VIII Chapter of the Norandina Province

From June 3 to 7, Rionegro, Colombia hosted the VIII Chapter of the Norandina Province with the motto “Live, Dream, Build… It’s Time.” In a provincial communion meeting, they were gathered 27 capitular brothers, 15 lay people and the Ecuadorian priest Manuel Lalangui, who usually accompanies these Marist meetings in the province. During the VIII Provincial Chapter, were present, on the part of the general government: brothers Ernesto Sánchez Barba, Superior General, Ken McDonald (virtually) and João Carlos do Prado, general councilors of liaison with the Arco Norte Region.

On the first day of the chapter, the members of the central table were elected, who were in charge of animating the different plenary sessions. Immediately afterwards, brothers Ernesto and João Carlos presented the opening words, and recalled the importance of the chapter, being a meeting to listen to the spirit and glimpse the future of life and mission in Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia. The Superior General recalled his experience during his participation in the Synod of Synodality and, in light of the heritage of Saint Marcellin, presented the intuitions for the future for the Marist mission that guide the lines of action for the present triennium. The Superior General recalled his experience of participation in the Synod of Synodality and, in light of the heritage of Saint Marcellin, presented the intuitions for the future for the Marist mission that guide the lines of action for the present triennium.

At the opening of the chapter, the Eucharist was celebrated where Brother Carlos Alberto Rojas Carvajal took over as the new Provincial Animator, and expressed his message of optimism and hope, highlighting the journey and progress of the province, over 20 years, with its different moments of animation, and invited to “Live, Dream and Build” like Marists, following the example of Father Champagnat.

The second day was dedicated to reflection and inner encounter, encouraged by Brother Ernesto, who through the word ”Live”, led a ‘desert space’ that allowed us to think about those initiatives that have allowed a change significant in the province or those that could be energizing for the Marist mission in the province.

On the third chapter day, after approving the minutes of the previous day, the synodal dynamics for the drafting of provincial calls were explained. And in work groups – made up of brothers and lay people – the different proposals focused on the motto proposed for the chapter were socialized, based on the verbs: Live, Dream, Build. During the work sessions, the brothers and lay people shared their experiences and knowledge, which allowed them to strengthen the ties of fraternity and have a broader overview of the reality of the three countries that make up the Norandina Province.

The fourth day was a time of joy and celebration on the Feast of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. The participants of the chapter traveled to Medellín and, together with the community of the La Valla Interprovincial Novitiate, celebrated the Eucharist. There, Brother Ernesto expressed a few words about the meaning of this day and contextualized the inhabitants of the sector about the Marist charism and the legacy of Marcellin Champagnat.

The Provincial Chapter concluded on June 7 with the election of the provincial council, made up of Brothers Leonardo Yepes, José Miguel Caballero, Ángel González, José María Ondarreta, Mariano Morante and Antidio Enríquez, who together with the new Provincial will be responsible for animating the life and mission during the triennium 2024 – 2027.

At the end of the closing and sending Eucharist, brothers Ernesto and João Carlos recalled a section of the Rule of Life, which invites Marists to follow the virtues of the Marist charism and gave the members of the new provincial animation team a candle. as a symbol of the light that they must bring to the communities and Marist presences of the province, listening to the voice of the spirit to transmit the message to each person who is on the service path that begins

In the coming days, after the first provincial council, the provincial calls written in the chapter will be announced and reviewed by the new animation team for the triennium 23024 – 2027. The calls are focused on being Marists in the community, in the mission, in strengthening vocational ministry and communion as a province.