The International Commission finishes its work
The International Commission which has worked on the ?Marist Apostolic Spirituality? document since 2004 met at Rome from the 16th to the 22nd November 2006 to concretise the eighth version of the text, prepare a detailed plan, with a calendar included, for the printing and presentation of the text and to make necessary plans for its efficient distribution.
The seventh version was written during last summer by the writing commission after having received contributions from the entire Institute. The International Commission worked from the sixth version of the document. Gathered firstly in small language groups, and then in the plenary session, they received the definitive observations concerning the contents and the structure of the text, symbols that completed the contents of each chapter, nuances of style, of writing, simplification of repetitions, etc? in order to deliver them to the writing team of the eighth version. A proposal for the title of the document was also made during this November meeting. This work was not easy. The multiple contributions inspired by creativity remain in the hands of the ?writing committee? which must present the text to the General Council.
A second work of this International Commission was that of planning the process of divulging of the new document and the formation of people who are going to encourage the awareness of Marist spirituality. With these contributions, the International Commission considers that its work is finished.
The printing of the text approved by the General Council will be done in Rome in four languages to be distributed to the Institute from June 2007. It is also planned to publish an edition of FMS Message on ?Marist Apostolic Spirituality? at the end of the ?Year of Marist Spirituality? that the General Council has planned to launch from October 2007 until August 2008.
Present at the meeting were Agnes Reyes (Philippines), Bernice Reintjens (the Netherlands ), Sister Vivienne Goldstein, (General Councillor of the Marist Sisters), and Brothers Maurice Goutagny (France), Benito Arbués (Spain), Bernard Beaudin (Canada), Vanderlei Soela (Brazil), Michel-Ange Santos (Mexico), Lawrence Ndawala (Malawi), Nicholas Fernando (Sri Lanka), Graham Neist (Australia), Peter Rodney, General Councillor, et Luis Sobrado (Vicar General). Brother Spiridion Ndanga (Rwanda) was unable to attend.
The communications group included Brothers Antonio MartĂnez EstaĂșn (Director of Publications), Joadir Foresti (Brazil), Jean Pierre Destombes, (France), and Federico Carpintero (Spain).