The Movement of Lay Marists in network

On the 5th February, the co-ordination of the laypeople of Catalonia, in one of its monthly meetings of animation and follow up of the Lay Marist Movement in Catalonia, had a meeting with Brother Pau Fornells, Director of the Bureau of the Laity of the Marist Institute.

The meeting started towards seven o?clock in the evening with a simple prayer. At first, after some brief presentations, Brother Pau explained to us the idea that he had of the laity from his visits to the Marist world, including different situations in America, Africa and Asia.

From all the ideas that Brother Pau wanted to share with us about his perception of the reality of the Marist laity, the one that he noted the most was this: the lay Marist is a person who is aware that it is God who has called him or her to this Marist vocation, as happens with the brothers. The Marist vocation must pass clearly by the Mission which is unique and is concretised in the fact of making children and young people know that God loves them, particularly the most underprivileged. The Mission must not depend on the infinity of concrete apostolic tasks which can be developed in a Marist work or in the works of other types of organisations or enterprises.

Then, it was us, the members of the co-ordination group, who explained to him the history, the functioning and the actual organisation of our movement in the zone of Catalonia and the co-ordination with the laypeople of other zones of the Province of L?Hermitage, for we noted everywhere the great diversity of experiences and Pau showed interest in knowing our situation.

We thank Brother Pau for his accompaniment. His words and his presence encouraged us to continue to journey and to dream. His orientations assumed a dose of realism and, at the same time, an impetus to continue to respond to the call of Christ, by living together the charism and mission of Marcellin Champagnat.