?We are a family; tell that to the children.?

More than 40 teachers gathered between the 25th and 27th of March to share and learn more about the work of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, of which they now form part. After little more than a month of having integrated themselves into the Marist family, the traditional meeting of new teachers was held in the Holy Spirit Retreat House in Santiago. Representatives from all the colleges conducted by the Congregation in Chile, from Alto Hospicio to Curicó, took part. The invitation was headed by the sentence from Saint Marcellin: ?We are a family; tell that to the children?. And this was just the climate experienced that day, when the participants recognized that they were forming very close bonds, which they hope to continue over time.

To make progress in this dream of ?to educate by evangelising?, this experience has as first object to offer a space of welcome to new teachers joining in the Marist mission. Thus, they were able to share the personal experience of welcome they received from their college, what was their first contact with the Marists and the sense of Marist family. They also had personal time for self-knowledge and for reflection on being an educator. Several were grateful for these times, since in the daily work it is difficult to take time to look at one?s own life.

Finally, it invites them to live an initial experience of learning and interchange about the meaning of to educate in a Marist style, especially with the call we have received this year: ?With Mary, go to meet Jesus!?.