Provincial Assembly of Cruz del Sur: listening, experience, hope and Spirit
Almost a hundred Marists of the Province of Cruz del Sur gathered from 4 to 6 November at the Marist Villa of Pilar, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to participate in the Assembly 2024, in view of the VIII Provincial Chapter, that was hold from 6 to 9 November.
Brother RaĂşl Schönfeld, outgoing Provincial, opened the event, accompanied by Brothers Ernesto Sánchez, Superior General, Ă“scar MartĂn, General Councilor, and Horacio Bustos, who took office as Provincial at the end of the Pre-Chapter Assembly.
In his presentation on the first day, Brother RaĂşl mentioned the importance of the round tables, “in which all of us can continue to express ourselves, recognize each other and listen to each other”. For his part, Br. Ernesto encouraged the confluence of perspectives and experiences that encourage the vitality of the province in the face of the challenges of the new times. The Superior General also highlighted the presence of young people at the Assembly, which was an inaugural event. He also valued the efforts of the laity who are joining the global Marist mission. And evoking the words of Pope Francis at the Synod – “let us not forget that the protagonist here is the Holy Spirit” – Brother Ernesto pointed out the importance of remembering that the Spirit is also the great protagonist. Afterwards, the Superior General spoke about L’Hermitage, 200 years after its foundation, and the purpose of Champagnat, that L’Hermitage be a Home for all, a river of Life, as the motto chosen for the next General Chapter to be held in the Philippines, in 2025.
Br. Ă“scar MartĂn, General Councilor, invited all the Marists of Cruz del Sur to deepen their understanding of what it means for each one of them to “build our house on rock”, as Marcellin did with the Hermitage.
At the end of the first day, the participants shared the symbols representative of each group, team or Marist community, such as the flags of the three countries that make up the Province, the image of Marcellin Champagnat, a lighted candle, sign of the light of Jesus, and the images of the Marian invocations of Cruz del Sur.
On the second day of the Assembly, the progress made in the areas of Vocation, Mission and sustainability was reviewed. Likewise, the achievements were evaluated, the pending issues to be solved, the tensions to be overcome and the challenges were identified.
The coordinators of the areas of Vocation, Ricardo Palomar, of Mission, Brother Marcelo de Brito, and of Bursar’s office, Brother Enrique Planas, presented the progress achieved during the last triennium in their respective areas, the issues to be resolved and the challenges in each of their areas. In the afternoon, the assembly members reflected on the question: What are God’s calls for personal life, the life of the brothers, for lay Marists and for the mission? The answers to these calls were taken to the VIII Provincial Chapter.
The last day of the Assembly concluded with the final vote on the proposals elaborated by all the participants and with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Chapel. Br. Ă“scar, General Councilor, highlighted the presence and substantive contribution of the young people, the intense richness of the work done, the spirituality of the meeting and the dedication he observed in all those present. Then he synthesized his impressions in four key words: Happiness, Fraternity, Future and Shared Faith.
At the conclusion of the event, Brother Ernesto congratulated everyone for their participation and dedication, and referring to the words mentioned by Brother Oscar, he added four more words: listening, experience, hope and Spirit. And alluding to the experiences and themes shared during the assembly, the Superior General said that “if you – once the lines of action for the next triennium are drawn up – live what I have perceived here, there will be life and transformation for sure in the Province. For all: Brothers, Laymen and Laywomen. Hope for this Region and this Province”.
