New steps in Mission ? education and evangelisation

From 29 April to 2 May, a meeting was held in Guatemala City on new steps in mission regarding education and evangelisation.

 Representatives from each of the two areas (education and evangelization) of the 6 Marist Provinces making up Arco Norte took part:  Br. Duberney Giraldo and Br. Nelson Cardona (Norandina); Ana Laura Calderón and Cecilia Estrada (México Occidental); Ofelia Ramírez and Br. Jorge Arturo Carbajal (México Central); Pedro Marti and Larry Tucker (United States); Pedro Chimeno and Marie-Mychèle Tessier (Canada), Br. Jorge Sánchez and Nicéforo Garrán (Central America); in addition to other participants: Br. Justino Gómez and Mrs. Irma Zamarripa (Regional Committee) and Br. Alberto Rojas (Director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelisation of the General Administration.

The main aims of the meeting were: to share on efforts to date at the level of the Institute and the Region; design a “road map” for the Region regarding Education and Evangelisation; and define the coordinators of each of the two areas of the Region.

At the meeting, they first undertook an overall analysis of work done as a “Global body”, as a framework for assessing directions that they have taken together, in a spirit of openness, ready to share experiences with others, accept new ideas and be surprised at fresh contemporary developments.

By way of outcome of the meeting, the participants developed a common vision for each of the areas and a plan for working together on this, in the short, medium and long term.

In an atmosphere of fraternity and mutual understanding, and making an effort to include the diversity that exists across the Arco Norte Region, they focused on the future that is emerging, trying to respond to the new challenges with daring and to look for alternative strategies of Marist mission in the region, alternative ways of promoting its viability.