Province of « Brasil Centro-Sul »
The Marist Province of « Brasil Centro-Sul » has begun circulating the document « Gathered around the same table ». It wanted to do so by means of a sign which speaks in itself of the importance of the event: it started with the superiors of the communities. Thus on Sunday 21 March, 22 Brothers « animators of their brothers » gathered in Curitiba (Paraná) to study the document on « the vocation of Champagnat?s Marist laity ». The lay Marist Sérgio Luís Schons, one of the members of the International Commission which drew up the document, was the animator of a part of the meeting.
Below you will find some of the comments expressed by the Brothers:
« I am happy to have in front of me a document easy to understand and having a literary logic. Unlike other documents of the Institute (which are all good even if their wording is not so fluent), AROUND THE SAME TABLE will be able to be studied as a whole with the laity (and by the laity). »
« The document is excellent for the Brothers. It opens up paths. It helps with discernment in the company and the accompaniment of the laity. It is there to challenge us to open ourselves up to the revelation of the new times. It seems to me that we have to take two steps: open up our communities more for lay people to come to us, and go out to meet lay people where they are. »
« I felt it like a natural movement in reading the first four chapters. It seemed to me that this rhythm broke down on arriving at Chapter 5. But, whatever the case, the document appears very good to me. »
« I liked the content of the document very much? It is a sign of the presence of God in the Institute! As with everything prophetic, we know that what has been said will not be achieved in the short term, but I sensed the Holy Spirit in these lines. »
It is a great novelty for us, the Brothers. To hear the expression of lay Marists ?called?, that would shake up more than one of us, at this time when there is so much debate among us about the identity of the Marist Brother. Behind this feeling, I sense that we still have in mind the old hierarchical model of the Church. We, our parents, our grand-parents, were all born within this framework. To think that laity can ask themselves questions about their vocation ? just like us Brothers ? is to admit that the old scheme of Church no longer serves ; it is necessary to turn our gaze towards the early Church, where all vocations were of equal importance. Everything is very new and it will take some time to mature. »
Gathered around the same table: The Vocation of Champagnats Marist Laity