Program Spirituality of the Heart in Nairobi
With the aim of supporting and facilitating the formation of new leaders to spread and work on the theme of Marist spirituality in the provinces and districts, the second edition in the Institute of the ongoing formation program Spirituality of the Heart began on June 26 in Nairobi, Kenya. This English-language meeting is being held at the Passionist Fathers’ Retreat House, with the participation of 28 brothers from 25 nationalities (Africa and Asia) and 11 Administrative Units. The meeting will end on July 20th. The first session took place in FlorianĂłpolis, Brazil, last February, for Portuguese and Spanish-speaking brothers and laypeople.
The participants are accompanied by the Institute’s ongoing formation team, made up of Brothers Michael Sexton, Javier BarcelĂł and AtaĂde de Lima.
The message of the 22nd General Chapter suggested, as a path of spiritual growth, the cultivation of a spirituality that fills our hearts with joy and makes us inclusive, and called us to be the face and hands of God’s tender mercy.
To this end, the meeting has three specific objectives:
- to encourage the cultivation and promotion of a spirituality that gives meaning to and integrates our life and mission, according to the intuition of the 22nd General Chapter;
- to deepen the understanding and appreciation of Marist spirituality
- to offer spaces and experiences to develop the practice of a spirituality that connects life, contemplation and action.
The four-week meeting will include spaces for prayer, retreat, celebrations, sharing and personal times of meditation. To facilitate reflection and deepening of the theme, the following workshops are scheduled: Spirituality of the Heart (Br. Ă“scar Martin), Foundations of Marist Spirituality (Br. Michael Green), Walking with Mary (Korir, MCCJ), Visio Divina (Br. Michael Sexton), Spiritual Dialogue (Marcel Uwimeza, SJ) and Healthy Living: Spirit, Body, Action (Theopista Nakamya Mbabazi).
According to the Rule of Life of the Marist Brothers, Father Champagnat realized very early on that the waters of the River Gier would be essential for the survival of his community at the Hermitage. For this reason, he spared no effort to carve the rock and, on the banks of the river, to build not only a house to shelter his followers, but above all, a community, a family, whose spirituality is based on the person of Jesus Christ, on the maternal attitudes of Mary and on life in fraternity:
“Never forget the rock from which you were hewn, the quarry from which you were cut. By embracing your Marist spirituality, you allow the living waters of God’s grace to flow into your life, quenching your thirst, nourishing your spirit, slowly transforming you into a living portrait of the Founder” (Rule of Life 25).
Participants
- Alex Damalekani – Malawi
- Alexandre Ramarosandratana – Madagascar
- Anthony Doe Siryeh – Liberia
- Augustin Kayishema – Rwanda
- Bernard Chirombe – Zimbabwe
- Cho Minkyui (Moises) – South Korea
- Cho Nchang Atzi-nwi – Cameroon
- Edwin Abutu – Nigeria
- Ernest Randriatsoalaivoavy – Madagascar
- Floriano Silepo – Angola
- Francis Aboko Ojonugwa – Nigeria
- François Mantobaye Kimingar – Tchad
- Geraldo Medida – Mozambique
- John Onyona Omboga – Kenya
- Linus Ngam – Cameroon
- Martin Nguma Mbeng – Cameroon
- Matthew-Mary Ogudu – nigeria
- Maurice Juvence Heriniaina – Madagascar
- Nguyen Van Phuc (Joseph) – Vietnam
- Okon Sylvanus Victor – Nigeria
- Patrick Nangale – Tanzania
- Pierre (Pierrot) Ramasivanona – Madagascar
- Rajakumar Soosai Manickam – India
- Roger Passi – Central African Republic
- Salvador Salinas Castellanos – El Salvador
- Stephen (Steve) Phiri – Zambia
- Thomas Randrianantenaina – Madagascar
- Valentin Djawu Lungumbu – Democratic Republic of Congo