Permanent Formation for middle-aged Brothers
The “Senderos” programme was launched on March 1 for a group of English speaking, middle-aged Brothers. Senderos, which is held in Manziana, Italy, will finish on May 26.
Fourteen Brothers are taking part in the programme, with two other Brothers as guides.
Eleven of them come from Africa, from the Southern Africa province, from the Nigeria province and from the West Africa district. The other three participants come from Asia, from the East Asia province and from the Marist District of Asia.
Father Joseph Milla, of Nigeria, is accompanying the group as their chaplain.
The course’s topics are around the current Marist world and will include different speakers of the general administration: superior general Brother Emili Turú, vicar general Brother Joe McKee, director of the Brothers Today secretariat Brother Tony Leon, general councillor Brother Michael de Waas and director of ‘Commission for Mission, International’ Brother Chris Wills.
Brother Seán Sammon will present the topic of community life; Brother Albert Nzabonaliba will cover the topic of discernment; a Marist sister will reflect on Mary and Marian spirituality; and the superior general of the Marist Missionary Sisters and liturgist, Sister Georgeanne Donovan, will accompany the group throughout the whole Paschal Triduum.
Other topics will respond to concrete problems related to this age period, such as “the health of middle-aged people.”
The course will finish with some important educational complements: an experience of solidarity, especially with refugees; a three-day pilgrimage to the Franciscan city of Assisi; and a pilgrimage to Marist places during the first 12 days of May.
In addition, attending a Papal general audience on a Wednesday and visiting the archives of the General House has become tradition.
Another novelty of this course will be the presence of a group of 11 Marist Missionary Sisters who will receive a joint formation on the topics of health and community life for two weeks.
Aside from it being a sabbatical rest from years in Marist works, the goal of the course is also for it to be a time of reflection and an exchanging of life experiences among brothers.
This all aims to help participants effectively and spiritually articulate the future of their Marist lives, providing the best answers to the challenges facing the Marist life in the third centenary of its existence.