Province of « Brasil Centro-Sul »
Br Javier Espinosa, Director of the Secretariat of the Laity, was with us from 1 to 4 May. The order of the day was the study of one of the future horizons proposed by the 21st General Chapter of the Institute : « A new relationship between brothers and laity, based on communion, seeking together a greater vitality of the Marist charism for our world. »
On 1st of May, Workers’ Day, Br Javier took the opportunity to visit the new community « Br Henri Vergés » – open to lay and young people -, in Fazenda Rio Grande, city in the environs of Curitiba. During lunch he was able to live an experience of fraternity and communion with the brothers and laity present.
The following day was a full one. In the morning, Br Javier met with the members of the Sector of consecrated Life and Laity, for the presentation and discussion of the document Itineraries of study of the Marist charism for the laity, which is in course of preparation. This document is for the guidance of programmes and projects of formation of the laity and the processes of shared life. In the afternoon, he met the directors of the Marist Institution to present the perspectives of the Institute on specific vocations and the new relationship between brothers and laity.
On Friday 3 May there was new meeting with the members of the Province’s Laity Team. Br Javier presented some experiences of shared life and joint formation in the Institute, which was followed by rich debate and considerations from the team. In the afternoon, the Provincial Team of the Champagnat Movement of the Marist Family met Br Javier and heard about the world situation of the ChMMF and the current state of the review of the Life Project.
About 70 members of the ChMMF, laity and brothers, met Br Javier on 4 May at the office of the CMMC. He spoke about international experiences of fraternity, shared life, joint formation and the spirit of communion. The participants responded with interesting interventions of support, and in that spirit of communion which should characterize the relationship between brothers and laity.
The presence of Br Javier, with his sympathy, his capacity for work and readiness for dialogue, has inspired the Province to continue developing processes which foster the itineraries of lay vocation and shared life. It was evident that what unites us is a fraternal and continuing partnership, on equal conditions and based on the originality of each one’s state of life, with the same objective of giving growth to the Kingdom of God and His project in history : « I am extremely satisfied with the experiences of these days, » stated Br Javier. « It seems to me that there is a future in the approach of the Province. Thank you. »
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Br Bene Oliveira – Consecrated Life and Laity