« Now ? it?s your turn ! »
For several years, the Marist institutions in Greece have devoted a day to knowing better the personality of Saint Marcellin and the mission of the Marist Brothers in today's world. This year the day was held on Wednesday, October 16. Various activities took place at the two Leonin College campuses – Athens and Nea Smyrni, and at the "Heart Without Borders" social center.
The objective of the day was to encourage students to learn more about the vision and work of Father Champagnat and the Marist Brothers, by means of activities adapted to children of all levels. The timing of the festival was inspired by the meeting of Saint Marcellin with Jean-Baptiste Montagne in October 1816.
In this context, the message of the Champagnat day was “Now … it's your turn!”, taking up the pastoral theme "Now" that Marist institutions throughout Europe are developing with their students in this year 2019 – 2020. After a visual presentation on the theme, students participated in discussions, exchanged ideas and reflected on the methods that Marcellin had used to stand beside the children and young people of his time and to offer them a Christian education.
During the day, students participated in several activities and deepened Marist values. Students from both the primary schools planted trees and flowers to help protect the planet, provided food to people in need, and presented their proposals to solve the problems of their daily lives. High school students were also called upon to act NOW, to overcome obstacles and to table their proposals on the subject of building a better world.
At the end of the day, the children confirmed their commitment in a most symbolic way : in the playground of each school, students of the "Saint Denis" primary school formed the word "NOW" (Τώρα) while those of the primary school and college of the Athens establishment formed a big Marist heart.