Provincial Assembly of Mediterránea
The Assembly of the Province of Mediterránea was held at the diocesan house in Malaga, Spain, from March 26 to 28, on the theme “Rivers of Good News”. The 100 or so participants were accompanied by the provincial, Brother Aureliano García Manzanal, and the vice-provincial, Brother Damiano Forlani. Representing the Generalate was Brother Niño Pizarro, from the Secretariat for Education and Evangelization.
During the Assembly, the participants discussed the future of the Province for the next three years and specified the strategic lines that will be drawn up in July, during the Provincial Chapter, with a view to implementing the new Strategic Plan, which will begin in the academic year 2025-2026.
“Rivers of Good News”
The first day began with an artistic presentation by four young people from the Marist Youth Ministry of Malaga. One of the main objectives of the assembly was for the participants to experience the process in a personal way, with an attitude of prayer, through spaces of silence and contemplation.
On the second day, one of the most important moments of the assembly took place: the visit to different realities to listen to what is being asked of the Marists of the Province of Mediterránea today. In small groups, they visited the offices of the Marcellin Champagnat Foundation, the functional diversity project of the same foundation (for the formation of young people with mental disabilities), the MIES projects, the Maria de la O school in Asperones, the ASIMA association, the town hall of Malaga, a Protestant church and, at the Marist school in Malaga, they got to know the reality of the young people, their families and the teaching staff. The participants came back with a broader perspective, full of new realities and horizons. In the afternoon, there were meetings on silence and synodal dialog. And in 12 small groups, a strategic line was agreed for each area established (inclusion, growth, networking, identity and a cross-cutting area: sustainability).
On the last day, the priorities of the proposed lines were established. The provincial, Brother Aureliano, and the vice-provincial, Brother Damiano, concluded the meeting by thanking the organizers for having offered three days of experiences: an experience of conversation with the Spirit, an experience of contact with reality and an experience of contemplation. To the Provincial’s wish that “the assembly be an impulse to get on the boat and discover new ports” was added that of the Vice-Provincial: that we do so with a smile on our faces. “May we Marists be recognized because we are happy”.
Next steps
There is still a long way to go. After the meeting and after gathering all the feedback and priorities from the participants, the new Strategic Plan team will have to draft and organize the proposals to give the new plan its final shape. It will then be sent to the Provincial Council for analysis and approval at its meeting in June. Subsequently, it is planned to present it to the entire Marist Province and put it into practice from the academic year 2025-2026.
