Strengthening formation and planning of the IV Regional Assembly
From 23 to 26 September, the Regional Council, made up of the Provincials of the five member provinces (Cruz del Sur, Santa María de los Andes, Brasil Centro – Norte, Brasil Sur – Amazonia and Brasil Centro – Sur) and the Regional Committee of South America, met in Paraguay to discuss and to debate the progress of the different initiatives being carried out by the region . Also present at the meeting were Brothers Óscar Martín Vicario and Sylvain Ramandimbiarisoa, General Councillors, who shared their thoughts concerning the direction the Institute is taking.
On this occasion the themes for the next Regional Assembly – which will take place in 2020, in Cochabamba, Bolivia – were raised, in which the Brothers Provincial and their Councillors, Coordinators of the teams of the regional initiatives, the Vicar General, Brother Luis Carlos Gutiérrez Blanco and the two General Councillors who participated on this occasion will also take part.
During the meeting of the Regional Council and the Committee regarding the organisation of the assembly, issues of concern arose, such as the need to strengthen formation to deal with institutional crisis situations. They also reflected on the importance of participating in the theme of Solidarity and the different current migratory patterns.
Regional projects and fraternity:
Other topics discussed were: the possible implementation of a regional identity, the project of Selection of Experts, the possible composition of a team for initial and ongoing formation and the constant review of the progress being made by the Network of Schools.
The atmosphere was one of fraternity and the work was intensive. On Tuesday 24th in the course of the evening, those present were entertained with traditional dances performed by the students of Champagnat Marist College in Coronel Oviedo, traditional songs and a composition created for the Marist Bicentennial by the "Hermitage" group .
The future of the Region in 2020
The IV Regional Assembly will take place in Cochabamba, Bolivia. It will provide an opportunity for contact and interaction with the Regional Novitiate, one of the first initiatives that the region implemented, which delivers satisfactory results. On this occasion the plan is to work with the formation team and the novices who are in the Novitiate House.