Transformative Solidarity
One the 23rd and 24th October, representatives of the three Marist Provinces of Brazil and other guests working on social projects met together in Port Alegre for this Forum.
Under the aegis of UMBRASIL, the purpose of the gathering was to provide participants with a significant occasion to share current practices in a variety of situations. According to Paulo Quermes, one of the coordinators of the forum, it was one way of coming up with strategies for the achievement of greater transformation through the solidarity activities of the Marist Provinces of Brazil. “The Forum will also make joint projects possible, involving all the Provinces given the recent creation of the Region of South America,” he stated.
Br Valdícer Fachi, director of the Department of Collaboration for Mission, International (Cmi) within the General Administration, spoke to the participants about various experiences and possibilities concerning international and interprovincial volunteering linked to the Marist Institute. Br Fachi commented that the Forum was a good example of how it is possible to be more efficient and proactive in both local and interprovincial volunteering: “I am happy to see that we have people who are available and willing to give of their time and talents to assist the most needy and, in this way, continue the desire of Marcellin Champagnat, ‘all the dioceses of the world would come into our plans’.”
The gathering provided a space for each of the three Provinces of Brazil to present what they are doing regarding volunteering. Some invited guests spoke of other projects and activities linked to volunteering and, in groups, the assembly studied possible future directions for more joint volunteering in Marist Brazil.
At the end of the process, each group presented its viewpoints to be studied further by the Evangelisation Commission of UMBRASIL and adopted as guidelines for this work.