Meeting of the Fraternities of the Mediterranean Province

On 6 and 7 December, the Fraternities of the Mediterranean Province of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family, held our First provincial Meeting since the Restructuration. Around 150 people (120 adults with 30 children and young people) met at the Marist School in the city of Granada.

These were two days dedicated to sharing the life which animates the 26 fraternities that exist in the extensive Mediterranean Province. We were also able to listen to each other, to share our experiences, our dreams and to choose those people, who have encouraged us, to continue in their work as well as projecting our future with imagination and hope. Brother Pau Fornells – Director of the Bureau of the Laity of the Institute ? opened up for us a reality which is already growing in the Marist world and he encouraged us, by thinking of the future which is already present, to recreate the Marist charism where we are. The fraternity of Badajoz encouraged us with their beautiful experience which has grown within a few years into four fraternities in Badajoz, some of which come from the pastoral groups working in the Province. Also Chema Pérez Soba, with his rich experience of fraternal life in the Iberian Province, helped us to glimpse a promising future for MCHFM: a need for the brothers to live and grow. Some people belonging to the Escolapia Fraternity of Granada demonstrated for us the process experienced by them over 40 years which has culminated in a flourishing life that is changing the face of its Province in a positive way.

Undoubtedly, we have all emerged very strong and happy from the two days we spent in Granada, with the desire to continue our process of growth in faith and in our Christian and Marist commitment together, filled with great hope: How beautiful they are on the mountains, the feet of the messengers who announce the peace that the Good News brings.