To follow Christ as Mary did
From the evening of the 13th January until the afternoon of the 15th, the General Councils of the four Marist Institutes: Marist Sisters, Marist Missionary Sisters, Marist Fathers and Marist Brothers, held their annual combined meeting once again, this time at the retreat house of Monte Cucco in Rome. The atmosphere of the meeting was one of a close family, of confidence, of freedom and of profound sharing. This atmosphere strongly reflected the path already taken together by these Councils since they were formed by their respective General Chapters that, as we know, coincided in September 2001.
The work sessions provided the opportunity for sharing information and experiences in three main areas:
1. The principal events and the important decisions of each Institute in 2004. The programmes and perspectives, particularly for 2005.
2. Presentation of the activities of the inter-Marist Commissions in 2004, and plans for the present year.
3. Mutual support, from strong points to weak points found in the way each Council functions.
Friday night was marked by an enjoyable social together, while the times for prayer and the two Eucharistic celebrations were times for interiorisation and celebration of all that we live.
Our charisms and our spiritualities converge towards one same desire ?to follow Christ as Mary did?, as all the Councils repeated with the words of the final song of Saturday?s prayer.