Secretariats and the General Council
It is clear for all that FMSI is an expression of the Marist Institute and an instrument at the service of its mission in today’s world. Its specific contribution is in the co-ordination of projects for Provinces having great financial difficulties and, through the Geneva office, in education in and implementation of the defence and promotion of the rights of children and adolescents. In recent days the link between FMSI and the General Administration of the Institute has been particularly visible through two significant experiences: a meeting (14-16 June) of those in charge of the Secretariats: Mission, Brothers today, AMAG (Asia Mission Ad Gentes), CMI (Collaboration for Mission International), Marist Laity and FMSI, and in a work in common with the General Council (19-20 June).
During the first meeting, held at Tor San Lorenzo, on the outskirts of Rome, we shared the experiences of our specific works in support of the General Council. We were able to become aware of how our offices are linked with one another : “Brothers today”, that is, our actual identity as Marists, cannot go without the understanding of the “Mission” to which we are called : schools, non formal education, bold frontier experiences (AMAG and CMI), sharing of the charism with lay people, solidarity and promotion of rights (FMSI).
By way of example, the annual report of FMSI was very much appreciated, but it was remarked that Marist solidarity is very much wider. Sooner or later, it will be necessary to make a report to the whole Institute on the importance of social promotion, solidarity, economic commitment to sustain development projects and “frontier experiences” which we set in motion each year in the 80 countries of the Marist world. In a formation course for Brothers or Laity, when one talks about Marist identity and mission, there must be a place for topics such as the rights of children, proposals for volunteer service, and the bolder frontier experiences … And how not to involve our pupils and teachers, wherever they are, in these subjects which touch on the essence of the human being and the meaning the Marist mission?
From these meetings has emerged the need for a greater mutual co-ordination, and perhaps also a common data bank, so as to dispose of a continually growing wealth of information updated and co-ordinated for the service of the Institute.