Meeting of the Management Council of the Marist Volunteering Network
“The Marist Institute recognizes that the mission of the volunteer is a form of participation in Marist life and mission… The perspective of Marist Volunteering is to offer an availability for free and generous service, following the example of Jesus of Nazareth: ‘I am in your midst as one who serves’ (Lk 22:27)” (Guide for Marist Volunteers).
The Meeting of the Management Council of the Marist Volunteering Network took place from November 25 to 29 at the General House in Rome. We were present: Belén Salas (Europe region), Regina Biasibetti (America South region), Eduardo Obando (Arco Norte region), Br. Edgar Ceriales (Asia region), Br. Chris Wills (Oceania-Star of the Sea) and Brothers. Ángel Diego García and Diego Zawadzky, directors of the Secretariat of Solidarity-Cmi. Br. Emmanuel Tyokor (Africa region) was unable to join us in person.
On this occasion we had the following objectives: to meet to foster the progress of the Network; to report on the progress and challenges of the regions and the AUs in the promotion and management of volunteering; to follow up on the priorities established at the Assembly of Provincial Volunteer Coordinators (CPVs) held in L’Hermitage in 2023 and specify the next steps to be taken as a Network.
Brothers Ernesto Sanchez, Superior General, and Ken McDonald, General Councillor, sent us their greetings on video, highlighting the importance of volunteering for Marist life and mission. Inspired by their messages, we discussed the challenges that currently arise for its management.
Each delegate reported on the reality of his/her region (including Br. Emmanuel who did it virtually) highlighting the number of volunteers sent and received; the successes and difficulties; and the list of Communities or projects available to host volunteers.
A very significant moment was the creation of the volunteering map connecting the places of sending and welcoming volunteers (see photo) in the last three years. The great generosity of the volunteers offering their time and resources to serve in the most varied settings of the Marist mission is evident, as well as the effort of many people (starting with the CPVs and the leaders of the communities) to make these experiences possible.
We then examine each of the 5 priorities, indicating progress and difficulties. It is worth highlighting:
- The fundamental role of CPVs in promoting volunteering and attracting new host communities.
- The need to hold regular regional meetings of CPVs to support each other, systematize networking and establish bridges with other areas of Marist life and mission.
- The preparation, publication and sending of the Guide for CPVs for the Accompaniment of Host Communities during the volunteer cycle.
- The steps taken for the creation of the virtual training course for Volunteers and Host Communities.
- The creativity needed to look for various sources of funding for volunteering.
Priscila Staniski and Juliano Burkert also participated virtually, presenting the advances of the Nexus system. We expressed our concerns and the technical requirements that we would like to have on the platform for more efficient management.
We concluded by proposing the strategy for the animation of the Network in the coming months through the holding of face-to-face meetings of CPVs in each region. We will explore the best options for venues and dates for these meetings during the first half of 2025. We will wait to have the orientations of the XXIII Provincial Chapter and the new General Council for the future animation of the Network, in a new stage, in close connection with the area of Marist Solidarity.
We thank the Brothers and all the staff of the General House for their warm welcome and their concern for our well-being. We are convinced that the experience of Marist fraternity offered by a community is highly evangelizing, and it is precisely this experience that we wish to offer to all those who dare to live Volunteering.
“A lot of small people, in small places, doing small things, can change the world” (Eduardo Galeano)
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Brother Diego Zawadzky – Secretariat of Solidarity-Cmi