Open to the Light
Under the motto "Invited to be Community Builders" the "Dawn" program invited 15 senior Brothers (70 – 80 years of age) to participate in a spirituality course that is taking place at the General House from September 1 to October 31.
The participants come from the following provinces: Compostela (2), Hermitage (1), Mediterránea (2), Ibérica (3), América Central (1), Norandina (3), Santa María de los Andes (1), Canada (1) and Brasil Centro Sur (1).
During the course, the Brothers, along with the presenters, are exploring the following topics:
”On Pilgrimage with Brother François" and "Walking with our Martyrs", with Br. Antonio Martínez Estaún; "Anthropology of the Older Brother", with Br. Juan Jesús Moral Barrio; "Honoring Spirituality (the human, affective…)", with Br. Carlos Alberto Huidobro; “Personal and Community Prayer”, with Br. Xavier Barceló Maset; "Laity and Brothers around the Charism", with Dr. José María Pérez-Soba Díez del Corral; "Following Jesus and Water from the Rock", with Br. Ernesto Tendero; "Integral Health in the Mature Years in Religious Life", with Dr. Evelio Blain Yáñez; "Identity and Mission of the Brother" and "Mary today", with Br. José María Ferre; "The Elderly in the Bible", with Br. José María Soteras, General Councilor. The Chaplain is Fr. Pedro García González.
The "AMANECER" Program invites the participating Brothers:
– to open themselves to the light, to a new dawn, to new opportunities, to new frontiers.
– to be at home in peace and joy with their personal history and to see God’s presence in their life experiences.
– to be able to respond to what the Spirit is asking of them in the here and now.
– to feel that they continue to play an important role in the life and mission of the Institute,
– to make these two months a rich experience of sharing with their brothers.
– to return to their communities ready to be a leaven of fraternity, hope and service.
During the first week the Brothers had the opportunity to meet and share community life. They also visited places such as the Etruscan Necropolis, Cerveteri, Bracciano, Anguilara, Subiaco; and Assisi on September 18. On September 25 they had an audience with the Pope.
On September 30, the brothers will meet with the Superior General, Br. Ernesto Sánchez Barba. From October 1-11 they will go on pilgrimage to the Marist places in France. On their return, the Brothers will visit the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, the Ardeatine Caves, Frascati, and Gastelgandolfo.
After sharing several weeks of formation and solidarity, the older Brothers will return to their respective communities on October 31.