Meeting of Educational Works of the Province of L’Hermitage and the West Central Europe District
The directors of Marist schools and social works, along with pastoral coordinators and leaders from the Province of L’Hermitage and the West Central Europe District, gathered for the 16th edition of the Educational Works Meeting (ROE 2025) from January 28 to 31 at Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage. Representatives from Catalonia, France, Hungary, Greece, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, and Spain had the opportunity to share insights on ongoing projects and, above all, to look toward the future and strengthen the bonds that unite them.
During the ROE (Rencontre des Ĺ’uvres Éducatives), Elevtheria Rusi, RaĂşl Garcia, and Maria Casanova, representing the coordination team, highlighted the 3rd Marist International Mission Assembly (MIMA), describing it as “a space for collective construction and an opportunity to hear the voice of the entire Marist family and discern concerns and intuitions in preparation for the General Chapter in September (Philippines – 2025), with the aim of shaping the Institute’s future process.” After presenting the MIMA process, which began in September 2023, attendees wrote down their individual reflections on cards. Seven workshops were held, each linked to a MIMA priority for the General Chapter: Education (JosĂ© Molina), Children’s Rights (Ignasi Flores), Spirituality (Miquel Cubeles), Participation (RaĂşl Garcia), Family Relations (Elisabeth Hassler), Care for Our Common Home (Maria Casanova), and Mental Health (Elevtheria Rusi).
Brother André Déculty, president of the Marcelino Champagnat Association, introduced and contextualized a fundamental document for the Marist Institute: In the Footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat: The Marist Educational Mission. “This work highlights the institution’s apostolic and lay spirituality, as well as its social and educational mission, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable,” explained Brother André. Given that the Marist book comprises six chapters, each was adapted into a group workshop format to explore its key aspects. The team leading this initiative included Lisiane Cohendet-Roux, Danai Anagnostopúlu, Pau Tristán, Éric Reynier, Nathalie Faure, and Maria Casanova.
The participants also visited Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage, La Valla—the birthplace of the first Marist Brothers’ community—and Le Rosey, where Marcellin Champagnat was born.
As part of the gathering, Anthony O’Rourke presented the Moyle Park English Language College project, an Irish campus for young people aged 13 to 18, offering both academic courses and extracurricular activities. Following this, Amalia SkĂşra, General Director of Leonteios in Athens, introduced the 10,000 Voices project. In this initiative, countries from the Province of L’Hermitage (Catalonia, Hungary, Greece, and France) asked 10,000 young people aged 14 to 17 to answer two key questions: “How can an ecological attitude within a school reduce inequalities?” and “How can we build a sustainable and inclusive educational community?” These themes are rooted in social inclusion and environmental sustainability, aligned with UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10 and 13. The responses will later be presented at an international youth assembly in Catalonia.
The event also featured presentations by the eight winners of the Montagne Awards for the 2023-2024 academic year, with this year’s edition divided into four categories: pedagogy, hospitality, education, and Laudato Si’. Meanwhile, the coordination teams of the Province of L’Hermitage—Jaume ParĂ©s, Pau Tristany, and Ramon RĂşbies—discussed topics such as training, volunteering, and pastoral work, respectively. The gathering concluded with a closing message from Brother Gabriel Villa-Real, Provincial of L’Hermitage, who reminded all attendees that “we ourselves are the mission”.