VIII Assembly of the International Marist Network of Institutions of Higher Education
On the morning of Tuesday, April 2, the official inauguration of the VIII Assembly of the International Marist Network of Institutions of Higher Education took place at the Marcelin Champagnat University in Lima, Peru. During this week, the representatives of 27 institutions will meet to discuss and plan joint actions, with the aim of strengthening the Marist journey and the development of Higher Education in the five continents.
The program began with the presentation of the leaders’ panel, composed by the President of the Assembly, Br. Roberto Méndez López, by the Superior General of the Marist Institute, Br. Ernesto Sánchez Barba, by the Archivist and Librarian of the Vatican, Monsignor José Tolentino Calaza de Mendoza, by the Vicar General of the Marist Institute, Br. Luis Carlos Gutiérrez Blanco, by the Rector of the Marcelino Champagnat University, Br. Pablo González Franco and by the Provincial of the Province of Santa María de los Andes, Br. Saturnino Alonso Ortega. After the initial greetings, the Superior General, Br. Ernesto Sánchez, opened the Assembly speaking about the importance of considering higher education as a network. "It is important that we put aside the fragmentated culture and learn to work together," he said. "It's time to work in networks and create synergies from this great opportunity." He also recalled the need to give prominence to young people in the university context, in line with the calls of the Synod on Youth.
First reflexion
After the offcial photo, the dialogue table "Building bridges in a fragmented world: rediscover the task of education” opened, chaired by Monsignor José Tolentino and Brother Evilázio Teixeira, rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Río Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Brother Evilázio continued the reflection insisting that society is living a period of change and therefore, in this perspective, opportunities must be discovered. "We have to look for a synthesis of this great mosaic of the world, which is currently in a situation of fragmentation", said the Rector. The morning session ended with the Eucharistic celebration. In the afternoon, Marist Champagnat University paid tribute to Brother Clemente Ivo Juliatto, of the Marist Province of Brazil Centro-Sul. He was awarded an Honoris Causa Doctorate for having contributed significantly to the International Marist Network of Institutions of Higher Education, since its creation
To build bridges, it is necessary to remember all the path traveled
The activities of the day ended with a first work of reflection in groups discussing about the subject “Where we come from and where we are”. Through a historical vision from the origins of the Network, Brother Carlos Alberto Rojas, Coordinator of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Education of the Marist Institute, invited all participants to a reflection on the main priorities of the group that constitutes the Network. "We wish to grow and develop as a Network, "he said. "And this starts with the perception of our journey. We are here now to build together and do it in an open and dialogue-basedway", he concluded.