VI Hearts in Solidarity Meeting

An evangelisation through education engaged in the defence of the rights of children, and a defence of the rights of children oriented towards an evangelisation through education. This was the new perspective of the Marist Institute indicated by the  Institute’s Director of Mission, Br João C. do Prado, during the VI Hearts in Solidarity Meeting held in Mexico from 10 to 16 June 2011.

Br João indicated the dimensions of the mission: education, solidarity, evangélisation and defence of children’s rights, which are inherent in Marist spirituality, flow from it and nourish it. He was speaking to the participants coming from the different parts of the Americas.

He also placed in relief presence among poor children and young people, in accordance with the call of the XXI General Chapter. Starting from the 6 principles of the Institute for the next eight years, this call has been expressed in three concrete points:

• Seeing the world with the eyes of poor children and young people; to do this, one must live their reality;
• Call for new forms of education and evangelisation, the accent being placed on the rights of children and young people;
• Call to be bridges between rich and poor, in the perspective of decreasing social differences and injustices.

According to these principles, the accent of the mission should be placed on the defence of the rights of children and youth, on international horizons and on networking.

Br João also explained what being the Marial face of the Church meant for the Institute: « This refers to the style of management. We wish to be a Church and an Institute which favours a horizontal relationship, guided by dialogue, sharing, the round table. » Along with the new perspectives of the Institute, there are also ways of carrying out the mission; this envisages direct contact, the defence and promotion of children’s rights,  presence and investigation as a field of research and sharing of knowledge which reveal the deepest social questions.