Province of Cruz del Sur (Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina)

Convoked by the Provincial Council, the community of "Nardo Puro", consisting of lay people and Marist Brothers, came together October 11-13 at Villa Marista in Luján, Argentina, to initiate Companions on the Way (Compañeros de Camino), a Marist Spirituality Project for the Province.

They were inspired to call themselves "Nardo Puro" by the story in John 12: 1-8, in which Mary, taking a pound of expensive pure nard, lovingly anointed the feet of Jesus, who was visiting Lazarus' house with his friends days before the Passion. Mary, despite criticism, used all the nard to anoint Jesus’ feet, and the whole house was filled with the perfume’s fragrance by this gesture of adoration.

During the meeting in Luján, the participants shared their reflections on the gospel story, which led to a time of discernment and prayer to the Holy Spirit. This led to moments of interiority and group discernment of the keys to a new Marist spirituality for the Church.