United in a single heart
The Assembly and Chapter of the Province of « Brasil Centro-Norte » were held at Mendes, from 2 to 12 December. The Assembly, open to Brothers and laity, finished on 7 December. It was an interactive time for analysing the course of the previous three years in order to bring suggestions to the next provincial government.
The Provincial Chapter, held after the Assembly, established the priorities for the 2012-2015 term. They are :
1. To revitalise Marist religious life so that it encourages a new way of being Brother, reinforces human relationships and fosters spaces of growth, in order to make us a prophetic sign of brotherhood among ourselves and in the mission.
2. To reinforce the mission of evangelization by intensifying relations between the various sectors : educational, social, pastoral, administrative, the accent being placed on the defence of the rights of poor children, adolescents and young people.
3. To consolidate governance in teamwork and economic and financial equilibrium, in view of institutional vitality.
4. To enlarge the culture of vocations as well as the processes and experiences of joint formation of Brothers and Marist Laity, in the living out of our charism.
This provincial plan will be implemented under the leadership of Br Wellington Medeiros, reappointed Provincial for a second term, and the new Council elected by the capitulants : Brs José Wagner R. da Cruz, Alexandre Lucena Lobo, Ataide José de Lima and José de Assis E. de Brito.
From the General Council, Br Josep M. Soteras was present at the Assembly and Br Eugène Kabanguka at both Assembly and Chapter, while Br Antonio Ramalho, a member of the Province and one of the jubilarians feted on 9/12, was also among the participants.
Five lay persons were invited to take part in the Chapter. In the letter they wrote, they emphasize : « We perceive the openness to and acceptance of the laity on the part of the Brothers. Around the same table, we feel encouraged and committed to the mission of our Province, expressed in the four priorities defined for the next three years. Truly, we have taken part with you in this historic moment.
Below you will find the links for downloading some texts (in Portuguese) from important moments of the chapter :
* Opening address of the Provincial Assembly/Retreat by Br Wellington Medeiros.
* Intervention of Br Wellington Medeiros for the IV Provincial Chapter.
* Letter of the laity.
* Closure of the Chapter : Promoting the Marial face of the Church, by Br Eugène Kabanguka.
* Video : hommage to the Brother jubilarians.
