September 12, Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
What isnew in today’s world? How will it be in a few years? How is the world transforming? What is happening socially? These questions summarize the focus of today’s reflection and sharing among Chapter participants. Another important item of today’s agenda was te election of the Facilitation Commission, that will now guide the development of the Chapter.
The feast of the Holy Name of Mary was celebrated in both the morning prayer and the Eucharist that ended today’s work. This feast is the patronal feast of the whole Marist Family, in particular the Society of Mary.
Immersion in today's world
This morning’s first session, and the two afternoon sessions, were devoted to participants building up a picture of today’s world. Drawing on the sharing of the immersion experiences and the "Gathering the Fruits" exercise that was part of the last stage of the Pre-Chapter Process carried out in the Administrative Units, the facilitator Matthieu Daum, invited capitulants to define what is new in the world today and how they imagine the world to be in 2, 3 or 5 years’ time.
This exercise invited participants, as a contemplative exercise, to identify the new realities of today’s world and how they felt about them, without trying to find solutions or reasons why these realities exist. Each group represented their findings in words and symbols on large pieces of paper, which were then placed on the walls of the Chapter Hall.
Facilitation Commission
Prior to lunch, the election took place of 8 members of the new Facilitation Commission.
Those Brothers duly elected were (in alphabetical order):
Ben Consigli (USA), Darren Joseph Burge (Australia), Ernesto Sánchez (Mexico), , João Carlos do Prado (Brazil), Juan Carlos Fuertes (Spain), Lindley Halago Sionosa (Philippines), Michel Maminiaina Razafimandimby (Madagascar) and Óscar Martín Vicario (Spain).
Brothers Today
At the conclusion of today’s last working session, those attending the Chapter were presented with a copy of the newly published photo book, "Marist Lives – Through the Lens"; the work of Australian photographer Conor Ashleigh. The photobook is a gift from Brother Emili Turú and his Council to all the Brothers to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Institute. Those responsible for initiating, producing and printing this excellent book were the Brothers Today Secretariat, in collaboration with Marist Publishers Edelvives, FTD and Gram. In the words of Brother Emili, "The photos in the book define the vocation of the Marist Brothers much better than any word."
Br. Tony Leon, Director of the Brothers Today Secretariat, in launching the book, gave details of its creation and explained how it was organized. He said, "The images reveal many hugs, many expressions of joy, the easy relationship between Brothers and lay people, the sense of tenderness in the way Brothers regard students, and the sense of mischief in some of the older Brothers". Tony noted that the book is not one to be read but to be contemplated. The books will soon be distributed to all Provinces and Districts.