Spiritual Formation Day in Athens
“Educating for love: it takes a whole village to raise a child” was the theme chosen for a day of spiritual formation held at Leonteios college, Athens on Saturday February 1, 2020.
The day was organized jointly by the two Marist schools – Leonteios Athens and Leonteios Nea Smyrni, and three establishments of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition – Joan of Arc franco-hellenic school, St Joseph franco-hellenic school and Saint Joseph primary school, Volos. “This endeavor was part of the shared and constant concern of our establishments to provide for the spiritual training of their staff. Our goal was to deepen the pedagogy of Christian love, based on the example of Jesus Christ as a traveling companion, teacher and father”.
More than 550 participants were able to reflect, deepen and freely exchange opinions, concerns and suggestions on our Christian mission with children and young people. The proposals for discussion and reflection were nourished by the presentations of three eminent speakers:
- His Eminence the Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetria and Almyros developed the theme: “The pedagogy of Christian love”,
- Marist Brother Tony Leon, director of the Brothers Today Secretariat of the Marist Brothers in Rome presented on: “Marist education in a community”,
- Mr. Kenneth Vella, director of the Saint Joseph Paola college for girls in Malta, spoke on “Spirituality and charism in the teachings of Saint Emilie De Vialar”.
After the presentations, participants were divided into small groups where they were able to discuss and express ideas and opinions on the central theme of the Conference. The day ended with a musical program by the school choirs.
By way of an epilogue, three students from the Leonteios College, Athens, closed the day with a short performance in which they expressed the meaning of Christian love, presenting in a theatrical way “The Hymn to Love”, from the first letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.