To make our heart at home, to share life, to be like Marcellin

Within the framework of the process of institutional reinforcement of the Marist province of México Occidental, 17 young Brothers under the age of 40 met in the Villa Marista of Chapala, Jalisco, with the provincial council to be together, dialogue, pray and celebrate life, from 25 to 27 October 2013. It was a weekend full of joy, much listening and dialogue, and fraternity. Since our province is formed of part of   México and Haití, Mexican and Haitian brothers share initial formation, thus having an international and intercultural experience which is mutually enriching.

For two days we shared in turn our experience of religious life, life in the communities, our feelings, some challenges that we encounter in our life, and also our needs at this stage of life. On Saturday afternoon, we attempted to put in common what we wish to offer, as young people, to Marist religious life. 

Some of the things which we wish to contribute are the activity we want to have in our community, the effort to make our heart at home, and to seek to grow in the place to which we have been sent. 

We also asked to have more significant times for sharing life and being accompanied in our vocation, like the one we have lived, and others by regions or by neighbouring communities. 

We share a strong call to a poorer life style and greater closeness to the poor, to continue building brotherhood in our communities, and we ask to be taken into account at certain times of decision making. 

The slogan “We want to be men of God” resonated strongly in our hearts, and we are called to be like Marcellin, to go on learning from him and following Jesus as consecrated persons.

We finished our meeting with a celebration of the Word and sharing with a simple sign what each of the participants had in his heart. 

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Br Agustín Acevedo Sánchez