Meeting of Provincials – Monday, March 4
Under the banner “The strength of the rock: from the new La Valla to the new Hermitage”, the fifth meeting with the superiors of the Administrative Units, organised by the General Council since its election in 2017, began at Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage.
The first day’s reflection focused on the Institute’s journey from the celebration of the Bicentenary in 2017, “A New La Valla”, to the present day, on the eve of the celebration of the Bicentenary of the Institute’s Mother House, inaugurated in 1825. This retrospective is intended to encourage the leaders of the Institute to imagine the future of Marist life, listening to the Spirit, striving to discover what God wants us to be and do as followers of Saint Marcellin Champagnat.
Br. Ernesto Sanchez, Superior General, welcomed the participants. Besides the 22 Provincials (+ 2 newly appointed Provincials), the 3 District Superiors and the 6 General Councillors, together with the Superior and Vicar General, as well as the General Bursar and the Secretary General, the Secretariats and some departments of the General Administration were also invited. Unfortunately, Brother Venceslao Baindekeli Beimoyato, Provincial of West Africa, was unable to attend due to visa problems. Br. Ernesto thanked the international community of the Hermitage for their welcome and presented the programme for the week. At the same time, he outlined the objectives of the meeting, which are:
- To reflect on the journey from Lavalla 200 (2017 – XXII General Chapter) to L’Hermitage 200 (2025 – XXIII General Chapter) / To celebrate the bicentenary of the first stone of N.D. de l’Hermitage (2024).
- “The strength of the rock”: to deepen the theme of spirituality and care for Marist life.
- “The new Hermitage 200”: generate a vision for the future of the Institute:
- Sharing on the journey on the theme of Reconfiguration / moving forward on the theme of sustainability, funds, support.
- Projects underway: MIMA III, International Forum of the Laity, Formation Guide, diffusion of the new version of the In the Footsteps document.
- Solidarity Mission
- Future of the Institute / Ideas for the next General Chapter.
- Leadership: care of the leaders and teamwork with the new Councils (16 Provincial Chapters during the year 2024).
Then the Vicar General, Br Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, presented the practical questions of the week to the group. Br. Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa, General Councillor, led the opening prayer. Before the first break, the 8 tables, 8 fraternities, had a moment of dialogue to get to know each other better.
The second session was devoted to reviewing the stages of the Institute’s journey in recent years, especially since the XXII General Chapter, including the preparation of the Strategic Plan of the General Administration and the General Conference of 2022. Br Gregorio Linacero, Assistant to the General Bursar and project manager for the Strategic Plan, presented the progress of the 2017-2025 strategic plan.
Then, led by Br. Josep Maria Soteras, the groups were invited to reflect on the road travelled in their own Administrative Unit since the last General Chapter, selecting the three initiatives that have contributed most to a significant and enriching change in the Marist life and/or mission of both Brothers and/or lay people and why. At the same time, we were asked to think about the two or three initiatives that could have been very energising and profoundly transforming, but for whatever reason, have not been carried out. What prevented them from being put into practice? Once the responses to the two questions had been shared, the group selected THE INITIATIVE that it considered to have the most potential to energise and transform Marist life and/or mission in depth and THE INITIATIVE that could have been the most energising and transforming for Marist life and/or mission, but which was not carried out. The result was presented in a plenary session and kept as the fruit of the morning’s work.
Visit to La Valla
Photos of the visit to La Valla
In the afternoon, we visited the House of La Valla. A small group went on foot on the way there, while several participants did the same on the way back. In addition to the traditional visit to the spaces that welcomed the first Marist Brothers, the group had a very rich time of contemplative meditation, alternating between the spaces of quiet reflection (basement), fraternity (ground floor) and mission (first floor). This time culminated in the celebration of the Word and communion. At the end, the community of Brothers from the Province of the Hermitage welcomed the participants with coffee.
On their return to the Hermitage in the afternoon, the participants had the opportunity to have a guided tour of the house, accompanied by members of the international community.
The interior life and the fraternity experienced by the first brothers at La Valla was complemented by their audacity
We were invited to the mother house, Notre-Dame de l’Hermitage; we felt welcomed and at home among our brothers. The mystique of this place captivated us and we are inspired by the presence of Mary and the audacity of Father Champagnat in building this house with the first Brothers.
Today was the first day of work as an assembly. We have become aware of the progress made since the last General Chapter and we have identified some intuitions that have become a reality and are generating life among the brothers and laypeople of our provinces; but we also know that there are some ideas and intuitions that have not proved energising and we must pay them further attention.
I am one of the newly elected Provincials present. I feel privileged to be able to work alongside the General Council and the Brother Provincials with many years of experience; it is a great learning opportunity, which will help us to lead our provinces at this moment in history.
Today, moreover, we have walked the road from La Valla to the Hermitage, in a contemplative attitude. The interior life and fraternity lived by the brothers at La Valla was complemented by their audacity and openness to new horizons resulting from the construction of the Hermitage. It is a clear invitation to recreate this Marist experience in our world and in our provinces. Each of us is being asked: What are we called to BE as Marists today?
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Br. Juan Carlos Bolaños Viscarra – Provincial-elect of Central America