The II Marist Symposium on Evangelization gathers about 250 participants

Representatives of the three Marist Provinces of Brazil participated in the II Marist Symposium on Evangelization, held October 9-11 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) in Porto Alegre.

The meeting brought together about 250 people. The participants, brothers and laity, were people who together intend to strengthen the Marist processes of evangelization and aim at new pastoral horizons in response to social needs.

Brother Paulo Soares, head of the Identity, Mission and Vocation team of the Marists of Brazil (Marista Brasil), highlighted the diversity of the participants, who work in different structures, but embrace common causes and dreams. He added: “It is a way of responding boldly to the emerging needs of today’s world, especially in terms of evangelization”.

The three days of the Symposium were marked by talks, workshops, round tables, paper presentations and moments of spirituality.

The first day had as its theme “Evangelizing in a complex world” and was dedicated to discussing evangelization in the context of Marist mission and how it is being carried out around the world. The highlight of the day was the reading of Jesus’ action and ethical relationships as a powerful force in building a more just and prejudice-free society. The second day focused on contemporary issues in evangelization, a theme that was developed through round tables in the morning and mini-courses in the afternoon. The relationship between evangelization and digital culture was highlighted. The third and final day addressed the theme of pastoral action and vulnerabilities, focusing on Marist activity that reaches out to the physical and existential peripheries.

The 2nd Marist Symposium on Evangelization was coordinated by the team of Marista Brasil. The first edition took place virtually in October 2021, organized by the União Marista Brasil (UMBRASIL).