Province of México Occidental

The Instituto México of Palmas, Tijuana, was the seat for the regional meeting in preparation for the II International Marist Mission Assembly. About 40 persons of the region, teachers, directors, Marist family and Brothers were present.

Br Eduardo Navarro, provincial, honoured us with his presence, and addressed us some words about the context of the Assembly and its repercussions at the international Marist level. The opening prayer invited us to recover the “little Marist virtues” and to highlight these virtues in introducing ourselves to one another. Then each delegation presented its progress on the study and reflection of the topics proposed by the international commission which is preparing us for the Assembly. This was followed by a long time of discussion on the question: How do you imagine the relationship between brothers and laity in a year’s time? which each time had prepared beforehand. Some of the significant ideas of this sharing:

“We imagine we will be living in greater collaboration, understanding, much dialogue and shared animation. We wish to transmit together the joy of living with Jesus and being Marists, and share this experience with the children and young people. This is the joyful message of the Marist spirituality which the Brothers are waging on for the Marist formation of the laity. To be Marist, brother or lay person, transcends the walls of the college, is a way of interpreting and living life. We wish to live enarmoured of the project of the reign of Jesus and make it a reality on the basis of the Marist values. We wish to live transmitting spiritual joy and depth to all, especially to children and youth. We want to move, leave our comfort zones, to go to encounter the most needy”.

After this rich sharing, seven experts in youth, seven young people studying for the bachelor’s degree, came and shared with us some of the things that concern them at this stage, their fears and joys, and also presented to us a “description” of how the young are… Finally, they spoke to us about what they were grateful to Marist education for, emphasizing the human formation and formation in values, being taken into account and feeling themselves important, as well as being always encouraged to give the best of themselves. They were grateful for the passion of the teachers and the welcoming atmosphere, and felt that the teachers transmitted their knowledge with joy and passion, and that the college was worth the trouble.  On the other hand, the young people also indicated to us some elements that did not help them in the college, such as the formalities placed between the students, the fear of what others will say and much criticism and scoffing among the students. Then they spoke about the places the young frequent and, finally, about how they feel listened to and attended to by the Marist work.

We spent time working in teams on some articles of the document ‘Evangelizers in the midst of youth’, reaching a commitment for each team “to be more active among the young people, making ourselves present, seeking new ways of getting them to approach us with greater confidence, listening to them and supporting them.”

We finished with a simple prayer, re-constructing the logo of the International Assembly with some ideas that remain in our hearts.