With Mary, New Marists Towards a New Land

More than 100 educators coming from different Marist schools attended the 8th Marist Educators? Congress held at the Convention Center of The Farm in Koronadal City from May 26 to 28 this year. Administrators and some teachers participated to the 3-days gathering listening to the reports of the different Committees and Programs pertaining to Marist Education System here in the Philippines.

The said gathering was started with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by Bishop Romulo dela Cruz, DD of the Diocese of Kidapawan while Br. Paterno Corpus, FMS of Marist School Marikina and Dr. Norma Segocio of NDDU welcomed and presented the participants, guests and facilitators respectively. Br. Manuel de leon, FMS, the Brother Provincial of East-Asia Province gave his keynote speech, explaining challenges and calls of the recent XXI General Chapter held in Rome.

During the second day sessions, report on the Implementation of the Marist Lay Formation Program, proposed Marist Leadership Program, Report on Marist Diamond Jubilee Projects, Consolidated Marist School Spiritual and Sports Programs were given.

The Statements and Resolutions of the 8th Marist Congress facilitated by Br. John Tan, FMS was done before a closing Liturgy presided by Fr. Jonathan Sarcon, the NDDU chaplain.

The 8th Educators? Congress was hosted by Notre Dame of Dadiangas University with Br. John Y. Tan, FMS as the chairman.

With Mary as guide and companion, we, participants of the 8th Marist Educators? Congress, affirm that evangelization is the focus and priority of our ministries, proclaiming Jesus and his message. We believe that we are impelled by God to go out into a new land, to facilitate the birth of a new epoch for the Marist charism. We dedicate ourselves to move on, without hesitation to let go of the familiar, and to embark on a journey of institutional and personal conversion over the next years.

This authentic renewal invites us to a genuine change of heart which urges us to set future directions to our institutions. Therefore:

1. As Brothers and Mission Partners together, we strive for greater vitality in our institutions and missionary endeavors as we recognize the vocation of the Lay Marists and make ourselves co-responsible in our formation and in vocation promotion.

2. In our desire to find new and creative ways to educate and evangelize the young, we strive to have common advocacies which affect them especially in the areas of education, health, environment, good governance, women?s and children?s rights and issues on justice and peace.

3. In all our decision making, we direct ourselves and encourage our constituents to make the rule of thumb the process of discernment leading us to consultation, dialogue, and consensus building.

4. In recognition of the Marist Mission, we support the Lay Volunteers? Program and the Champagnat Marist Family Movement (CMMF) and open ourselves to the mission initiatives of the East Asia Province and Marist General Council.

5. As apostles living in a globalized world, we endeavor to have hearts and minds that are international in outlook and at the same time aware of our own cultural uniqueness and identity.

6. In the running of our apostolate and missionary work, we make use of modern technology judiciously as a means of improving the delivery systems of our institutions.
We continue to find ways in addressing issues and concerns that have remained an unfinished business even as we set forward to new horizons. Therefore, we:

7. Continue to dedicate ourselves to have a common understanding of Mary in our lives.

8. Strive to become more active in our role as educators in the missionary activity of the Church.

9. Pursue the practice of gender sensitivity in all our dealings with one another.

10. Re-visit our school policies to ensure that they are grounded on the Gospel values, Church teachings, civil laws, and the values of Mary.

11. Carry on with more enthusiasm the implementation of the Lay Formation Program.

12. Address on what is the Marist way to face and handle social concerns, issues, and advocacies in our institutions such as mining, reproductive health and ecological issues.

13. Intensify the implementation of the Marist Diamond Jubilee Projects.

We continue to renew ourselves and journey together towards a new land. May St. Marcellin Champagnat continue to guide us as we live our vocation of following Christ with joy, sensitivity, love, and enthusiasm.
Resolutions of the 8th Marist Educators? Congress

?With Mary, New Marists Towards a New Land?

We, the participants of the 8th Marist Educators? Congress hereby resolved the:

1. Acknowledgment of The Farm Management for its satisfactory accommodation;

2. Acknowledgment of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University , for its successful hosting of the 8th Marist Educators? Congress; and

3. Endorsement of Marist Administrators? Formation Program to prepare potential personnel for administrative responsibilities;

4. Endorsement of the Marist Meet Guidelines for an organized and systematic conduct of Meet in all levels;

5. Endorsement of the Marist School-Marikina as the host of the 9th Marist Educators? Congress;

6. Intensification of the implementation of the following:
a. Zero Waste Management; and
b. Support for Marcellin Home Foundation;and

7. Endorsement of the proposal that each institution shall come up with action plans supporting the statements of the 8th Marist Educators? Congress

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Done this 28th day of May 2010 at The Farm @ Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City.