Ruah – Breaths of the Spirit for lay Marists
3rd stage of the International Forum on the Lay Marist Vocation
Message of the assembly for all Marists around the world
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We are happy to offer you a simple message that emerged from the shared life and work of the participants in the 3rd stage of the International Forum on the Lay Marist Vocation, which took place in Rome from 4 to 11 November 2022. It was a real experience of the Spirit (the Ruah), which allowed us to continue to explore possibilities for strengthening intuitions and pathways related to the lay Marist vocation.
After the first year of this process which began on 19 March 2021 in the different Provinces and Districts, the delegates of each Administrative Unit of the Institute continued the reflection which had started in their places of origin, but now, in this phase constituting themselves as an expression of our global charismatic family.
This message does not contain definitive conclusions. They are rather “promptings of the Spirit” around the four objectives set for the whole Forum process. We have two years of discernment ahead of us to arrive at concrete proposals for the virtual Forum in November 2024. So, the purpose of this message is to provide a snapshot of our reflections during the face-to-face Forum, to help us stay connected to the themes of the Forum, to offer you ideas and guidelines to support our reflection and discussion at Administrative Unit and Regional levels, and to contribute to the building of a consensus on the four promptings.
The participants of the face-to-face Forum in Rome will continue to contribute to the reflection and preparation of concrete proposals to be presented at the international virtual Forum in November 2024. Your support, reflection and input can be offered directly to the representatives of your Administrative Unit.
We are grateful for all the support received, the expressions of gratitude and the prayers from everywhere there is a Marist presence. We will continue to be attentive to the “promptings of the RUAH” that urges us to “welcome, care for, live and share our vocation”.
In this time of Advent, which opens us to hope and to welcoming “the Light that shines in the darkness”, we walk hand in hand with Mary, a woman who was totally open and available to the action of the Spirit. May she continue to inspire and encourage us in our quest.
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Agnes Reyes, Manu Gómez and Raúl Amaya – Directors of the Secretariat of the Laity
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