Preservation of the historical, spiritual and cultural values of the Institute
From 5th to 9th of November, in the Centre of Marist Spirituality – CEM, in Santiago (Chile), the 4th Meeting of the Network of Marist Memorial Centres in theRegion of América del Sur took place, involving 23 participants from Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru and Bolivia.
Organized by UMBRASIL and the Province of Santa María de los Andes, who hosted the event, the meeting had as its main object to prepare a period of formation for the coordinators, technicians and collaborators who work in the Marist Centres, both conceptually and from a technical perspective.
Employing the form of a spoken presentation, Brother Alberto Aparicio, (Executive Secretary of the Region America del Sur) – via Skype -, Brother Patricio Pine, (Provincial of Santa María de los Andes) and Marcos Rogério de Souza (Manager of the Pergamum System), initiated the event by addressing the consolidation of the Network of Marist memorial centres in the Region of America del Sur followed by itsgrowth in the global context of the Institute.
The meeting was an opportunity to recognise the road already travelled in each Province concerning the administration of documents and materials which we already have: Files, Libraries, Museums.
The use of training workshops dealing with the Pergamum System gave excellent opportunities to discover Marist terms, good opportunities to get to know and to share experiences and initiatives concerning the preservation of files of the Marist Provinces in the America del Sur Region. Equally they helped in the formation and knowledge of techniques used by each of the participants.
We were all able to take part in technical, guided visits, to the National Archive of Chile and the Marist Patrimonial Historical Archive of Chile, where a discussion was held on the Marist Cultural Charismatic Patrimony – pedagogic Proposal CEPAM SMA – Virtual CEPAM, to be supervised by Brother Patricio Pine and Francisco Flores.
Taking part in his second meeting, Gustavo Balbinot describes the experience with great enthusiasm:"For me, to take part in the 4th Meeting of Centres is the importance of preserving a history that is sacred, vibrant and alive. Yes, because the present in which we are living becomes a memory when it is lived with love and enthusiasm. I am happy with all that has taken place and I am filled with enthusiasm that we are crossing the frontiers of the Region of America del Sur, so that this project, according to the wishes of the Institute, ends up being 'global.”
Although the meeting has ended, the shared work continues. It is an honour to be able to qualify and widen the preservation of the goods which are of historical, spiritual and cultural value to the Institute, offering them to the Marist Family, to the Church and to Society.