The new Provincial takes up his charge
The unity of the Province of «Brasil Centro-Norte» will be the biggest challenge facing the new Provincial, Brother Wellington Mousinho. His predecessor, Brother Claudino Falchetto, addressed him some moving words on this occasion. In his acceptance speech on 7/12/2009, Brother Wellington emphasized, among his objectives for the three year term, government at the service of the mission and its future, which forsees the following challenges:
? Acquiring a new Province vision which includes the diversity of states which now make it up.
? Adapting the formation to the new situation.
? Balancing the finances of the Province.
? Animating community life.
? Reinforcing the mission of evangelisation.
? Renewing the consecrated life.
« I will not be alone in this mission », affirmed Br. Wellington, recalling the essential role of the Council which will be elected later, as anticipated in the programming of the Provincial Chapter. Justice, ethics, and transparency are other qualities the new Provincial expects from his team.
The website (www.marista.edu.br) gives a direct transmission of the ceremony of taking possession.
The Assembly and the 3rd Provincial Chapter take place in the city of Mendes (RJ), from 7 to 14 December, with Brothers and lay Marists taking part.
Start of the Provincial Chapter
The Assembly and the 3rd Provincial Chapter commenced on Monday 7/12/09, with the participation of Brothers and lay Marists and the presence of the Brother Superior General, Emili Turú, as well as Brother Antonio Ramalho, Councillor General. « Mendes is a sacred place. Numerous missionaries have departed from here ». It was with these words that Brother Claudino Falquetto began his speech of welcome to the participants. There followed a moment for reflection on the question: « What is it that I am bringing to the Chapter? » After the sharing, the participants received as a souvenir a little statue of the Good Mother.
The first activity of the day was the election of the Central Commission, which will conduct operations during the Chapter. Br. Wagner Cruz was elected president, and Brs Salatiel and Ataíde, as secretary general and assistant secretary respectively. Brothers José Manoel Pires and Alexandre will be the moderators.
Election of the new Provincial Council
The second working day, the Brother capitulants elected the four new Provincial Councillors. They are Brothers José Wagner Rodrigues da Cruz, current president of UBEE-UNBEC, Renato Augusto da Silva, Ataíde José de Lima and Adalberto Batista Amaral.
The team?s challenge will be, alongside Brother Wellington, to reinforce provincial unity over the next three years. The Provincial?s profile for the Councillors was:
? A life centred on Jesus Christ, having Mary at its heart.
? A love of the Marist Institute, its mission and its patrimony.
? Concern about the problems of the Province and interest in the future of Marist Brasil.
? To be a man of reflection, knowing how to study questions thoroughly.
? To be open to differences and to dialogue; to be a man of relationships.
? Justice, maturity, ethics, transparency and love of work.
? Vision of the Province as a whole, of the world and of modern society.
A moving taking of possession
The possession-taking ceremony of the new Provincial and the four Councillors was marked by the emotion of the Marist community present, the lay people and the guests. The celebration, held on 8 December, commemorated 60 years since the consecration of the chapel of Mendes, as well as the jubilees of Brothers Francisco Chagas, Eduardo D´Amorim and Adalberto Amaral.
Brother Wellington was congratulated by his predecessor, Brother Claudino Falchetto, by Brothers Emili Turú, Superior General, and Antonio Ramalho, Councillor General, by his sister, Maria Lúcia Mousinho, and by the presidents of UBEE-UNBEC ? Mrs Dilma Alves and Br. Wagner Cruz. Other persons also joined in the congratulations addressed to the new Provincial, especially the personnel of the Marist school of Maceió, come especially for the occasion. « The Good Mother will always be at your command », the new Provincial stressed in his speech.
As for the Brother jubilarians, mention was made of each one?s religious journey, and particularly of their personal commitment vis-à-vis the Institute.
The celebration continued naturally with the festive meal in family.