Working for life

With the object of discerning the future of the presence of the Marist charism in Canada, the Marist Province of Canada, the Association of Lay Marists of Canada and the General Government, with the support and participation of the Provinces of the Arco Norte region, have, from the 15th, 16th and 17th of November, convoked a Provincial Assembly with the motto "working for life". This initiative looks to gather, over the following months, opinions and ideas for the future of the life and Marist mission for the coming years in Canada. 

"We believe that it is only thanks to the will to work all together that we will be able to build a future and guarantee the continuance  of the charism of Marcellin on Canadian soil. We know that 'If the Lord does not build the house, the masons toil in vain(Psalm 127) ", as seen in the official letter signed by Brother Gérard Bachand (Provincial of Canada), Br Brother Luiz Carlos Gutiérrez (Vicar General) and François Giard, president of the Marist Association Of Lay Marists (AMDL). 

"In the following months, the attitude that we will assume will be that of openness; openness to change, openness to others, openness to collaboration… we invite them to communicate with us and to send us their comments through our e-mail [email protected]", which can be seen in the letter. 

To help with the reflection, a process was devised at Provincial level, also open to the participation of Arco Norte: 

1.  to recognize the presence of God in the journey and the whole contribution of the Marists in Canada and in the world. 
2. to abandon what inhibits our being and to do what God wants.  
3. to celebrate the fruits of the work carried out throughout the Marist history in Canada. 
4. to dream of a future with hope and trust. 

The process will have the following phases: 

1. Sensing: May to July of 2019: reflection groups and electronic poll. 
2.  consolidation of data: the end of July and August of 2019. 
3. preparation of the Assembly: September and October  
4. Regional assembly of the Provincial Council of Arco Norte: 21st to 25th October 2019, in New Jersey (USA). 
5. Provincial Assembly on the Future of the Marist Charism in Canada: 15th to 17th November2019 
6. Discernment and decisions on the vision and some topics in this respect of the future of the Marist Charism in Canada 
7. Starting the implementation of the Vision of the future of the Marist Charism in Canada: March 2020 
8. Provincial Chapter of Canada: June 2021. 

The process is part of the agreements outlined in the first meeting of the organizing committee for the Provincial Assembly that was carried out in Rome, in the month of March, and had present the link Councillors for the Province, Brothers João Carlos do Prado, Ken McDonald and Brother Vicar General, Luis Carlos Gutiérrez Blanco, the representatives of the Province of Canada: Brother Gérard Bachand, Brother Félix Roldan, Mrs. Patricia Deslauriers and Mr. Christian Boutin; Also, the backbone of the process, the facilitator, Mrs. Silvia Gollini Daum.