The animation of vocations in the context of youth
Animation of vocations in the context of youth was the theme guiding reflections and activities at the National Meeting of Animation of Vocations, held in Campinas, SP from 23 to 27 April. Promoted by UMBRASIL, the event brought together some 60 participants : brothers and lay people from all the Provinces of Marist Brasil, the District of Amazonia and the Province of « Norandina »
The activities on the situations of young people were carried out with the collaboration of Mme Carmem Lucia Teixeira, Licentiate in Social Sciences, a reasearcher in the field of youth, who works also with other organisations in Brasil and Latin America. The role of the vocations animator was dealt with by the philosopher, writer, and Doctor of Theology, José Lisboa Moreira de Oliveira, who presented a methodological proposal for the ‘vocational’ itinerary and exchanged with the group about the mission of the vocations animator today.
Among the participants was also the Director of the Secretariat Brothers today, the Columbian Brother César Augusto Rojas, who approached the topic from the vision of the Institute. Apart from the conferences and presentations, the programme envisaged the study and production of Guidelines for the Animation of Vocations in Marist Brasil, directed by João Luis Fedel and Br Alexandre Lobo.
The Biblical passage which marked this year’s edition was: « Go and wash yourself in the pool of Siloe. So the blind man went and washed himself, and came back with his sight restored » (Jn 9 : 7), illustrating the experience lived by the participants. The group entered deeply into the topics discussed during the five days of the meeting and the result was a change of outlook. Another outlook on youth, another outlook on self starting from the realities which the animation of vocations discovers in the current situation. Now, the perspective in each Province having been outlined, the work continues in parallel with the construction of the Guidelines, which should be ready in 2013.