Assembly

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A few days before the Institute’s patron saint’s day, the Marist brothers and lay people of Canada held the District Assembly from August 2 to 3. They were present brothers Luis Carlos, Vicar General, João Carlos, General Councilor, Dan O’Riordan, Provincial of the United States, and Brother Hipólito Pérez, Provincial of Central America. The Marists gathered to reflect on the theme “Weaving connections, building community.”

The theme, like the meeting, was important… In the last two years there were several problems that made it difficult to hold this meeting. However, the District Superior, Br. Félix Roldán, with the help of a committed team, invited the Marists to take a “free” sharing time, in the sense that it was not about developing programs, but rather about everyone taking time to meet, to pray, exchange and “build community”: about sixty brothers and lay people responded to the invitation of Brother Félix and his animation team.

The organizing team chose as the theme song “I would like to see you live…” by Robert Lebel. Without this having been highlighted by the organizing team, it can be said that this song gave color to the three moments of reflection of these two days. By reviewing the lyrics of the three verses of the song, we can find the three axes around which the meeting took place:

“May there be love and truth in your language”: what we are must be translated into what we say, “But more than many words, your looks will touch hearts”: a look speaks louder than many words; “If it is true that we recognize the tree when we see the beauty of its fruits”: just because a tree is old does not mean that it can no longer bear good fruit. These three extracts had enough sap to fuel reflections…

After several months without having the opportunity to meet again in a moment of fraternization, all the participants were able to rekindle the flame and share the desire to continue walking together, brothers and laity, in the footsteps of Champagnat. And all this was possible thanks to the initiative of the District Superior and the team that supported him, especially Linda Corbeil and Jonathan Drouin, who animated these two days. On the other hand, brothers from other places also accompanied and supported this process with their presence: Br. João Carlos do Prado, Link Councilor, Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, Vicar General, Dan O’Riordan, Provincial of the United States, to which the District of Canada depends, and Brother Hipólito Perez, Provincial of Central America, among other brothers.

Thank you for your presence and support.

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Br. Gilles Hogue – District of Canada