The Brothers Today announces On-Going Formation Programs for 2022
The Secretariat of Brothers Today recently announced the On-Going Formation Programs to be offered at the level of the Institute for the year 2022. These programs are envisioned to be delivered face-to-face after two years of suspension because of the pandemic. They will be conducted in the context of the Year of Marist Vocations; at the same time, they will be an experience of strengthening and enriching the vocation of those who participate.
The 3rd Age Programs (French, English and Portuguese-Spanish) will be held simultaneously but in different houses (General House, Manziana and Hermitage). They however will share the “Pilgrimage” to Marist places and a time of intercultural community experience together in our mother house.
For all the programs, the Hermitage will be more than a “place of passage or residence”. It shall be for all the participants a “house and center of formation” during a good part of each of the programs, thus recalling the experience of our first Brothers with Father Champagnat. Meanwhile, the French Language 3rd Age program will be held almost entirely at the Hermitage.
As a novelty, the GIER Program has been introduced as a formative experience for Brothers who have made their perpetual profession in recent years, with its own dynamics and team. It which will take place partly at the General House in Rome and partly at the Hermitage.
The last face-to-face programs conducted were the Regional Programs for Community Animators – one in the Arco Norte and another in Africa – in January of 2020. However, the On-Going Formation Team was able to offer certain online formative meetings, including the first part of the Midlife and the Mentors, from June this year.
On-Going Formation Programs for 2022
- Midlife, for brothers between the ages of 45 to 65 years. 12 weeks. From March 20 to June 12. In Manziana.
- Gier, for young brothers who made final vows in the last 5 years. 4 weeks. From June 1 to June 30. In the General House and Notre Dame de l’Hermitage.
- CMI international communities. For brothers and laity. 5 weeks. From June 16 to July 23.
- Mentors, for those accompanying young brothers in the communities. 8 weeks. From July 3 to August 28. At Notre Dame de l’Hermitage.
- Third Age (simultaneous in three separate language groups, English, Spanish-Portuguese and French). 8 weeks.
- French: from September 26 to October 10. Notre Dame de l’Hermitage
- Spanish: from October 10 to 24. General House
- English: from October 10 to 24. Manziana
- Regional Program for Vocation Animators. This is open to both brothers and laity. From September to December. Duration: two weeks.
