VI Mission Assembly of the Province of Compostela
The Marists of the Province of Compostela held their VI Mission Assembly, September 18-21, at the Santa Maria de Tui College in Spain, with the theme “We are a global family”. Sixty-two representatives from all the schools, social works and Marist teams, including brothers and lay people, took part with the aim of planning together for the future.
In addition to the Compostela leaders, Br. Juan Pablo Hernández, coordinator of Solidarity and member of the Council of Educational Works of the Marist Province of Mediterránea; Br. Pepe Sánchez, director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization of the Marist Institute, and Br. Tony Leon, of Star of the Sea, who animated the reflection.
On the first day, Brother Román Álvarez, coordinator of mission in Compostela, emphasized that “the assembly is a privileged time for planning dreams” and a “challenge that invites us to look beyond”. The assembly was based on listening to the reflections made in the previous works, in the cloisters, in the educational teams, youth meetings and various institutional documents such as the Strategic Plan of the Province or the conclusions of the III Marist International Mission Assembly.
The second day was accompanied by Brother Tony Leon. The participants reflected on how to combine personal identity with “tribal” belonging, how to be faithful to who one is and, at the same time, be influenced by one’s surroundings, and how to look beyond without losing the reality of the ground one walks on. Through artistic creation, sharing, and even breaking to rebuild together with others, the participants recalled some of their experiences of grace. Each one brought their personal identity and the environment they represented: schools, social works, teams, young people…
On the third day, the participants used the golden ribbon to unite the different works and witness how – from the stories of each one, the confidence to share them and the desire to integrate and build together – a single masterpiece emerges: Together “We are global family” with a growth mentality, looking beyond. Br. Tony promoted personal and group reflection through different dynamics, from drawing to improvisation, dialogue, meditation and creativity. Based on the Wisdom Pattern of Fr Richard Rohr – ORDER, DISORDER & REORDER, the participants used FRAMING, DEFRAMING & REFRAMING. Each of the individual artworks of the were partially framed. Then the frames were removed to reveal each artwork in their entirety. And finally, they are combined and unified with gold tape (KINTSUGI) to create the reality that individual stories are part of a much bigger narrative: We are a global family.
On the fourth day, the Mission Assembly concluded with five priorities that put the focus on educational teams, evangelizing action, social transformation, the creation and strengthening of links in Marist communities, considering the co-responsible sustainability of the Marist mission.
Br. José Sánchez (Pepe), director of the Secretariat of Education and Evangelization, presented to the participants the next General Chapter “Home for all. River of Life”, to be held in 2025. He recalled the invitation of the Superior General to build a new Hermitage with a “visible and credible fraternity” and deepening the “mission of service with particular attention to the neediest”. Br. Pepe also encouraged the participants to continue networking with projects such as Champagnat Global, the youth pastoral network launched a year ago in Lisbon, or the Stand Up, Speak Out and Participate project.
At the end of the VI Compostela Mission Assembly, the participants expressed their gratitude for the work done together and for all that they had shared during these days as a “global family”.