Year XVII – No. 32 – May 2003Year XVII – No. 32 – May 2003

Marist vitalityChapter Delegates reflect on their Message, “Choose life”

Interview with Brother Luis García Sobrado

Putting our lives on the line for the youth of today

Marist vitalityChapter Delegates reflect on their Message, “Choose life”

Interview with Brother Luis García Sobrado

Putting our lives on the line for the youth of today

page INDEX3 All hands on deck!

Lluís Serra

4 Letter to my BrothersSeán Sammon

6 Putting our lives on the line for the youth of todayInterview with Luis García Sobrado

10 Getting out the Chapter’s message – are we succeeding?Juan Miquel Anaya

11 A river with five branchesLibardo Garzón

art. 1-5 “You must be the change you want to see in the worldRonnie McEwan

12 art. 6-16 Creative fidelityThéoneste Kalisa

14 art. 17-21 1. Drinking from the Well of Living WaterAntonio Ramalho

16 art. 22-25 2. To attract and preserve VocationsPeter Rodney

18 art. 26-30 3. Widen the TentPedro Herreros

20 art. 31-36 4. Wrestling with GodEmili Turú

22 art. 37-40 5. Wash each other’s feetMaurice Berquet

24 art. 41.a Practical ways of living out the ChapterCarlos Wielganczuk

25 art. 41.b Recommendations and decisionsAntonio Giménez

art. 41.c Co-responsibilityMichael Hill

26 art. 42.1 The personal practice of discernmentJoaquim Clotet

art. 42.2 Communicating lifeJosé Luis Ampudia

27 art. 42.3 Proclaiming the Good News creativelyRobert Clark

art. 42.4 Being with the young to have lifeRaúl Figuera

28 art. 42.5 Vocations and the Vitality of the InstituteLawrence Ndawala

art. 43.1 Ideal community!Bernard Beaudin

29 art. 43.2 Marist Apostolic Spirituality in the Asian Catholic ContextTed Fernandez

art. 43.3 Mary, teacher of lifeRenato Guisleni

30 art. 43.4 Working with the local ChurchChristian Mbam

31 art. 43.5 Inter-religious relationsSunanda Alwis

art. 43.6 The project, each of our livesÁngel Medina

34 art. 43.7 Projects of social justiceDemetrio Espinosa

art. 43.8 A simple lifestyleMichael de Waas

35 art. 43.9 Working with the poorDomingos dos Santos Lopes

art. 43.10 Fraternities of the Champagnat Movement: Sign of vitalityAfonso Lewis

36 art. 44.1 To know oneself thoroughly: Grace, task and encounterHilario Schwab

37 art. 44.2 Brothers, disciples from Emmaus!Maurice Goutagny

art. 44.3 Like Marcellin: with a gentle heart and high expectationsErnesto Sánchez

38 art. 44.4 An attitude of discernment in communityLauro Hochscheidt

art. 44.5 Communities as places of formation and affirmationAtaide José de Lima

Year XVII – No. 32 – May 2003

Editor-in_Chief:Br. Lluís Serra

Publications Commission:Brs. Emili Turú, Maurice Berquet and Lluís Serra.

Contributors: Brs. Séan Sammon, Luis García Sobrado, Théoneste Kalisa, Antonio Ramalho,Peter Rodney, Pedro Herreros, Emili Turú, Maurice Berquet and 57 capitulant brothers more.

Translators:English: HH. Joseph Belanger, Gerard Brereton, Mario Colussi,Eugene Dwyer, Patrick Sheils andDouglas Welsh.French: Brs. Lucien Labelle, Aimé Maillet and Ernest Censi.Spanish: Brs. Miguel Ángel Sancha and Francisco Castellanos.Portuguese: Brs. João Fagherazzi,Roque Fritzen and Virgilio Balestro.

Photography: Brs. Lluís Serra, Emili Turúand Maurice Berquet, General House, Province, Districtand Sector Archives.

Registry and Statistics:Br. Henri Réocreux.

Formatting and Photolithography:TIPOCROM, s.r.l.Via G.G. Arrivabene, 24 - 00159Roma (Italia)

Production and AdministrativeCenter:Piazzale Marcellino Champagnat, 2C.P. 1025000144 ROMATel. (39) 06 54 51 71Fax (39) 06 54 517 217E-mail: publica@fms.itWeb site: www.champagnat.org

Publisher:Istituto dei Fratelli Maristi.Casa Generalizia – Roma.

Printing:C.S.C. GRAFICA, s.r.l.Via G.G. Arrivabene, 40 00159 Roma (Italia)

Cover picture: sculpture of MarcellinChampagnat with children, Marist SchoolSanta Maria, Curitiba, Brazil

LETTER TO MY BROTHERSBrother Seán Sammon, Superior GeneralO

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page INDEX39 art. 44.6 Formation programs

André Thizyart. 44.7 Taking co-responsibility to the next level

Pablo González

40 art. 44.8 How much life awaits us!Samuel Holguín

art. 44.9 Community experience: Brothers-Lay PeopleHenri Catteau

41 art. 44.10 Preferential option for the poorAdolfo Cermeño

art. 44.11 Sowers of hope, with a clear visionGonzalo Santa Coloma

42 art. 45.1 Marist mission: a spirit, a documentRéal Cloutier

art. 45.2 Our apostolic works should be evaluated! Why aren’t we doing it?Laurentino Albalá

art. 46.1 Along new pathways of education, evangelization and solidarityRichard Mutumwa

44 art. 46.2 New ways of being presentClaudino Falchetto

art. 46.3 Mobility of the BrothersPedro J. Wolter

45 art. 47.1 Wholesome personal development and a sense of communityNicolás García

art. 47.2 Marist IdentityÓscar Martín

46 art. 47.3 Imagine…Leo Shea

art. 47.4 Shared formationJosep Maria Soteras

47 art. 47.5 In thought and action: reciprocityGilles Ouimet

48 art. 47.6 Sharing and passing on lifeAntonio Martínez

art. 48.1 Reflecting on spiritualityAndré Lanfrey

49 art. 48.2 A good bet to generate lifeMariano Varona

art. 48.3 Formation of animatorsPrimitivo Mendoza

50 art. 48.4 Choosing Life in PrayerHenry Spinks

art. 48.5 The evangelical use of material goodsJohn Thompson

51 art. 48.6 Finding a balance on our journeyMaurice Taildeman

52 art. 48.7 Displacement and our challengeMiquel Cubeles

54 art. 54 Go forward in HopeThomas Chin

55 art. 50 Let’s be creative to be more faithfulRodrigo Cuesta

art. 51 I have a dreamOnorino Rota

56 Revitalizing the chapter experience in our administrative unitsEduardo Navarro

57 To get to the heart of the MessageAfonso MuradGod has something to tell me todayJean Ronzon

58 “Do whatever He tells you!” – “Yes, mother!”Fergus Garrett

59 General statistics of the institute as of 31 December, 2001

60 Brothers who made First Professionin 2001

62 Brothers who made Perpetual Professionin 2001

63 Brothers who diedin 2001

PUTTING OUR LIVES ON THELINE FOR THE YOUTH OF TODAY

An interview with Brother LuisGarcía Sobrado O

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THE FIVE CALLS OF THECHAPTERThe General Councilors reflect onthe five core ideas at the heartof Marist life todayO

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LET’S GO FORWARD TOGETHERChapter delegates share their

views on the decisions andrecommendations of the 20th

General Chapter ON

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GUIDE TO ADEEPERUNDERSTANDINGOF THE CHAPTERMESSAGEO

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SUMMARY

A gift isn’t earned; it’s given. The childwho receives a hug from his mother orromps in a fountain’s refreshing spray

is receiving the gift of life.

When we see life as something to conquer,contentious rivalries become evident right at thestart. The first consequence of this is a breakdownin solidarity. When life is viewed as a gift, we tryto be worthy of this gift, and learn how to pass onthis unmerited gift with no strings attached.

We possess the gift of Marist life. St. Marcellinbrought it into existence and so many thousandsof brothers have handed it on – and more recently,a growing number of laymen and women. Gettingthe most out of this gift reveals just how much wewelcome it and pass it on to others.

So many children and young adults, especiallythose who are poor and needy, are longing toreceive the gift of love in their lives from teachersand disciples of the Lord. As He did – our Way, ourTruth, and our Life – we too will be able toproclaim, “I came so that they might have lifeand have it more abundantly.” (Jn 10, 10)

Choosing life means discovering the gift of God’slove within us and wanting to share it as brothersand sisters. It involves a commitment to welcomeevery sign of life, especially in the hearts andminds of those around us. It drives us to make ourexistence meaningful and come up with concreteresponses to genuine needs. As did Jesus, Mary,and Marcellin.

LLiiffee aass ggiifftt

In this edition of FMS Message wefocus our thoughts on the 20th

General Chapter’s call to Chooselife. While the uniqueness of theChapter’s Message is now well known, it remains for us to

deepen our understanding of its substance and apply its contents to our everyday lives. Indeedit was a novel idea to publish a single document to weave together the distinct concerns thatthis Chapter explored. A new approach: to put together a brief “Message” centering on the sim-plicity of what is essential to our Marist charism, and to do this without losing sight of the factthat the charism is lived out in so many different ways throughout the world. It was new to pro-duce a document that zeroes in on the Gordian knot of the consecrated life – our dependenceon Jesus as the fountain of living waters – without getting sidetracked by pressing concerns aboutthe survival of our Marist congregation. New to compose a spirit-filled text that holds our feetto the fire in dealing with the cries of children and young people, especially the poor and aban-doned. New to draw up a program that captures the down-to-earth nature of the calls that ourdelegates discerned, inviting us to move forward together into a future that calls for bold re-sponses. Refreshingly new to put forth a Marist vision rooted in the wellsprings of apostolic spir-ituality, facing up to the challenges of a mission ever before us.Aided by grace, our efforts to transform reality depend on our going forward with deep convic-tion, and staking our lives on our beliefs. Jesus Christ is at the center of everything we do. With-out Him our Marist Institute would be just a multinational education service or an NGO withextensive influence. Reading and interpreting the Chapter’s Message without regard to Christ’spresence distances it from the intention of those who composed it, since it’s all about choos-ing life through religious consecration in the heart of renewed communities. If we were to losethis key element, the gospel passage about the salt that lost its flavor (Mk 9, 50) would sure-ly come to mind. On the other hand, we could very well see the future of Marist life assured ifwe build it on rock (Mt 7, 24), i.e., if we base our spirituality on following Jesus in the way thatMary did, and carry out our mission as a community, working to serve children and young peo-ple, especially the poorest and most marginalized among them. Jesus can be compared to a noun;everything else – good schools, new projects, detailed planning, the latest technology, Inter-net portals… – is adjectival. Adjectives are meant to clarify and enhance a noun, not competeagainst it.The key to carrying out the task we find in the Chapter Message is nurturing an attitude of dis-

cernment. The circumstances in which we find ourselves today are so complexthat simplistic answers are worthless. Given different situations and cultures,we must carefully consider how to root our messages in specific cultures. Inour case that means always combining them with the unifying charism of St.Marcellin and his heart that knows no bounds. His is a charism that doesn’tconfine itself to Marist communities but opens out to all laymen and womenwho instinctively know and put his spiritual, educational, and pastoral insightsinto practice. And so the Chapter delegates proposed that we move into thefuture together, a future whose assurance is mainly to be found in the Wordof God.Chapter delegates have contributed all the articles. The material covers a broadspectrum of time, as several months transpired from the first subject to the last.The entire Message in all its practicality has been studied. Special emphasishas been given to the five calls, with a General Councilor elaborating on eachone. Due to limited space, we have not included the text of the Message itself,so it would be helpful to have a copy of it available for easy reference. The Message concludes with these words in tune with the Bible and Novo Mil-lennio Ineunte: “Brother, let’s do the Lord’s bidding without delay – all handson deck! Let’s cast our nets!” This captures the spirit of Mary of Nazareth who,after the angel’s exciting news, “traveled to the hill country in haste, to a townof Judah,” (Lk 1, 39) to look after her cousin Elizabeth. Discernment takes timebut that’s no excuse for dragging our feet. ✦

ALL HANDSON DECK!

Ed

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Br. Lluís SerraDirector

JESUS CHRIST ISAT THE CENTEROF EVERYTHINGWE DO.WITHOUT HIMOUR MARISTINSTITUTEWOULD BE JUST AMULTINATIONALEDUCATIONSERVICE OR ANNGO WITHEXTENSIVEINFLUENCE.

Have you ever goneback and re-read a bookfor the second time? Ifyou have, you will recallquickly the pleasure ofmeeting the charactersin the story once again,and of recalling so manyof the details of the

novel or biography in question. Though ayear or more may have passed since you firstread it, as your eyes scan the pages of thebook, the memory quickly returns of thepleasure the book gave you the first timeyou read it. Besides the enjoyment of spending timeagain with a favorite story or cast ofcharacters, what else motivates any of us toread a book a second or third time? Thesurprise that comes with finding somethingnew: a detail of a previously undiscoveredaspect of the story that adds anotherdimension to the tale. If you have enjoyedthis experience, you might remember askingyourself, “Now, how did I miss this point ofthe story the first time around?” This issue of FMS Message is devoted, onceagain, to our 20th General Chapter. Thatmeeting brought together in Rome duringSeptember and early October 2001 morethan one hundred brothers, and a group of

Dear Brothers and all who cherish

the charism of Marcellin Champagnat

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LETTER to my lay men and women as observers. A processof discernment was used to conduct themeeting, and Chapter members issued awritten Message at the end of their days ofprayer and deliberation. In this issue of FMS Message we arerevisiting that gathering for the very samereasons that we re-read a book: toappreciate all that we have learned thus far,but also to uncover so much of what upuntil now has gone undiscovered. A General Chapter is a time of special gracefor any Institute, and our 20th MaristGeneral Chapter was no exception to thatrule. Of course, this Chapter resembledprevious ones in many ways. The electionsfor members of the Chapter, for example,were carried out in the same manner as inthe past. During the meeting itself,Commissions were formed, prayers organizedand prayed, conversations held, debatesconducted, votes taken, a new GeneralAdministration elected, and at days end, aMessage written and sent. Yes, there were somany aspects of our 20th General Chapterthat resembled those that went before. However, our 20th General Chapter alsodiffered from previous meetings of its kindin a number of significant ways. And thatfact stands to reason. It will come as asurprise to no one that religious life isfacing some difficult moments in many partsof our world today. In some countriesvocations appear to be scarce, in othersChurch scandals have shaken the confidenceof a number of people, in stil l othersreligious life’s identity does not appear tobe as clear as in times past. Many young people who are looking atreligious life today tell us that the realcrises facing it are those of significance andspirituality. They tell us that we havebecome invisible in the societies in whichwe live, and they ask this troublingquestion, “Does religious life make anydifference today?” Our 20th General Chapter tried to meet theseconcerns head on. In their final Message,those who participated had this to say: MakeWitnesses to God’s unconditional love

May 2003 5

BrothersJesus the center of your life;he is the foundation on whichall else must be built. Clarifyyour identity as brothers andas lay Marists so as to bebetter able to share morehonestly and with greaterdepth your experience ofMarcellin’s spirituality, ourMarist mission, and to worktogether in ongoingformation.Place yourself among theJean Baptiste Montagnes oftoday; yes, be a presenceamong the poorest and mostmarginalized of young people.And form communities whereforgiveness is a habit and reconciliation nostranger. And do all these things in Mary’sway.Our 20th Marist General Chapter invited usall to join in a revolution of the heart. If wemisplaced the invitation the first timearound, this issue of FMS Message offers itto us once again. Blessings and affection.

Br. Seán Sammon, Superior General

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Brother Seán with our young brothers in Manila

Quickly! All hands on deck! Let's cast our nets for a catch! (C. Message 51)

MAKE JESUS THE CENTER OF

YOUR LIFE; HE IS THE FOUNDATION

ON WHICH ALL ELSEMUST BE BUILT.

Our 20th General Chapterconcluded just over a yearago. Its principal thrustwas the issue of vitality.How would you describewhat has transpiredthroughout the Institutesince then?

The Chapter ended on October 13,2001. For those of us on the newGeneral Council, the rest of thatmonth and all of November was atime of transition. Some of us hadbeen Provincials, others in charge ofschools or projects. It took about twomonths for us to find and prepare

delegates worked for 40days?

The idea of producing a single Mes-sage, described as such, was the de-cision of the Chapter itself. Anyonewho has read the bulletins chroniclingthe day-to-day work of the delegatescan easily recognize the quality of de-liberations and intensity of activitiesduring those forty days. The bookcontaining the Acts of the Chaptercomprises 164 pages of profoundthought, with much supporting ma-terial and deliberations from com-missions, working groups and groupsin discernment, as well as contribu-tions by various brothers, such asthe deep and balanced opening ad-dress given by Benito and the closingaddress, so rich in insight and analy-sis of the Chapter experience, pre-sented by Seán. Those were 40 in-tense days. The Chapter documentwas meant to put forth a clear mes-sage, filled with fraternal warmth,to touch the hearts of the brothersand, through them, lay Marists. It isa clear call to holiness - to personaltransformation, as well as the trans-formation of our communities andapostolic works, growing out of aprofound and passionate encounterwith Jesus Christ. It was importantthat this message not be diluted amida flood of additional documents, andthat it stand out clearly as “the doc-ument of the 20th General Chapter.”

others to take on these responsibil-ities. We spent December, Januaryand February improving our languageskills, some of us studying English,others Spanish. When we came to-gether again in March for the firstplenary session of the new Council,all of us were able to understandand communicate in English andSpanish. During this first session, inMarch and April 2002, we made aconcerted effort to develop a strongspirit of community. We wrote up a12-page Plan for Community Living,and it’s working well. We came out ofour meetings with a clear plan of ac-tion and a detailed calendar for theperiod from that time until the Gen-eral Conference of Provincials sched-uled for September 2005. We havemade get-acquainted visits to eachof our Administrative Units, and afirst “formal” visit to each Unit inAfrica. We’ve also continued to be ofassistance in the process of restruc-turing, attending meetings and chap-ters that we have considered to be ofspecial importance. We now have adraft copy of the first circular…Icould go on and on. We’ve gotten alot done this year.

The document “Choose Life”was the legacy that theChapter bequeathed to us.Doesn’t it seem so littlewhen you consider that 118

Putting our lives on the linefor the youth of today

Interview with Brother Luis García Sobrado, Vicar-General

Youth search for a centering presence in their lives

LUIS GARCÍA SOBRADO

The 20th General Chapter is now a part of history. It remains for the brothers and their co-workers to address the challenge of implementing its decisions here and now.

In a timely way, this interview analyzes the main themes of the Chapter’s Message, “Choose life.”

Brother Lluis Serra

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The interview as it took place in the Vicar General’s office

Based on what you say, itseems that in religious lifeand in the Church itselfthere is an over-supply oftextual material and norms.Is it a matter then of pro-ducing a minimum ofguidelines and placing theemphasis on life, on trans-forming reality? Is thatwhat you’re saying?

I don’t agree with you there. Mymother used to write me a letter al-most every week. I resented it attimes, feeling obliged to find time toanswer her. Looking back though, Isee her letters as an expression oflove and tenderness. They often in-spired my prayers and more thanonce my conferences to the studentBrothers. Sometimes those letterswould help me to overcome a crisis.Any text inspired by a genuine needand fraternal love produces good re-sults. Already people are respondingto Seán’s recent letter to youngbrothers. It has helped more thanone brother find peace and wisdomin his discernment. Writings such asthese presuppose many hours spentin prayer and reflection; being tired,staying up late and rising early. Theyare the concrete expression of fra-ternal love. So I don’t think thatgenerating texts does us any harm.The important thing is that they beinspired by the wisdom and love that

trusting neither politicians nor civ-il authorities. All are anxiouslysearching for meaning in their livesand a happier way of life. This glob-al uprooting of humanity necessar-ily puts us in a multicultural and in-ternational situation, with a newway of looking at such basic realitiesas interpersonal relationships, reli-gions, ecumenism, and the family.The very essence of what it means tobe a human being.

Faced with the diversity offields and tasks that you’vementioned, isn’t it possibleto blur the image of ourMarist mission here andnow, so that one no longerknows what a Marist Broth-er stands for?

Your question touches on a centraltheme of this past Chapter - mission.What is our purpose as Marist Broth-ers today? The origins of AT & T,one of the most successful telecom-munications firms in history, sprongfrom a revolutionary vision aboutthe future of railroads in the UnitedStates. The membership was dividedbetween those who saw the future ofthe Corporation consisting of moreand better tracks and trains, andthose who saw its future in terms ofa qualitative leap: “Our future is notin transportation, it’s in communi-cations.” The latter group saw trans-portation as nothing more than oneway among many to put people andcities in touch with one another.Our Marist mission is to educateyoung people. The traditional school,and how we operate it, is one wayamong many others. The importantthing is to do everything we possi-ble can to have a significant im-pact in educating the new genera-tion. The new society of young peo-ple is basically urban, global, anddeeply secularized. As I see it, our20th General Chapter went even fur-ther: it identified Marist education asan evangelizing mission. Out of thatidentity, I see diversity playing animportant role in our Marist search

comes from God. Then they becomelike live coals that stir up the dor-mant flame of our fervor. The Chap-ter Message is filled with love and re-sponds to the specific needs of to-day’s Marist hearts.

When you look at today’sworld, what do you see?

As I see things, the greatest agentof change at the dawn of the 21st

Century is the reality of people pour-ing into cities. It is a complex phe-nomenon. We are in the final stagesof a process leading to the urban-ization of the entire human race.Africa, the last rural continent, is be-coming urbanized at a rate neverbefore experienced in history. Ur-banization is now turning into a so-cially upsetting and inexorable flowof immigrants that has only just be-gun. It is a continuation, and to acertain extent, a consequence ofthe formation of the mega-cities ofthe 60s, 70s and 80s. That, togeth-er with the technological revolutionin communications, is leading all ofus to a new way of being and relat-ing to one another. And so the glob-al young man and woman is beingborn. In Mwanza by Lake Victoria inTanzania, in Fiji, São Paulo, NewYork, Madrid, and Seoul, young peo-ple are checking out the samevideos, dressing the same way, and

May 2003 7 INTERVIEW

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for a corporate approach to being“the Good News” for the young peo-ple and society of the 21st century.

The Chapter defines the firstcall this way: “To centerour lives and communitiesin Jesus Christ, like Mary,with passion and enthusi-asm, and to implementprocesses of human growthand conversion which pro-mote this.” What process-es can promote Jesus’ realpresence at the center of abrother’s life, seeminglysuch a lofty ideal?

I see this question once more aimedat the need to grow in our identity. Ifthe previous question sought a defi-nition of “the purpose we Maristsserve today,” this one invites us to an-swer the question “What gives ourlives meaning today,” and refers to in-dividuals as well as Marist communi-ties. I really like the way Jesus refersto himself in Matthew’s gospel: “Cometo me, for I am meek and humble ofheart.” Seán is constantly remindingus that our communities will not be re-newed unless we enter into a pro-found process of reconciliation andpersonal and institutional conversion.This brings us to the heart of Maristspirituality, apostolic by its very na-ture. I believe that as an Institute weare slowly entering into this processof growing in the goodness at thecore of our hearts and in the humili-ty that comes from being radicallydependent on God. Mary inspires usand shows us the way to arrive atthat experience of the meek and hum-ble Jesus. This transforming experi-ence grows out of simple service to themost needy – from them we learn hu-mility and a sense of God’s provi-dence. At the same time we are trans-forming ourselves through simple di-alog — sharing our woundedness —with our brothers. There is no healing,no conversion, without this deep in-teraction in community, in our near-ness to the needy, and in the simplesharing of our experience of Jesus..

beginning, as part of the plan of thefounding Fathers. However, theMarist Brothers had a different be-ginning. They did not grow out of agroup of lay people, nor were theyenvisioned as part of the originalMarist project. In the end, Marcellinwas told: “Look, since you thinkbrothers are so important, go aheadand start a group!” We started outas a religious institute, with reli-gious vows; we had no “secular”roots. So here we are now, takingour first tentative steps, trying tofind a way to carry out this deeplyfelt call, one that we sense world-wide, to share our Marist charismwith the laity. There exists an abun-dance of examples. Our outlook asMarist Brothers has always capti-vated many teachers and otherswho have worked with us, past andpresent. I think the existence of“the Little Sisters” illustrates thisvery well. They’re a good example ofa group that is fascinated by ourcharism and do not feel an affinityto that of the Marist Sisters. Stepsthat are gradually being takenaround the world include living incommunity with groups of youngpeople, sharing our life and missionwith married couples filled with

Much has been written andsaid about sharing our

spirituality and missionwith the laity. From yourexperience, do you see in-dications that we are trav-eling down the right roadin this regard?

We Marists have our way — I wouldcall it charismatic — of being anddoing things. I think we must re-spect this Marist “character”. If wedon’t, we run the risk of rejectingour “charism,” like a body that re-jects a transplanted organ. As amember of the General Council, I’vemet on at least three different oc-casions with the De La Salle Broth-ers and the Marianists, and alsowith our Marist congregations. Wealways end up chatting about thelay De La Salles, the lay Marianists,and the lay people of the MaristThird Order. Both the De La SalleBrothers and Marianists evolved in-to who they are today from a found-ing group made up entirely of laypeople, inspired by a priest, anddedicated to education and evan-gelization, especially for youth. TheThird Order Marists, a lay associa-tion, came on the scene at the very

The Institute is reaching out to a multicultural and international world

LUIS GARCÍA SOBRADO

May 2003 9missionary zeal, and many otherforms of association and work in amore or less formal setting. It’s im-portant to create channels for peo-ple to participate in the spirituali-ty and mission of the Marist Broth-ers; to find practical ways to help usdiscover what God wants us to be,for and with the laity.

Many brothers because oftheir age feel distanced

from the present genera-tion of children and youth.How do we bridge this gapto bring about closer tiesand dialog?

I’m firmly convinced that age is noobstacle when it comes to relatingto young people. When I was direc-tor of the Post-novitiate center inNairobi, Brother Joseph Ronzon ofBeaucamps-St. Genis, in his 60s atthe time, came for a few months tohelp us improve our French. Then hestayed on for two more years at therequest of the student Brothers. Hebecame a very positive influencein their lives, listening to themwith great compassion and helpingthem overcome difficulties. At thesame time he would come to see meregularly in order to be sure thatwhat he was doing was not inter-fering with the formation process.Elderly Brothers, filled with good-ness and wisdom, are jewels wher-ever they are found. Frequently,they are masters in the art of in-terpersonal relationships. Youngpeople see such men as pricelessgifts and don’t hesitate to confidein them. I wonder if this isn’t whatour young brothers, lay teachers,students, street children in many ofour centers, and people in generalare seeking and longing for: peoplefilled with goodness and wisdomwho help us to experience God’spresence.

Keeping in mind that re-structuring means somegeographical areas are be-

Seán and you make a goodcombination, togetherwith the General Council.What are you going to em-phasize in your programfor animation and gover-nance? What can we ex-pect from you in this re-gard in the coming years?

More and more I believe that Marygives us the leaders we need ateach particular time in the historyof our Institute. Seán arrives atjust the right moment as we beginthe 21st century. He is a master ofthe art of interpersonal relation-ships, a talented writer, a greatcommunicator, with a capacity forwork that seems inexhaustible. It’sa constant challenge to keep upwith him, yet at the same time aninvitation to respectful dialog, toteamwork, to work as a community.He is helping me and the Coun-cilors build community and do ourwork of animation and governanceas a community. Perhaps this iswhat the Institute can expect of us:a united Council, working as a teamand happy to be brothers amongbrothers.As for the rest, may Jesus, Maryand Marcellin inspire us at all timesto be creative in our fidelity.

ing expanded, and thatthis might threatenprogress in inculturationand cause our energy tobe dissipated, do you thinkthe process is beneficialfor the vitality of the In-stitute?

Restructuring, as it’s been takingplace throughout the Institute, hasalready brought about positive re-sults: it has helped many brothersand lay Marists to see our life andmission beyond provincial bound-aries and, in most instances, be-yond national borders. This in itselfis a clear example of conversionthat is enhancing our vitality.Preparing the Institute for the 21st

century means among other thingsopening up its structures to multi-cultural and international realities.Cultural anthropology shows us thattrue inculturation, the develop-ment and enrichment of a particu-lar culture, does not occur unlesswe risk entering into a vibrant di-alog with other cultures. This isthe starting point for “cultural mis-sions.” I am convinced that a nec-essary element for vitality is thisopenness of the Marist communityto a multicultural perspective inour everyday lives.

Seán and Luis, a winning team in service to the Institute

INTERVIEW

Br. Juan Miguel AnayaProvince of Bética, Spain

Getting out theChapter’s message –are we succeeding?

From the very beginning the 20th

General Chapter was concernedabout sharing and transmittingthe wealth of its fraternal joy,prayerful discernment, andvibrant life in the Spirit to thewhole Marist world. It wasevident that the best way to dothis was to stay in touch witheveryone on a regular basis – forthat we owe a debt of gratitudeto the communicationscommission and thoseresponsible for the web page –and to prepare official versions ofChapter documents.In surveys leading up to theChapter, many people expressedthe hope that its documentswould be written in plainlanguage, filled withencouragement, and few innumber. To that end, the Chapterdecided to issue a singleMessage. It was composed by BrothersFergus Garrett, Eduardo Navarro,Jean Ronzon, and Afonso Murad,and wove together the work ofthe Chapter’s five commissions.Criteria used in composing theMessage called for its beingpresented in the form of a letter,filled with hope, encouragement,and a determination to promotelife, developing themes addressedto the Marist world by previousChapters.Although the Message is intendedfor the brothers, its contentsaffect all who see themselves asI

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heirs to the spirituality ofChampagnat. The Chaptercommissioned Br. Oscar Martín topresent a shorter version of itsthoughts, addressed to all menand women who live the grace ofMarcellin’s charism.Now that several months havepassed, it is time to askourselves how effectively theMessage Choose life is helping usto generate new life, and tocelebrate, share, and welcomethe life that is already maturingin individuals,communities, and groups.

Br. Libardo Garzón DuqueNor-Andina Province

A river with fivebranches

This General Chapter has been agift from the Holy Spirit for ourInstitute and for everyone withwhom we share our life andmission. A gift not only inregard to the large number ofcountries and cultures that cametogether, but especially in lightof the fraternal, prayerful, anddiscerning spirit that imbuedour daily lives during the timewe spent at our Generalate. The method of work that wechose enabled us to undertake agenuine quest to be faithful tocalls from the Lord, St. Marcellin,and those we serve in ourmission. Out of that quest camea proposal to deepen ourreflection on five core concerns –areas in which the brothers andlay participants representing theInstitute saw a convergence ofboth uneasiness and expectation.

Five commissions were set up,one to deal with each area.These groups set about puttingtogether a single, challenging,spirit-filled document, plain instyle yet profound in content,inviting us to: center our liveson Jesus as the source of livingwaters; renew our communitiesand create an enhancedfraternal atmosphere; widen ourhorizons while fortifying ouridentities as lay persons andbrothers; go forward together inworking with children and youngpeople who are poor, being boldand daring in our choices anddecisions; and lastly, consolidateour structures of governmentand animation at all levels. Just as rivers are fed by theirdifferent branches, so thevitality of the Institute will beenriched according to the drivewith which each of us takes upthese choices of the 20th

General Chapter, an expressionof God’s love for us hereand now.

Br. Ronnie McEwanProvince West Central Europe

“You must be thechange you want tosee in the world

Mahatma Gandhi

A General Chapter is a time toremember that we are not justlaying bricks or building walls.It reminds us that we are

building cathedrals. To take toheart the message of the 20th

General Chapter of “Choose Life”means to commit ourselves tobuilding up the “communion ofmarist saints”. This is ourcathedral. When I refer to thecommunion of marist saints Iam talking of the livingcommunion of saints who areblessed with the marist spirit ofGod. This does not differentiatebetween marist brother or maristlay person.Do I see myself as a bricklayer,a builder of walls or as someonebuilding a cathedral? TheChapter challenges me to searchfor life in the sacred. Thismeans truly listening, withoutallowing myself to be distracted.We chose the line “a heart thatknows no bounds” as a themefor the Canonisation. Are weprepared to go beyond theboundaries of what weunderstand to be community?What does it mean to chooselife in the way that we pray?Are there ways of praying whichwe need to let go?Building cathedrals andchoosing life can seemawesome, impossible andaltogether too ambitious. I takeconsolation in the words of aPersian poet Rumi who describeshow it is an honour to be a dropin the ocean. To remain a drop is to remainvulnerable to all sorts ofdangers; to be the ocean is togain the ultimate strength oftogetherness. My hope is thatthe Chapter will be aninspiration and a step towardseach of us letting go of our“drop” graciously, so that wecan become an ocean of marist saints.

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The spirituality Champag-nat left us takes Mary asour model in the way wefollow Jesus. This spiritu-ality gives us a “look-outpoint” from which we viewthe world. It is from thisthat we examine and eval-uate our life today. It is al-so the spring from whichwe renew our fresh ap-proach and which allowsus to be faithful and cre-ative in reformulating andtransforming our life and

our apostolate.Saint Marcellin reached Jesus by imitating Maryand walking with her. The varying episodes of hispersonal history and the way that his spiritualjourney is still topical today can revive our en-thusiasm.

CONTRADICTIONSThe contradictions in our world are many anddeep. We run up against them every day in car-rying out our apostolate. However, let us notdwell on them. Let us look rather at what Godis telling us through them.To be a consecrated Marist today means totransform the contradictions of the world intocalls from God. We take Jesus as our perfect mod-el. He came through this world, giving a newmeaning to the reality he found in it. His talkon the Beatitudes is a striking example of his vi-

“To follow Jesus asMary did.” This is the

central point of the firstpart of the Message of

the 20th General Chapter.This brief section lightsup and gives meaning to

the whole document.

12 FMS Message 32

Creative fidelitysion. To be a Marist Brother today is to adopt thisnew way of looking that Jesus brought to theworld. The contradictions we see now appear tous as places where God reveals himself and in-vites us to participate in His plan for the world.The life of Jesus and his Mother show us that itis in the distortions of this world that God man-ifests himself.In underlining a certain number of the contra-dictions of our time, the Message of the Gener-al Chapter shows us at the same time the placeswhere God calls us and calls on us.In this post-Chapter period, our reply will con-sist of keeping a continual attitude of discern-ment in putting into practice its decisions andorientations.

SIGNS OF HOPEIn modern times, the Church draws great at-tention to the virtue of hope. Our General Chap-ter has read this sign of the times and shared itwith the whole Institute. The message of theGeneral Chapter is a message of hope. It confirmsthe slogan “Choose life!”In the message, the signs of hope appear to uslike signposts which God has planted on our roadto keep us in mind of his presence. They en-courage us, they strengthen our efforts, they en-rich our reflections.The signs of hope which the Message of the Gen-eral Chapter offers us commit us also to deep dis-cernment. It is their nature to help us to ques-tion ourselves, to keep our eyes turned towardsthe future, and to act with confidence and op-timism. However, in order to be genuine beaconsalong our road, these signs need to be seen inthe light of the Gospel, and to be purified of theambiguities which can go with them. So we cansay that the General Chapter is the startingpoint of a period of hard work and exertion.

WHEN THE SIGNS OF HOPE COME UPAGAINST THE CONTRADICTIONS OFTHE WORLDWhen the signs of hope come up against the con-tradictions of the world, the evangelical actionof the consecrated person takes on an irre-placeable role. Its work is to ensure that goodtakes on its whole proper dimension, which is the

Let us followJesus in Mary’sway and in her

company

CREATIVE FIDELITY

Br. Théoneste KalisaGeneral Councilor

May 2003 13

accomplishment of the plan of God. The conse-crated person bears witness to the fact that theworld cannot really build up and develop and or-ganize itselfwithout God. Tohold otherwise isa self-contradic-tion.For example, theresponse of theworld of today toinjustice and in-equality is inter-national solidari-ty. In this reply,the consecratedperson inter-venes on severallevels. He affirmshuman dignity inthe name of Je-sus, he contributes to the efforts of material sol-idarity, and in an irreplaceable manner, he workstowards humanizing this solidarity by giving itan evangelical dimension.The Message of the General Chapter reminds usalso that 110 million children are deprived of ba-sic education. This is a strong call for our in-tervention. But we must take care to give ourspecific action its proper place. There are in-ternational groups which are working in favor ofeducation, and who are also signs of hope.We are among them, we act like them, we col-laborate with them. However, let us not forgetthat our specific role comes to us through acharism of the Holy Spirit. Under this heading,no particular aspect, no matter what its impor-tance or urgency, can be our total objective. Ourchallenge in the field of education will alwaysbe God’s plan for the person to be educated.

TO FOLLOW JESUS IN THE WAY MARYDID, AND IN HER COMPANYOne aspect of Mary’s person speaks to us todaywith a special vigor. It is her openness and en-thusiasm when faced with the unknown whichcomes from God. “How can this be? May it bedone to me according to your word! My spirit re-joices in the Lord!”

Faced with the challenges of theInstitute, do we also ask how thatcan be? Jesus wants each Brother’scollaboration in order to accom-

plish wonders in and through our Institute. Theway he looks at each of us is penetrating and fullof love. It is life-giving for hearts that are open,simple, and generous. But it calls for a free re-sponse, and it is in our power to bring againstit the resistance of our own egoism.The General Chapter invites us to respond likeMary: to say “YES” to God, to look to the futurewith faith and optimism, and to commit our-selves enthusiastically to transform the Instituteboth in its life and its structures and in its mis-sion ad gentes.

CONCLUSIONThis post-Chapter time is a grace-filled one forthe Institute. The way we look at the world, theChurch, and the Institute carries all the hallmarksof a renaissance. The catchword of the GeneralChapter, “Choose life!”, is prophetic. A new lifeis always a radical newness. It is an unknown,charged with hope. We have reason to believethat from now on, new questions will arise, andthey will demand new answers. The parametershave changed; let us change to adapt to them.“New wine needs new wineskins.”Mary of the Annunciation and of the Incarnationis our Model in this new epoch upon which weare entering. ✦

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Presence of brothers among the young

The Spirit is ever at workbringing life, renewingall things and buildingup communities prophet-ic in vision and coura-geous in action. It iswhen we allow ourselvesto be distracted, how-ever, that we do not rec-ognize the signs of theSpirit.Echoing our SuperiorGeneral’s invitation, ourfinal document stated:“With Mary in our midst,

we lived a real Pentecost: many tongues,but a single heart.” (Choose Life, 3) Wesensed the closeness of the Spirit through anexceptional experience of brotherhood andduring the process of discernment. And it wasthe life-giving breath of the Spirit that en-abled the capitulants to formulate the five ap-peals that we shared with the whole Institutein our Message.In one paragraph Choose Life situates us atJacob’s well, together with the Samaritanwoman and Jesus (18). If only we knew thegift of God … (cf Jn 4:10). Elsewhere, thedocument refers to a number of encounterswith Jesus (12) as a key to understanding the

At the inauguration ofthe 20th General Chapter,Brother Benito invited usto live the event as a new

Pentecost, urging us tobe attentive and

responsive to themovements of the Spirit.

14 FMS Message 32

Drinking from the Wellfirst call of the Chapter as an act of faith: “Tocenter our lives and communities in JesusChrist, like Mary, with passion and enthusi-asm …”In times of change and crisis, we are urgedto go back to basics, to the absolute at theroot of our lives. Unfortunately, we abandonsprings of living water for the sake of waterjars that are cracked. We die of thirst evenwhile we stand next to the well. Like theprophet Elijah, we must get up and rekindlethe flame of hope, becoming pilgrims able tocross the desert to reach the mountain of God(cf. 1 K 19:1-8). Then we’ll become wor-shipers in spirit and truth in the words of Je-sus to the Samaritan woman. And then, filledwith the Father’s love, we will ourselves be-come fountains of living water gushing forthlife in abundance.“We want to be Brothers.” (19) Only thisand nothing else: “Religious Brothers” touse the words of the Apostolic Exhortation Vi-ta Consecrata (VC) of John Paul II. “This[term] is significant, especially when weconsider that the word ‘brother’ suggests arich spirituality.” The Holy Father goes on toadd: “These Religious are called to be broth-ers of Christ, deeply united with him, ‘thefirstborn among many brothers;’ brothers toone another, in mutual love and working to-gether in the Church in the same service ofwhat is good; brothers to everyone, in theirwitness to Christ's love for all, especiallythe lowliest, the neediest; brothers for agreater brotherhood in the Church.” (VC 60). Being consecrated lay people is not a prob-lem or difficulty for us. On the contrary, itconstitutes the very force and richness of ourvocation. It makes the uniqueness of thecalling of the male religious more apparent.Together with all those in consecrated life, welive through times of transition as an op-portunity for refounding. We are pilgrims onthe way to Emmaus. In times of doubt andfrustration, only by listening attentively tothe Word and acknowledging the signs ofthe centrality of Christ will we be able to re-visit history and observe the events of ourtime with the eyes of God. Only then will our

We go to thefountain of livingwater to become

a wellspring

1. CENTERED IN JESUS CHRIST

Br. Antonio RamalhoGeneral Councilor

May 2003 15

of Living Watercommunities become “schoolsof faith” and radiant witness-es to the Risen One.The consecrated life “consti-tutes a closer imitation and anabiding re-enactment in theChurch of the way of life whichJesus … embraced and pro-posed to his disciples.” (VC22) It is best explained as agift freely given by God andaccepted trustingly in faith.“What in people's eyes canseem a waste is, for the indi-viduals captivated in thedepths of their heart by thebeauty and goodness of theLord, an obvious response oflove …” (VC 104) In his ad-dress to our Chapter BrotherÁlvaro Echevarría, SuperiorGeneral of the De La Salle Brothers, mentioneda fine example of the reality of this love. Hereferred to one of their Guatemalan Brotherswho had died in an accident. This youngman had told his mother that fidelity and per-severance in the religious life is possibleonly if one has fallen in love with God.To live out one’s consecration with passionand enthusiasm is not just a naïve and ro-mantic illusion. It is much more an arduousstruggle lived in the humble realization of ourweakness and the mercy of God. Not bychance does our Chapter Message (18,21)stress the ideas of process, searching, grad-ual maturing, and conversion. We must re-spect the dynamics of human growth, givingto the word “human” all its richness, re-membering that God Himself became one ofus in the Incarnation.In this context, we see the great importanceof the formative process in the nurturing ofa healthy and credible religious life under-taken by loving people reconciled with them-selves and in solidarity with others. An aptcitation comes from the valuable documentFraternal Life in Community produced byCIVCSVA: “Because the religious communityis a ‘Schola amoris’ (school of love) helping

its members grow in the love of God and ofone another, it is also a place of humangrowth … Maturing as a person is a prereq-uisite for a life that radiates the gospel. It isan unending process of enrichment not onlyin the spiritual domain, but also psycholog-ically, culturally and socially.” (35)We declare that Jesus Christ is central toour lives as religious brothers and disciplesof Champagnat. Sharing in his charism, we actin the manner of Mary. More than anyone else,she centered her whole life on the plans ofGod in the person of her son Jesus. Her ex-perience of God’s love teaches us to accept,live and share the same love. Mother of theChurch, she is the one who inspires and ac-companies us as members of the greaterMarist Family incarnating her way of being inthe Church and in the world.As a community united around Mary, we de-sire to realize and prolong the new Pentecostexperienced at the Chapter. Opening thedoors of the Cenacle, we proclaim our faithrenewing our Marist “credo” by spreading ajoy to others, particularly children and veryneedy young people, giving them a sense ofmeaning in their lives: Jesus Christ who of-fers us his love and life in its fullness. ✦

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Youth are thirsting for knowledge and love

This is a question a num-ber of Brothers haveasked since the Chapter.One answer is that Voca-tions were never very farfrom the minds of theCapitulants. The Chapterexpressed its concern forVocations, by conscious-ly choosing to addressissues which it felt were

directly impacting on the attraction and re-tention of young men to our way of life.Does our community life attract new men?Does our life together sustain the Brothers wehave?The concern for the life of our communitiesis shared across continents and across cul-tures. Since the 1970’s the quality of com-munity life has increasingly become the rea-son why men leave us. It now ranks withcelibacy as the principal reason given for re-questing an Indult. It seems that as many menreach a stage in life where the first challengesof ministry have been faced with enthusiasmand overcome with some confidence, theneed for the emotional support of communi-ty life becomes more deeply felt. The ministryexperience of many Brothers increasingly isone of more being expected of their educa-tional programs and of them personally. Of-ten the number of Brothers in a particularministry is not what it once was. So there isless of the sense of the Brothers working asa large, unified, energetic team. Therefore in-creasingly the Community becomes the placewhere connection with each other needs to beexperienced.At the very time when the need is felt forgreater personal support from each other athome we find that often we lack the skills toprovide it. (Constitution 51) One wonders ifthe only way communities are going to be theplaces of “truly healthy interpersonal rela-tionships and family spirit” is if we eachconsciously and deliberately decide to workat acquiring the skills to make it so. These areskills acquired through effort, practice, andlearning from mistakes. Skills that require a

“If the General Chapterwas concerned about theVitality of the Institute,why was Vocations notone of the five calls?”

16 FMS Message 32

To attract and preservelife-time.Conversations at the General Chapter boughtto light the challenges faced by Provincialleadership. Some leaders, wishing to assistyoung men with their vocational discern-ment, search long and hard around theirProvince for a community that lives a life thatwould be attractive to a young man of today,let’s call him the Discerning Young Man. Oth-er Provincials with young Brothers leaving For-mation Communities for their first ministryappointment look anxiously around theirProvince for a Community that will supportand enrich this new life. Probably both the Discerning Young Man andthe young Brother are looking for similarthings. Does the Community have the feel ofvitality about it, with such features of life as:change, adaptation, and growth. Does the vis-itor sense that the focus of the community isoutside of itself and not looking inward pre-occupied with preservation and self-care.Does ministry, in whatever form, figure promi-nently in the time and conversation of thecommunity? Or does the community feel likea solid self-sufficient institution that repeatsthe patterns of last year, and the year before,back to .…? We do not allow our schools andministries to remain fixed in the routinesand curricula of last year, of last decade. Arewe content that our communities do? Hencethe critical value of the annual CommunityLife Plan. So each of us can look around, each commu-nity can ask itself: for the Discerning Young

2. RENEWED COMMUNITIES

Community as a setting for fraternity

Br. Peter RodneyGeneral Councilor

May 2003 17

Vocations

Man seeking to join us; for the young Broth-er just starting his life as a Marist Apostle:would their ministry be supported and sus-tained by our relationships with each other?Would their personal prayer be nurtured andencouraged by the community prayer here? Inbeing very concerned about Vocations - wasthe Chapter right in first being concernedabout community relationships and prayer?In the face of this concern, what to do?There is no blue-print for the Institute. Butfortunately each community does have thefreedom to take charge of its own vitality. Canskilled leaders encourage change, be patientwith slow progress so long as the good will isevident, work pastorally with those who fearchange, and firmly with those who would in-fect the community with their despair? Goodleaders are critical. The Chapter was con-cerned about this. Do we prepare our com-munity leaders as well as we prepare ourministry leaders? Maybe in some Provinces, the Brothers to-gether may realise that one structure andrhythm of community is not beneficial for alland does not support the ministries of all. Canthis reality be faced - with an eye to the vi-tality of the Province. Is the Province trust-ing enough, adventurous enough, to allow,and maybe even encourage, different types ofcommunities within the Province? Might therebe the variety of communities within aProvince that more accurately reflects dif-ferences in ministry, formation, and person-al spirituality. It will add further complexityto Province life that is probably already very

complex, but it will witness to the diverserichness of Marist Brotherhood.One thing does seem certain: for there to bevitality in a Province, its communities (someat least, if not all) need to be places of vi-tality. Vital in that, under the pastoral guid-ance of skilled leaders, the community con-veys the sense that Community Life is im-portant to each one. Vital because individu-ally and together we are acquiring the skillsnecessary to make it humanly and spiritual-ly supportive. Vital in that there is the air ofrealism here. Realism which knows that in theface of what is necessary, progress is slow andit requires patience and forgiveness. Realismalso reflected in the connection of the com-munity to life outside the Chapel, and toministry outside the Community, which ispossible for nearly all Brothers. Brotherhoodexperienced in such a way that I know thatfor the men with whom I live the spiritualjourney is of great consequence to them, soI am encouraged to persevere in my conse-cration. If we are working for vitality, evi-dently, concretely, patiently, then the Broth-er’s life will be attractive to the DiscerningYoung Man; and it will support the Brother ofwhatever age. We owe that much to eachother. ✦

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In this Biblical context weprepare ourselves to lis-ten to the invitation ex-tended to us by the 20th

General Chapter. Three situations from dif-ferent parts of the Maristworld:❖ Rosita has discoveredher vocation as a teacher.This is the second group ofchildren who have been ‘herfamily’ for three months.She and her 14 year-olddaughter are in charge ofthe eight boys and girlswho form the house-familyof La Valla. Through affec-tion and discipline, the chil-dren learn the habits of

cleanliness, social skills and responsibility that no-one taught them in their own (somewhat dys-functional) families The projects which help youngpeople in irregular situations are forming a greaterpart of the Marist charism.❖ A month ago Rob was affiliated to the Province,during a Eucharistic Service. His wife and their twochildren were present, along with almost fortybrothers, several colleagues and some students ofthe school where he has been teaching for morethan twenty years.“I renew my deci-sion to dedicatemy life to the edu-cation of theseyoung people, es-pecially the mostneglected,” he an-nounced with sim-plicity on ac-knowledging theaffiliation. Thereare eighty morelaymen and lay-women, like him,affiliated membersof that Marist Province. ❖ The group is made up of a dozen people, menand women. They have just celebrated 25 years of

The expression of theprophet Isaiah (54,2),

used in the ChapterMessage to address our

relationship with laypeople, is replete with

references to thefruitfulness recovered bythe people (wife) of God,

thanks to His renewedlove that has returned

after their exile.

18 FMS Message 32

Widen the Tentcommunity life: every week they meet to share theGospel and aspects of their life; every year they takepart in several weekend retreats; they have takenpart in many shared initiatives, although they be-gan as a prayer group. Six years ago, as a frater-nity, they joined the Champagnat Movement.Throughout the last decades the Marist charismhas shown itself bearing fruit in the lives of manylay people who live their Christian faith with thecharacteristics and features that Saint Marcellinbequeathed to the brothers. The Chapter invitesus to recognize in the life of these lay people,young and old, their legitimate ownership of thelife and work of Champagnat. It is the Spirit ofGod that has led us by these paths of mutual en-richment and that will lead us to enrich ourMarist identity as brothers and lay people.On the one hand there are lay Marist educators,moving from profession to vocation, in their de-livery of the gospel mission. Working side by sidewith them in the Marist school, the brothers areenriched by their gifts. In many places, we needto continue reciprocating, while abandoning theold vertical system. The joint experience of for-mation processes in our Marist apostolic spiri-tuality is creating new links of brotherhood be-tween brothers and lay people. From one to an-other we strengthen our own identity through di-alogue and through our joint apostolate. In thisway our mission is seen to be strengthened. In

some cultures, the presence of thebrothers in a scholastic environ-

3. WITH THE LAITY

Sharing with the laity, a new sign of life

Br. Pedro HerrerosGeneral Councilor

May 2003 19

ment, which is pluralistic, putsthem in contact with educatorsof other beliefs. In the dialoguethat arises, God makes himselfheard and his Kingdom continuesto spread. The person of Mar-cellin revives, in many cases, adeep spiritual synthesis.On the other hand, many familieshave encountered our Maristcharism in the educational insti-tutions attended by their chil-dren. They have been attractedby the simplicity of treatment,the affectionate and disinterest-ed closeness, with the discipline,which, while motivated and lov-ing, is still demanding. From theGospel of Jesus they have discovered the call tolive the brotherhood. They have identified them-selves with the Marian characteristics that theyhave discovered, and have found a new place forMary in their lives. Some have wanted to be in-volved in some way with the charism, throughtheir lay identity. The Chapter has entrusted tous the accompaniment in these processes and theexploration of new ways. The young are also the animators and the vol-unteers who dedicate part of their time to ac-companying other children and young people intheir growth as people and Christians, and to de-velop solidarity projects. Characteristics of Cham-pagnat also vibrate in their hearts. His person-ality captivates and inspires them. They are en-couraged towards generosity and disinterestedcommitment. He encourages them in diverseinitiatives. Some share the life of community withthe brothers for periods of time (and through this,the brotherhood receives a more universal sense.) What will the future present? In a Church thatis communion and participation, our identity asreligious lay brothers is outlined in our inter-action with the hierarchy and the lay people. Themystery of the Church is reflected in the varietyof vocations that the Lord provides for the lifeof the world. The gift of our vocation as MaristBrothers will continue being indispensable. Onthe face of the brother will shine the depth ofhis experience of God, the grace of brotherhood,

and his complete devotion to the Kingdomthrough educating children and young people.The better we are integrated in the Church as awhole, the better we will shape our own iden-tity. In the present ecclesial context, in which the laymovements of distinct spiritualities resemble anew Pentecost, the Marist laity has a great op-portunity (it is a time of grace: kairós). Accom-panied by the brothers, lay Marists will be giv-ing character to their own identity, from the rootsof the Marian and apostolic spirituality that Mar-cellin Champagnat bequeathed to us. As adultsin the faith they will continue discerning forthemselves or in the company of the brothers anew educational presence among the neglectedyoung people. The widened tent of the Marist charism, in ad-herence to the Spirit who has been poured intoour hearts, will be the expression and the sourceof a new vitality. Together, brothers and lay peo-ple, we are in the process of updating the charismof Marcellin Champagnat. We are called to becomeespecially dedicated to those to whom we aresent, above all young people, accepting an in-vitation to personify the gospel, following Mary.And our Founder will be able to recognize in eachone of his children (lay people and brothers) aworker for the Kingdom, chosen by the Father andanimated by the Spirit to recognize Jesus Christand to love him. ✦

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Ready a place for one more friend…

A few years ago (1996),Barbara Fiand published abook in which she com-pared the present momentof religious life with Ja-cob’s wrestling with Godthat is told in the book ofGenesis (32,22). The bookis entitled Wrestling withGod.

GOD FIGHTS USThe Biblical story takesplace in the middle of thenight. Have we not oftenreferred to the image ofnight to describe the ex-perience of many of us,immersed in a time of far-

reaching changes that disorient and confuse us?Do we not often feel surrounded by darkness, withno obvious points of reference? Why does thedawn of a new day take so long? In which direc-tion should we go, when we are presented withso little security? In the middle of the night, ‘someone,’ whose facehe cannot see, attacks Jacob. Only in the end, af-ter resisting all night long, is he able to discov-er that he has been fighting with God. If we ap-ply the Biblical images to our own life, perhaps

Allow yourselves to beattacked by God, do notthink that Jacob is faraway... Everything calls

us to battle with God andfor God, so that God

becomes visible, so thatthe sun of God can dawnin us and we are enabled

to receive a new name. (Dorothee Sölle)

20 FMS Message 32

Wrestling with Godwe recognize that too often the experience of ‘thenight’ has led us to want to surrender to fatigueand loss of heart, closing our eyes and giving into sleep. But our comfortable tranquillity is dis-turbed by the assault of ‘the unknown’ whose facewe were able to sense, like Jacob, the face of God. As Jacob was, we are invited to endure the wholenight and to bravely confront our encounterwith God. And for us, Marists, what face could Godassume, other than one of children and youngpeople?Their voice resounded clearly and strongly inthe course of three days in the headquarters ofthe UN last May: “We are the children of the street.We are the children of war. We are the victims andthe orphans of HIV-AIDS. We want a world suit-able for children, because a world that is adequatefor us is a world that is adequate for all.”(Gabriela, Boliva, 13 years old and Audrey, Mona-co, 17 years old). “Today, the children of Liberiasuffer in the war, we are undernourished be-cause of the war, and we die because of the war.”(Wilmont, Liberia, 16 years old). “The best thingyou can do is stop the wars. Here you make de-cisions that can affect the world. I hope that youwill listen to me.” (Eliza, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 13years old). “Some people are born only to suffer,through situations that they have not caused.What we need from you is peace.” (Jose, East Tim-or, 17 years old).To the testimony of those children and teenagers,reinforced by another 380 who took part in theWorld-Wide Forum For Children, was added thevoice of Carol Bellamy, Director General of UNICEF:“We are failing the children. In the planet thereare 2.1 billion minors. Every 24 seconds onehundred babies are born and many of them willdie before the age of 5 years as the result of dis-eases that can be prevented; many will never en-ter a classroom, they will be terrorized by socialviolence or by war, and they will be forced to workin conditions of abuse.”

I WILL NOT RELEASE YOU UNTIL YOUBLESS MELaura Hannant, a 16 year-old Canadian, anoth-er participant in the World-Wide Forum, com-mented before the UN Assembly: “Now, while weare here you are listening to us. Will you continue

Jesus fulfilled hismission to the

very end

4. MISSION AND SOLIDARITY

Br. Emili TurúGeneral Councilor

May 2003 21

to do so? That is another ques-tion.”Assaulted by God in the outcry ofchildren and young people need-ing immediate attention, Laura’squestion resounds unrelentingly:“Fine, you’re all feeling moved bythis situation right now – thequestion is, what are you goingto do about it?” The choice is be-fore us. Either we can spend ourtime turning out new documen-tation about our “Mission andSolidarity,” getting involved indiscussing the kind of apostolatemost in accordance with ourcharism, and making the casefor our limited possibilities forcommitment since, going alongwith ever-indispensable statis-tics, we must “be realistic”… or,we can get down to business right away, comingup with rapid responses to dramatic calls forhelp. Can we have any doubt about the choicethat the compassionate heart of Champagnatwould make? All night long Jacob stubbornly battled on. “Iwon’t let you go until you give me your blessing,”he daringly tells God. And so it was: his perse-verance became his blessing.

OUR GOD WANTS US TO BE ON FIREA Sufi mystical poet told the following story:Moses overheard a shepherd pray in a simple andfamiliar way, as though speaking to a friend: hesaid to God that when he thought about Him, hecould only say” Ah!” Moses was greatly irritatedby this apparent lack of respect shown by theshepherd, and he suggested he use more correctlanguage. According to the story, Moses had asudden revelation from God, who reproachedhim for his attitude: “I do not listen to thewords that people say,” said God, “I only pay at-tention to their humility. That contrite and sub-missive heart is the reality, not the words. It isnecessary to forget the great phrases. Fire, fire iswhat I want.” God suggested to Moses that thosewho pay more attention to the way of speakingare of one type. Those who are inflamed with His

love belong to another.Marcellin Champagnat was not exactly a personwho gave great speeches, but someone who,fired by the love of God, was capable, in His name,of great boldness: “I cannot see a child withouttelling him how much God loves him.”When the 20th General Chapter decided to pub-lish a single final Message, as delegates we want-ed to emphasize that we had already spent a longtime making great declarations among ourselves.That now is the time of ‘passion’: an invitationto each one of us to let ourselves be on fire withthe tenderness of a God who wishes to show Him-self as a brother near to the children and youngpeople whose outcry is being heard more clear-ly with every passing day. God has given us thegifts, which are necessary to ignite the world ofthose around us. (Message 31) Are we making thebest use of the gifts that we have received? The famous writer Joan Chittister stated in a 1994article: “The only question for this time is: willreligious life continue with us or will othershave to come to reanimate it?” She pointed outthat two things seem certain. First, that it is im-possible for groups that do not address the ques-tions of today to serve as leaven at this time inhistory. Second, where passion is missing, life isdead. ✦

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What better face for God to take on than that of a child or young person?

Nothing more normal,you’ll say, since the LordHimself gave the exam-ple, inviting his disciplesto do the same! “If I,Lord and Master, havewashed your feet…” (Jn13:14) The explanationof this gesture is pre-cisely in this openingphrase. The one to whom

all power in heaven and on earth has been giv-en makes himself the servant of His apos-tles… This is a complete reversal of perspec-tive, an attitude at the antipodes of the prac-tice prevalent at the time of Jesus as well asours. He who has power very often makes it feltand uses it to his benefit. This is not the casefor those who commit themselves to followChrist… This attitude of being his brothers’servant has only one foundation: love, and thatalone can justify accepting the function of acommunity leader at any and all levels. In the lines which follow I would like simplyto share some brief thoughts, beginning withthe three elements found in the Chapter Mes-sage in numbers 37 to 40.

A PASTORAL GOVERNANCEIn number 38 of the Message the Chapteradds this qualifier to describe the model ofgovernance wanted. Even if everybody agreeson the word itself, it is not certain that we all

On Holy Thursday inRome our Superior

General washed the feetof a few Brothers in the

Generalate.

22 FMS Message 32

Wash each other’s have the same idea of what pastoral gover-nance is. For me, it seems that its essentialcharacteristic is to place the love of God andHis brothers at the center of my activities. Oneof the manifestations of this love will be theattention I give to each person, the accom-paniment of each person, if necessary… Thatdoesn’t mean, however, accommodation. A“pastoral” Provincial does not accept all sit-uations, all requests… particularly if these putpeople in difficulty, worse still in danger. Hecannot sanction irresponsible behavior. WhileI was Provincial, it happened that I was hardon a Brother, for I really believed his healthwas in danger… Two or three years later thissame confrère wrote me: “I can never thankyou enough for what you did for me…” Thesefew words have amply rewarded me for all theefforts made, efforts which perhaps had beenmisunderstood initially. I believe that onewho governs in a pastoral way also knowshow to make decisions which can be accept-ed even if they seem painful. To love one’sbrother requires courage sometimes to helphim grow in his vocation. That also is pastoralgovernance.

A CREATIVE SERVICE OF ANIMATIONAND GOVERNANCEWe have to note that the process of restruc-turing has given rise to new ideas in the mat-ter of structures of animation and governance.In one place we have seen regions or sectors

5. ANIMATION AND GOVERNANCE

SuperiorsGeneral: a legacy

of service

Br. Maurice BerquetGeneral Councilor

May 2003 23

feetsurface at the heart of the new province…Elsewhere, reflection led to a proposal to theGeneral Chapter, which was accepted: the pos-sibility of naming Vice-Provincials, major su-periors… In each of these cases, I believe thatthe overriding concern was to promote life…,to allow more of a bonding with the Provincialor his representative, while at the same timepooling our resources beyond our formerprovincial limits… Besides, the process itselfled most of the time to organizing multiple en-counters looking for adiscernment not limitedto provincial councilsonly. It seems to me, however,that we have not ex-plored everything in thematter of renewing ourstructures of animationand governance. For ex-ample, our provincialchapters have a ratherreduced deliberativerole… Must we not gofurther in our search fornew responsibilities inthis important instance?As a participant in the committee on “struc-ture” put in place by the Provinces of Franceand Catalunya, I was struck by the remark ofa canonist whom we had consulted on thismatter… I think that if we want a governmentthat puts a premium on co-responsibility andsubsidiarity, thus promoting communionamong the Brothers, we cannot hold back inthis search.

CO-RESPONSIBILITY…When we speak of animation and governance,it’s tempting to focus on the Brothers who arevested with a particular responsibility: theleader of my community, the Provincial, the Su-perior General… This focus is not always with-out ulterior motives. I can ensconce myself inthe very comfortable position of an observermore or less critical of the functioning of au-thority. This is to forget rather quickly that weare all involved in such a service, even if we

don’t have a leadership title. The service ofgovernment necessitates at least two parties:the one who makes a decision and the one thedecision affects. In this sense then this ser-vice is essentially of a relational nature. Theabsence of one of the two parties makes thematter moot.More precisely I would like to highlight an as-pect which concerns each and every one of us.This is in the procedure foreseen by our Con-stitutions for the nomination of the one who

will ensure the gover-nance and animation ofmy community, of myProvince… Consultingeach Brother by meansof a paper ballot is notas insignificant as it ap-pears. I can questionmyself on my own atti-tude when I’m consult-ed. What am I lookingfor when I put my nameon a ballot? The personthat I consider capable,the one who will guar-antee my tranquility, theone who will bring new

ideas…? At a time when the average age in theInstitute is rising, at a time when the newProvinces formed by restructuring are beingborn, what Brother am I going to propose asProvincial? Isn’t it tempting to favor securityby calling upon the same ones? This attitude,very understandable, can, however, have sometroublesome long-term consequences. Re-newing leadership is essential to the life of myProvince; it’s through new leadership thatnew ideas, new undertakings can be born. Towait until the young become old before en-trusting them with responsibility, isn’t that se-riously handicapping the future? I have to beconscious that with my one vote I can also re-spond to the call of the Chapter for a creativeservice of animation and governance…Wash one another’s feet… Doesn’t this invi-tation seem to suggest that we are all involvedin the service of animation and gover-nance…! ✦

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Br. Carlos WielganczukProvince of Brazil Centro Sul

Practical ways ofliving out theChapterThe 20th General Chapter was agrace for the Institute. Guided bythe Holy Spirit and the maternalpresence of Mary, our capitulantsdrew up proposals andsuggestions. To make these bearfruit, commitment to them isrequired of every part of theInstitute – the General Council,Provincial Councils,Administrative Units,Communities and Brothers.Provincial Superiors and theirCouncils can make use ofretreats, chapters, assemblies,circulars, bulletins, and visits tocommunities and apostolic worksto encourage, orient and animatebrothers, communities andlaypersons. These persons willalso need adequate means andqualified persons to assist themin their spiritual formation andorientation for mission andsolidarity. The attitudes andactions to be promoted are tohave as a long-term goal theappeals of the 20th GeneralChapter.Communities: It is withincommunities that the calls of theChapter can best yield fruit. Thefollowing means are appropriate:the Community Life Project;weekly community meetings;sharing life and faith, givingwitness to our ability to see theimage of God in our Brother; theReview of the Day; and sharingmission with the parents of ourstudents and other laypersons(e.g. through the ChampagnatR

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Movement of the Marist Family).In the Community, Brothers havethe opportunity to speak abouttheir growth and on-goingchallenges in their lives. Wherethere is an atmosphere ofbrotherhood, simplicity, andevangelical life at the service ofmission, Brothers can continuethe process of human growth andconversion.The Personal Life Project basedon our deeply felt calls and theaspirations of our being canserve as an instrument to help usbetter appreciate the process ofhuman and spiritualmaturing.

Br. Antonio Giménez de BagüésProvince of Levante, Spain

Recommendationsand decisions“Together, we entered into aprocess of discernment. Wediscerned five calls urging us toact. We made our response inconcrete terms and practical linesof action. There is an evidentcontinuity with the 19th GeneralChapter.” (Choose Life 4) Here wehave a wonderful synthesis of whatthe 20th General Chapter was allabout.At the heart of the Chapter was anattitude of listening and discerningcalls. See, judge, and act – betteryet, see-judge and act – was themethod of discernment that weadopted. Why? Because once callsare discerned, it’s necessary and

important to respond to them, gointo action. Our method was inkeeping with the feeling of themajority that now was the time tocommit each other to following“courses of action,” rather thancreating new documents.The 20th General Chapter provided uswith an extensive list of things todo, presented as recommendationsand requests – decisions – forresponding to its five calls.Many recommendations, to manypeople and groups: brothers,communities, Provincial Councilors,groups of Provinces, and theGeneral Council. Few requests, andonly to a few: six addressed to theGeneral Council, and two toProvincial Councils.What makes these requests specialand sets them apart? – First, the urgency of the now, theya, the maintenant, the agora,and Br. Benito’s call to walkpeacefully, yet with a sense ofurgency, along paths first mappedout during the 19th GeneralChapter.– Also, the conviction expressed byBr. Seán that “a new day is aboutto dawn for our Marist life. The firstrays of its morning light will bethere for our Institute as a whole ifwe can, like Mary long ago, openour hearts to God’s grace and dosome of the things that we havebeen promising ourselves that wewould do for quite a longtime now.”

Br. Michael Hill Province of Sydney, Australia

Co-responsibilityAll Brothers are responsible forimplementing the decisions of

the Chapter. Some are addressedto specific groups, such asProvince and District leaders, andothers have been assigned to theGeneral Council, but the futurevitality of the Institute dependsupon the willingness of eachindividual Brother to read andabsorb prayerfully the message ofthe Chapter and then to put itinto action in his own life. Wewill then, with credibility, beable to inspire and encourage ourlay partners to do likewise. In his closing Chapter addressBrother Sean, Superior General,noted that the real work of theChapter was about to begin asthe delegates returned to theirProvinces and Districts. At thattime we delegates had arrived atthe conclusion of six weeks ofsharing and deliberations. It wasan exciting and transformativeexperience where the palpablepresence of the Holy Spirit wasvery real. There is always a risk,however, that the good workdone at an event such as aGeneral Chapter may remain inthe Chapter Hall after thedelegates have left. We knowthat the implementation ofChapter decisions andcommunicating the spirit behindthem are not automaticprocesses. They demand muchhard work.This will take time. Our stepsalong the way will occasionallybe faltering, and at other timesbe both bold and strong. But itis the combined assent of mindand heart that matters. If we areto “Choose Life”, then we mustdo so actively and withenthusiasm. This was the themeof the Chapter and it remains theprimary call for each Brother over the nextseveral years.

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Br. Joaquim ClotetProvince of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The personalpractice ofdiscernmentThe document Choose Lifepresents me with a challengingsummons in its conclusion: “Letus live in an attitude ofdiscernment every day in aneffort to see what the Lordexpects of us.” It is impossibleto envision and live my life as aconsecrated Marist religiouswithout having a lovingrelationship with God each dayby means of personal andcommunity prayer. Yet I can’tstop there. My efforts and willto be faithful to the demands ofGod’s call should guide my day-to day life. Something thathelps me stay close to thepaternal and maternal heart ofGod for accomplishing this isthe passage in Ephesians knownas the prayer for enlightenment:may God “give you a spirit ofwisdom and revelation resultingin knowledge of him. May theeyes of your heart be enlightened…” (Eph 1,17) This is a callfrom my Marist religious life, attimes regrettably marked byfrenzied activity, ”that you maydiscern what is the will of God,what is good and pleasing andperfect.” (Rom 12,2) I can meetthis challenge by myself or withthe help of another. TheConstitutions suggest theProvincial or the Director of thecommunity. How wonderful itwould be if they were preparedfor that and I were ready to asksuch assistance. At certain timesin life, the presence of a

spiritual director to help in thepractice of personal discernmentcan turn out to be vitallyimportant. The exercise ofpersonal discernment, necessaryfor individual renewal and thepractice of creative fidelity, willgenerate confidence in God,freedom of spirit, simplicity, andthe determination to be filledwith passion for Jesus Christ,that is to say, be a living presence ofChampagnat in the worldof today.

42.2 Br. José Luis AmpudiaProvince of León, Spain

Communicating life

“Our communities are not strongin terms of sharing life,feelings...” (The GeneralCouncil’s Report to the Chapter).In light of that fact, the 20th

Chapter asked us “to intensifythe revelation of our trueselves in community,especially of our needs andvulnerabilities.” Even thoughthe Chapter is over, I presumethat this is a challenge that isstill very much with us. Not opening up to others is asymptom, not a cause, not themost important thing. Becomingfixated on a symptom can leadto frustration and guilt. Thesymptom – being closed in ononeself – conceals a deep anduncomfortable reality: low self-esteem, the absence of self-determination, weak faith. At the Chapter we chose life.And so the Chapter proposesaction: “implementing

processes of human growth andconversion.” (Chapter Message18) Process speaks of motion, aroad, a journey undertaken toarrive at a desired destination. It calls for accompaniment;allows for stops and starts alongthe way, even backing up; healswounds, creates opportunities,enlightens and helps us tointegrate our lives and faith, ouridentity and mission. “We feel the need to enterinto processes of personalgrowth and conversion,drawing together the differentdimensions of our being andwelcoming God’s love.” (19)Radical conversion – any majorchange – doesn’t happenovernight. It’s a long road fromfear to freedom, slavishness toself-determination, dreading lifeto embracing it, being self-centered to being kind-hearted.It requires a course of action. Without such a travel guide forgrowth it will be very difficult tomake the kind of progress incommunicating that I havewritten about it in thisbrief article.

26 FMS Message 32

42.3 Br. Robert ClarkProvince of Esopus, U.S.A.

Proclaiming theGood NewscreativelyWhat “Good News” do we Maristshave to offer the young peopleof the 21st Century? In a worldfilled with violence, abuse,broken families, and threats ofterrorism, there is a deep needfor the message of Jesus. Wehave been graced with a charismcalling us to be present with theyoung, to help “make Jesusknown and loved,” to bringthem the good news.One of our Marist characteristicsis our presence with the young.Champagnat wanted his brothersto be with the children, to loveand to teach them. Today,almost 200 years later, thosecalls are still relevant. Thechallenge is to bring those giftsof presence, of love andeducation to the children in themany countries served by ourMarist dream.In the United States, most ofour brothers are involved insecondary education. Ourschools have a Campus Ministryprogram. Five years ago the USProvinces instituted programsthat would bring togetherstudents from 15 Marist schoolsfrom 7 states. The movement iscalled – Marist Youth.Marist Youth “helps make Jesusknown and loved in the spirit ofMarcellin and the MaristBrothers.” Our Retreat Houseand property in Esopus, NY hasbeen a blessing for the youngpeople, Marist educators,brothers and lay Marists.

Marist Youth 2001 was agathering of 200 young peoplewishing to share the Good News.This spring the first MaristYouth leadership convocationwill be held for training studentleaders from each of our schoolsto be peer-evangelizers. The challenge for each of us isto heed the signs of the timesand to affirm our call and ourresources. Then we can trulybecome “Fire upon theearth.”

42.4 Br. Raúl Figuera JuárezProvince of León, Spain

Being with theyoung to have life

The Chapter has raised a trulycrucial question in my mind, oneto which I wouldn’t have givenmuch thought just a few yearsago. One that today I look uponas timely and vital. “How comeI’m not spending time withyoung people?” Is it only amatter of “I can’t” because Ihave so many other things to do,or is there more to it than that?The “more to it” becomes evidentto me when I take time out toexamine the feelings that haveled me to distance myself moreand more from young people:

• Tiredness from ongoing effortsto be creative during thesechanging times,

• Frustration and a sense offutility in trying to paddleagainst the current,

• The inadequacy and emptinessI feel from using languageincoherent to the young andconforming to lifelessreligious practices.

Given these dispirited feelings,it’s no wonder I run the risk of“getting all wrapped up inadministration,” where I feellike I’m making some kind ofcontribution and nobodyquestions what I do. So where will I get the drive torespond to the invitation in theMessage, number 42.4? I’d liketo think “the love of God pouredout in my heart...” will provideme with the willpower I need toserve the needs of the young. Ifso, then the first call of theChapter is probably superfluous. Only the desire to revitalize my

own life will give me thedynamism I need to moveforward. I need to be withyoung people “to wake up” mylife. I don’t know if I will beable to help them discover theirvocation, but being with themwill help me renew my own. Idon’t know if I will be able toaccompany them, but I willlearn how to accompany myself,and get along fine withouthaving to play the role of aknow-it-all. I don’t know if I’llbe able to teach our Catholicfaith, but I will have theopportunity to listen to my ownprofound questions clearlyexpressed in theirs. That’s the direction myLIFE is taking these days.

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Br. Lawrence NdawalaProvince of Southern Africa, Malawi

Vocations and theVitality of theInstituteA. IntroductionWe have a role to play inpromoting vocations (cf. C 94).We ask the Lord of the harvestfor courage and humility, in thespirit of Mary, to accept whatwe cannot do on our own.

Evangelical spiritualityThe Vocation Promoter should:• Live that vivid and permanent

awareness of Jesus sent by theFather.

• Live that total availability ofChrist to the Father.

• Live that unconditional andhumble response of Mary toGod.

• In this way he/she will helpyouths to read the call of God.

We go where the youths are.We should keep remindingourselves of our role in fosteringvocations. We should know howto waste time with the youthsand challenge them with ourown life (cf. C 82).

B. Collaborators1.The importance of family is

paramount. We must involvefamily. The vocation promoterwill know better thebackground of the youths. Thefamily will know the Brothers.

2.The Christian community has arole to play in the vocation ofthe young man, especially hisinvolvement in activities inthe community and hisChristian life in general.

3.The Community of theBrothers is indispensable forthe young man. He comes tosee how the Brothers live.

4.The life of individual Brothersis another occasion that theyoung man can see for himselfwhat he will become.

C. Some qualities of the youngmen• There should be a desire to

pray. • The young man should be

willing to make sacrifices. • The young man should have

the capacity to receive and tooffer forgiveness.

1.Love for the church is anaspect the young man shouldmanifest.

2.Good intellectualstandards are crucial.

43.1 Br. Bernard BeaudinProvince of Canada

Ideal community!

What is the General Chapterreally trying to tell us when itcalls on each community to be“creative”? (Message, 43.1) It’sa question of inviting us to“choose life” by injecting newvitality into our present-daycommunities starting from theirneediness and vulnerability, but

also and especially keeping inmind their strengths andparticular circumstances. Tocreate is to discern, elaborate,invent, to conceive. When all issaid and done, in organizingtimes for sharing its life andfaith, a creative communitytakes the risk to let go and dothings differently so thatcustom doesn’t get in the wayof enjoying the new wine ofcommunion. It’s a risk based onthe Gospel, in the sense that itintroduces insecurity anddemands faith in Him who riskedeverything on our behalf. Lifealways thrives after risks aretaken in the name of a foundingcharism. A creative community should beable to recognize the places andtimes that bear life and nurtureit. An ideal community doesn’tget all wrapped up in highlypersonalized creature comforts.On the contrary its membershave a sense of new goals andperspectives that can transformtheir community into ameaningful presence at theheart of a society undergoingconstant change. Thus, the newcommunity, in fidelity to thespirituality and mission thatgave it birth, will becomeinventive in its manner ofopening up and adapting, sothat those on the outside,youngsters and our lay partners,may have easy and ample accessto the spiritual and apostolicheritage handed down byMarcellin. This community willbe prophetic and nolonger out-of-date!

28 FMS Message 32

EDUCATION IS APRIVILEGED PLACE

FOR EVANGELIZATIONAND HUMAN

PROMOTION.(C. M. 33)

43.2 Br. Ted FernandezProvince of the Philippines

Marist ApostolicSpirituality in the AsianCatholic ContextThe General Chapter Commissionon “Marist ApostolicSpirituality” confronted a basicquestion: “Why are you stillMarist Brothers at this moment?What kept you going asMarists?” A whole gamut ofenriching experiences emerged,serving as expressions of aspirituality that has beenformed, a Marist culture and thepractical teachings ofChampagnat.For me this spirituality did notstart when I joined theBrothers, but since my earlyyears, through a deep devotionto Mary - the Rosary being themain Christian prayer, legacy ofSpanish missionaries in thePhilippines, which is a Mariancountry. It is particularlymeaningful for the Marists inthe southern Philippines whereMary earns a high respect amongthe Moslems and indigenoustribes.The spirituality of Mary doesn’tsimply rest in the religiousenvironment. It permeates thepolitical, mundane and criticallydangerous environment of thissociety. Mary’s form of peacefuldecision about the “visitation”,her genuine concern for thepoor in the “magnificat,” andher gentle “accompaniment” ofJesus’ disciples from Calvary toAntioch give us clear signs ofwhat we need to be doing.As Marists locked in the dangers

happening in southernPhilippines, we must hope tokeep alive her fortitude. We canonly achieve this with the mindand heart of Mary who enlivenedChampagnat’s vision. The General Chapter haschallenged our Province “tochoose life” in bringing aboutthe vision of Mary in our effortswith our lay partners to bringpeace and education in servingthe least favored, and toaccompany youth in theirprecarious journey towards adulthood.

43.3 Br. Renato GuisleniProvince of Brazil Centro Sul

Mary, teacher of life

The world is in need of dreams,truths, values, and therefore weare justified in being here. It’sright for us Marists to experienceand bring these truths to othersin our own special way. As our20th General Chapter reminds us: “In Mary we find the essentialaspects of our Marist identity. Sheteaches us to say YES to God withgenerosity; to be pilgrims of faithand disciples of Jesus; to developa listening attitude; to discernGod’s call by reflecting on eventsand keeping them in our hearts;and to rejoice at and give thanksfor the marvels God works in us.”(Chapter Message, 13)

This paragraph is a clear reminderto us that Mary’s attitudes oflistening, availability, welcome,service, solidarity, and prayerform the foundation for followingJesus. Mary incarnated the spiritof her Son, and therefore becamea sign. She mastered the art ofloving and reveals to us thesecret that in order to be lovedwe must love and give ofourselves without holding back.Only a heart that loves knowshow to give of itself, bewelcoming, in solidarity. She hadthe ability to take in the Word ofGod and therefore God chose her.Mary not only shows us the wayto go, she teaches us how totravel.In community life, she educatesus. She teaches how to be caringand sensitive, attentive to theneeds of others. By her side welearn to lovingly comprehend thepatience and composure of God.In the humble town of Nazarethwe learn how to lead our lives inan atmosphere of harmony, poor,simple, and chaste. The samewith regard to poverty,everything takes place in lovingand creative ways. Mary is poorin so far as she deeply feels theneed to embrace God and herbrothers and sisters in her life.“At this moment in our history,we turn to Mary, asking her toobtain for us the graces we needto refound our Institute. Onceagain, we confide to her theMarist project where each of uscontributes our part.”(Chapter Message, 14)

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BEING OPEN TO THEPOOR IS A CALL TO A

PROPHETIC LIFE, FOREACH OF US

PERSONALLY AND FOREACH COMMUNITY.

(C. M. 34)

43.4 Br. Christian MbamProvince of Nigeria

Working with thelocal Church

The 20th General Chapter dweltenough on collaborativeministry with the Church,universal or local, to convinceanybody of the accent theCongregation places on thisaspect of our Charism. “The fireof Pentecost urges us to takepart in the missionary outreachof the whole Church” (Message36). “Like Mary, we belong to aChurch of communion, relatingto lay people as brothers and

sisters rather than with anysense of hierarchy” (Message No.13). “Be creative in reorganisingtime of prayer and faith-sharingand to invite young people andthe laity to join you.Communicate your MarianCharacter in your collaborationwith the local Church” (43.3).Christ passionately prayed: Maythey be one in us. Again: “Bythis shall the world know thatyou are my disciples.” Moreover,this favours the process ofpersonnel formation. Workingwith the local Church or othergroups reduces the temptationof extreme autonomy and thelure of erstwhile triumphaltendencies.

Our Experience ofCollaborating with the LocalChurchThere are many instances wherethe Brothers’ work with the local

Church ended in failure and hurtfeelings for either party.Because of these realities someProvinces unfortunately adoptthe policy of non-collaboration.This is regression. “Wherever thefault may lie, we for our partshould never be guilty of notworking hard to develop thespirit of collaboration. Marcellinloved the Church deeply, but healso endured difficult momentsin his dealings with Churchauthorities. We follow hisexample of prayer, reflection,consultation, and dialogue insuch circumstances” (MaristApostolic Spirituality, p 508). I am convinced that what wegain by working with the Churchfar outweighs what wemight lose by so doing.

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43.5 Br. Sunanda AlwisProvince of Sri Lanka

Inter-religiousrelations

Inter-religious relationships arebest developed in a context ofopenness to other believers, awillingness to listen, and thedesire to respect and understandothers in their differences. Thisshould result in collaboration,harmony and mutual enrichment.

Four points to keep in mindconcerning Marist inter-religious dialog(1) Only Christians who are

deeply immersed in themystery of Christ and who arehappy in their faithcommunity can without unduerisk and with hope of positiveoutcomes engage in inter-religious dialog. [John PaulII, Ecclesia in Asia, Propositio41; 1999]

(2) There is a need to revitalizethe importance of prayer andcontemplation in the processof dialog. Many people,especially the young, areexperiencing a deep thirst forspiritual values, as the rise ofnew religious movementsclearly demonstrates. [JohnPaul II, Post-SynodalApostolic Exhortation VitaConsecrata, 8; 25, March,1996]

(3) Common action is requiredfor integral humandevelopment and the defenseof human and religiousvalues. [Balasuriya Tissa, Maryand Human Liberation, 127;1990]

(4) Educational Institutions have

an important role to play ininculturating the faith,teaching ways of opennessand respect, and fosteringinter-religious understanding.[John Paul II, Ecclesia in Asia,Propositio 21; 1999]

As Marists, certainly Mary wouldbe our common point ofreference in our efforts toimprove relationships betweenCatholics and members of otherreligions. With a gentle but firmhand, Mary is constantly leadingus “to experience God not as aconcept, but as a reality.” Sheinvites us to practice anintegrated and incarnationalspirituality. She followed Christthrough His public life ofconfronting the powerfulevildoers of His day, and stoodby Him during His agony on theCross. After He died, rose andascended into Heaven, hermaternal presence and affectioncontinued to strengthen theinfant Church in the midstof great persecution.

43.6 Br. Ángel MedinaDistrict of Paraguay

The project, eachof our lives

The Chapter’s most precious legacyhas been to promote life. Inparticular, to help each brother live atransparent, harmonious life, alwaysaccompanied by “an umbrella” forthose inevitable rainy days. (Momtaught me never to forget my umbrella- that it was useless to get upsetabout the rain.) The Chapter Message calls for new

projects, the best one being therenewal of our Marist life. How?– As ever, to be a follower of Jesus

with Mary, doing what she did, intoday’s world as seen through theeyes of Marcellin.

– In a spirit of discernment, to seeklife – the best way: to live as theLord wishes.

– As people, often thirsty, in thedesert:• Searching for Jesus: genuine

living water in whom we shouldimmerse ourselves in processesof human development andconversion.

• Claiming the gift of God’s way ofloving us: one that propels usalong really new and simplepaths, enabling us to put thatway of loving into practice.

• Being pilgrims seekingfulfillment, “adults” like Christ inour beautiful, alluring worldfilled with contradictions.

• Uncovering life’s meaning andencountering God – appetizingbread to share.

– Marcellin envisioned us Marists aspossessing an innate capacity tolive as brothers, called toexperience:• Person-to-person relationships

with the “other” – human,brother/sister.

• Communities that are “schools”of faith and encounters with Godin the routines and surprises ofeveryday life; places where welearn to recognize the Lord’spresence in all that happens.

• Being totally present to another– a brother, young person,someone vulnerable one – underthe banner of welcome. There isso much life to celebrate andshare!

The Chapter goes forward, in you andme. It is addressed to every brother.Like the Gospel, it wants us to “havelife, and have it abundantly.” There’sno better way to achieve that thanfor each of us to work on ourselves.“Whatever you do…don’tforget your umbrella.” R

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Angola, M

Central AfKe

CameGha

CENTRAL AMERICA: Costa Rica, El Salvador,Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico

BRAZIL CENTRO-SUL: Brazil CANADA: Canada and Haiti

SOUTHERN CROSS: Argentina and UruguayDISTRICT OF PARAGUAY

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: USA and JapanCENTRAL MEXICOWESTERN MEXICO

NOR-ANDINA: Colombia, Ecuador, and VenezuelaRIO GRANDE DO SUL : Brazil DISTRICT OF AMAZONIA: Brazil

SANTA MARÍA DE LOS ANDES: Bolivia, Chile, and Peru

NAME TO BE ANNOUNCED: Brazil (Brazil Norte & Rio de Janeiro)

Cuba

COMPOSTEHonduras, Por

and Spain (Castil

WEST CENTRAL Belgium, Germany, Great

and Irelan

IBERIANRomania and Spain (M

THE HERMITAlgeria, France, Gree

and Spain (Cat

MEDITERRANItaly, Leban

Spain (Betica & and Syri

ÁFÁFÁFÁF

AMÉRICA,AMÉRICA,AMERICA,AMERICA,AMÉRICA,AMÉRICA,

AMERIQUEAMERIQUE

MARISTAS, UNA FRATERNIDAD SIN FRONTERASMARISTAS, UNA FRATERNIDAD SIN FRONTERAS

EUROPEUROPEUROPEUROP

EUROPEUROPA, A, EE

MARIST, A BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT BORDERSMARIST, A BROTHERHOOD WITHOUT BORDERS

CHINAChina, Malaysia, and Singapore

PHILIPPINES

SRI LANKASri Lanka and Pakistan

DISTRICT OF KOREA(PROVINCE OF CENTRAL MEXICO)

Korea

Cambodia, East Timor, India, Japan, Lebanon, and Syria

MELBOURNEAustralia, East Timor, and India

NEW ZEALANDFiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa,

and Tonga

DISTRICT OF MELANESIANew Caledonia-Vanuatu,

Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands

SYDNEYAustralia and Cambodia

SOUTHERN AFRICA Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa,

Zambia, and Zimbabwe

EAST CENTRAL AFRICArican Republic, Dem. Rep. of Congo,enya, Rwanda, and Tanzania

MADAGASCAR

NIGERIA

DISTRICT OF WEST AFRICA(MEDITERRANEAN PROVINCE)roon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea,

ana, Ivory Coast, and Liberia

Algeria

ELArtugal, le & Leon)

EUROPEt Britain, Holland, nd

Nadrid & Norte)

TAGEece, Hungary, alunya)

NEANnon, Levante), a

ASIA, ASIA, ASIA,ASIA,ÁSIA,ÁSIA, ASIEASIE

OCEANÍA, OCEANÍA, OCEANIA,OCEANIA,OCEANIA,OCEANIA,OCEANIEOCEANIE

FRICA, FRICA, AFRICA, AFRICA, RICA, RICA, AFRIQUEAFRIQUE

MARISTES, UNE FRATERNITE SANS FRONTIERESMARISTES, UNE FRATERNITE SANS FRONTIERESPPA, A, PE,PE,UROPEUROPE

MARISTAS, UMA FRATERNIDADE SEM FRONTEIRASMARISTAS, UMA FRATERNIDADE SEM FRONTEIRAS

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Br. Demetrio EspinosaProvince of Cordoba, Argentina

Projects of socialjustice

To speak of the contradictions ofthe world is by nowcommonplace. To take risks toovercome so many injustices andso much violence is theimperative of the moment. Thespecial characteristic of theMarist organization is theChristian education of childrenand young people, particularlythe most destitute. We musttake advantage of this mostpowerful tool to make those whobelong to our schools andgroups good Christians and goodcitizens. Following on from this,formation in solidarity musthold a privileged place in oureducation. Not an abstractformation but one taken fromconcrete experiences thatinvolve making ourselves awareof reality and contemplating itwith the compassionate eyes ofJesus, taking up the cause oflife, justice, the poor. Here an endless set ofinitiatives and concretecommitments can be considered:To adhere to ecclesiasticalcampaigns or civil organizations.To create suitable structuresthat give scope for commitmentthrough different voluntaryforms – local foundations, non-governmental organizations, andassociations with strongyouthful leadership. Tointelligently and creatively usethe means that technology putswithin our reach – support orcreation of shared networks

through the Internet, use ofopportunities offered by themedia, taking part in radio ortelevision programs, etc. The commitment of each MaristProvince to justice and peaceundoubtedly contributes togiving the children and pooreryoung people possibilities to overcome theirmarginalization. And that is where we are.

43.8 Br. Michael De WaasProvince of Sri Lanka

A simple lifestyle

Art. 43.8 of the Chaptermessage is a result of the workdone by the Commission onCommunity Life at the 20th

General Chapter. A lot of timeand energy had been spent onthe theme to make ourcommunities vital and viable. Bymere reading of the article oneis sure to come to theconclusion that it offers nothingnew from what we already havein our Constitutions. Sure. It’snothing new but anendorsement of the necessity ofpracticing its contents in ourdaily lives. It was quite clearthat all Chapter members wereof the view that our life style asMarists has to be one thatreflects the life of Nazareth; anopinion shared by all! Today, ina very technologically advancedworld the call for us, the MaristBrothers, is to live a veryprofound life of simplicity. Br.

Benito in his circularConcerning Our Material Goodssays, “I’m under the impressionthat in general, throughout theworld, religious communities areenjoying a standard of livingequivalent to the upper middleclass of the country in whichthey are located.” I wonder whatreflections you and I would havereading that statement. On theother hand, Kofi Annan,Secretary General of the UnitedNations, addressing theJohannesburg Summit 2002remarked that “We should nolonger imagine that a fifth ofhumanity can indefinitely enjoyprosperity while much largernumbers live lives of deprivationand squalor…” Where would youand I belong? In a world wheresimplicity is losing its meaningand value, let’s commitourselves to “adopt a simplestandard of living in such areasas: residence, travel, leisureactivities, use of money,domestic tasks…” Brothers, let’s think “simple” – act, live withsimplicity.

34 FMS Message 32

43.9 Br. Domingos dos Santos LopesProvince of Portugal

Working with thepoor

Shortly after the 20th GeneralChapter, the Marist Community atErmesinde sent me to work amongthe children at a Special Institutefor Social Solidarity.Within a short time of dealing withthese children, I came to the simpleconclusion that the poor asdescribed in church documents arenot the same as the poor in fleshand blood. The documents suggestthat they are weak and withoutcharacter. In fact, they are lively,interact with us, ask searchingquestions, often smell horrible, andcan be a nuisance!To the extent that I am able to putaside what I have learned from myformal education and milieu, I amnow beginning to understand thatgenuine insertion among the poorhappens in the heart. It demands anattitude of flexibility and an interiorwillingness to welcome the other.Only then and gradually, day by day,without forcing things, can I comecloser to understanding anotherperson and begin to appreciate thatperson for who he/she is. The daywill surely come when he/she willacknowledge my presence and willbegin to ask questions. Only thenwill I be able to explain my way oflife, that the reason for my comingto live with them is Jesus.We are witnesses of the Jesus whoannounces the good news to thepoor (cf. Choose Life 12).Once I began confiding the childrenof this Home to Mary, I felt more atease in the setting and discoveredbeauty where before I saw onlyaggression. In this regard I got

much help by observing theleadership style of the Principal ofthe Home. He is a lay Marist who,like our great educational theorist,Sebastian da Gama, knows that themission of an educator is to offeroneself as a model and thateducation is more of an art than ascience.The 20th General Chapter urges us,brothers and laypersons, to marchforward together as a team. Attimes, I think that the laity are farahead of us.With Brother Benito, I would saythat we need to move towards thepoor “peacefully but with a sense ofurgency”. And we should do this notmerely for the sake of survival as acongregation but in a spirit offidelity to our charism and to the world.

43.10 Br. Afonso LevisProvince of Brazil Centro Sul

Fraternities of the ChampagnatMovement:Sign of vitalityFraternities of the ChampagnatMovement of the Marist Familyand other forms of layassociation are recognized by theInstitute as signs of vitality. Ifthese groups are to turn theslogan Choose life into adynamic reality, there areseveral aspects to keep in mind.a) One needs to know how theFraternity developed, and itsroles in the Church as well as inthe Institute. In the chapter ofthe Constitutions dealing withvitality there is a newunderstanding of the spirituality

of Marcellin Champagnat and itsapplication by lay peopleattracted to it (C. 164.4). Theprevious General Councilrecognized that the ChampagnatMovement of the Marist Familyis one of the signs of hope thatspurs many Brothers into action.Nevertheless, there is a certainamount of resistance from somewhen it comes to participationin and the sharing ofresponsibilities with laypartners.b) Look at the renewed call ofthe 20th General Chapter in thelight of the Church viewed asCommunity and Participation.c) Be aware that it is the HolySpirit who moves the hearts ofpeople to embrace theMovement, and appreciate thevarious aspects of Champagnat’scharism. d) Let us open our hearts todiscern and be attentive to thesigns of the times. This will helpus continue our commitment tothe historically changing formsof the Founder’s charism. e) Take into account people’sfeelings and needs in achanging epoch with newparadigms. One of today’srealities is the search forinterpersonal relationships,something that can be fosteredand developed in the Fraternity. f) Our call is to not only liveout our brotherhood in thedepths of our hearts, but also tochange structures that make itdifficult for us to live out ourbrotherhood and givewitness to it.

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Br. Hilario SchwabProvince of Córdoba, Argentina

To know oneselfthoroughly: Grace, task andencounter

The “opportunity to knowoneself thoroughly, to be betterdisposed to make the experienceof Jesus the center of life,” is agrace that is always offered tous, a task and encounter.It is remembering, with the helpof another, the whole of life,

one’s personal history, the joysand the pain, seen through theeyes of God our loving Father.We come to realize that in Himeverything is found:fundamentals and redemption,the gift of living water in thedetermination to know oneselfas thoroughly as He knows us,acceptance of oneself as Heaccepts us, a love for Jesus asthe Father loves him. We feel and savor the mysticalsense of this encounter, whichmakes us strong in adversityand contented in safety;predisposes us to a fuller humanand vocational response inemotional integration, creativefidelity, fraternal relationships,sensitivity towards those whosuffer, love of the truth, andthe connection between sayingand doing.

We center life and community inJesus, for the greater vitality ofthe Institute in its mission toeducate and to share thegospel. This Biblical-affective memoryof the God of Jesus present inour lives passes through somedark inner valley, necessary if itis to appear transformed again,and generates the peace ofreconciliation with oneself, withthe Father, our brothers, theworld… In so many brothers, it givesrise to gratitude for the giftreceived; praise and passion forthe present, and humbleprophecy of theproclamation of Jesus.

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44.2 Br. Maurice GoutagnyProvince of M.C.O.-Notre-Dame del’Hermitage, France

Brothers, disciplesfrom Emmaus!

“Jesus walks with us. He joins uson the way, He transforms ourlives…” (Message 12; 44.2)Toward Emmaus, with Christ, thecentral figure as one whoaccompanies.Everything in the Guide toFormation recalls thedevelopment of the person. I aminvited to grow in myrelationship with God, theothers, myself, the world. Togrow in a relationship is toaccept the deaths which theencounter with the other willmake me suffer. To grow in astory where the past is acceptedas memorial, and the presentaccepted in faith. Finally, I mustalways leave something for afuture awaited in hope. “We don’t make progress alone.That’s why we always needaccompaniment (C 73), to bemore objective with ourselvesand, especially, faithful to God,so as to produce fruit.” (FG 368)To welcome the other as anecessary help. To learn how tospell oneself out in order toexpress one’s feelings. Tobecome aware of one’s ownreality; to be able to cling totruth, become a free man in theSpirit of Jesus. “Why thesethoughts in your heart?”To return to essentials: to knowwhere our life is going. Where ismy road going? What is myproject? To give new meaning tothe course of my life. To acceptthat somebody accompany me.

A gesture, a voice, a sign aresufficient to awaken what ishidden in me. I can acceptmyself, decide to change. Likethe disciples, go forth to meet;open up so as to grow;understand so as to share. Theroad is long; there are thosewho walk with me in mycommunity. I am accompanied, I accompany my Brothers.To let oneself be accompanied isto verify the coherence of mylife in discernment and in a fidelity open to theGospel.

44.3 Br. Ernesto Sánchez BarbaProvince of Western Mexico

Like Marcellin: witha gentle heart andhigh expectations

When I have gone through verydifficult times in my life, albeitreluctantly I have let a brother orpriest accompany me, and stronglyfelt God’s mercy through theprocess of listening andunconditional acceptance. All ofthis has helped me make progressand encouraged me to share myoutlook with my brothers, realizingthat we’re all together on ourjourney. Often, in being seriouslyconcerned about our work ofanimation and the accompanimentof our brothers, the difficultyarises when we think that we mustbe paragons of perfection as aprecondition. I have found thatthe opposite is true. To accompanymeans to “travel with” my brother,on the same level, sharing life,

questioning him and letting himquestion me, mutuallystrengthening one another. UsingMarcellin’s approach as aneducator, combining a gentle heartwith high expectations. It’s an art,a learning experience – acommitment that, in a specialway, those who provideencouragement for others arecalled to offer. To accompany eachindividual, to strengthen hischaracter and qualities, andreinforce the values that we claimto live by – I think that so manyof our brothers would never havefound themselves in dire situationsif beforehand they had welcomedthe warm support andaccompaniment of a brother. Toalso accompany each community,so that it’s a place promotinggrowth and a school of faith. Asan Institute, we have shown moreand more concern for providingsuch personal and communalaccompaniment at all levels ofinitial formation. However, Ibelieve that today it’s a greatchallenge for our brothers andcommunities in ongoingformation. That’s why the Chapterhas recommended that there be aformation program for animatorsin this vitally importantfield of accompaniment.

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Br. Lauro Francisco HochscheidtProvince of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

An attitude ofdiscernment incommunityIn its message to the Brothersof the Institute, the 20th

General Chapter recommendedthat the Brother Provincial andhis Council “help communitiesto develop an attitude ofdiscernment in community bypromoting processes that willenable them to listen to God indaily life, and to share thisexperience.” (Choose Life, 44.4)This article will offer somesuggestions for the renewal ofour communities in the areas ofco-responsibility and vitality byfostering communal discernmentamong the Brothers. What exactly is an attitude ofcommunity discernment? It is apredisposition to act in such away that our way of being, ourliving together, our work, andour ideals are in harmony withthe work of God in our lives, inour communities, and in theworld. It is a constant search forthe will of God, motivated bythe Holy Spirit. It is placingbefore God our interpersonalrelationships, our prayer life,our apostolate, our decisionsand the whole of our lives, andthen seeing whether we areunited to God or driven by othermotives which distance us fromHim.A community that habituallymakes decisions after communaldiscernment listens to theBrothers and remains united tothe plan of God.According to our Constitutions,

discernment “calls for a spirit offaith, attentiveness to the wordof God, fidelity to the charismof the Institute, an adequatereading of the signs of thetimes, and a putting aside ofparticular interests orgroups.” (C. 43)

44.5 Br. Ataide José de LimaProvince of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Communities asplaces of formationand affirmation

One of the concerns of the 20th

General Chapter was that ourway of living community shouldgive witness to others of thevalue of dedicating one’s life tofollowing Jesus Christ. In itsmessage to the Institute, theChapter made an urgent appealin this regard. (Choose Life, 22)This appeal was elaborated onin various ways. I would like toemphasize just one: “Fostercommunities that willstrengthen the vocation ofyoung Brothers, welcome youthand lay people, and provideaccompaniment for those whoare searching for theirvocation.” (44.5) This impliesthat the people, therelationships and mission of thecommunity play a significantpart in sustaining the vocationof young Brothers. The Maristcommunity is a privileged space

of sharing and of growth,whether human, professional orvocational.The appeal does not excludeother people, young and old,who are attracted to the idealsof Champagnat. The Maristcommunity rightly welcomesthem. The Chapter requestedProvincials to take care whenassigning Brothers tocommunities that would hostnewly professed Brothers. It alsostressed that all ourcommunities should be willingto accept young people andadults who wish to share a littleof our lives.In this way, every communityreceiving a young Brothershould be properly prepared todo so, and be sufficiently clearabout its formative mission. Bymeans of an atmosphere ofdialogue and brotherly living,such a community will provideopportunities for growth, aplace for self-discovery,maturing, confirmation, and theconsolidation of one’svocation.

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44.6 Br. André ThizyProvince of M.C.O.-Notre-Dame del’Hermitage, France

Formation programs

To be Marist, what does thatmean? If in the past everybodyknew the answer, it is not alwayseasy today to find the words todefine it. Many landmarks havedisappeared. With the comingtogether of the MaristCongregations a certainconfusion has slipped in. Andespecially, the term is no longerreserved to Religious. To be aMarist Brother or to be a LayMarist: is that the same? What isspecific to each of them: whatbrings them closer, whatdistinguishes them? To be aMarist educator and to live one’sChristian life as a Marist, dothese have the same focus? TheChapter has insisted, therefore,on the need to establishFormation Programs which enableeach group one to better identifyitself. If the essential of this Formationis to provide us with our historythrough our sources, it’s clearthat it must also be the result of

a confrontation between whatBrothers and Lay People live, howeach group in its own way triesto be a witness today to thisMarist life. That’s why theChapter asks that this Formationbe truly a common search; inthat way, everybody will be ableto benefit from what the otherlives differently.To build a Church of communion:the Council asked us that almost40 years ago. We still have torealize it in many aspects. To livethis undertaking of Formation,such as the Chapter asked us todo, could be an excellentopportunity to achievecommunion; not a Formationwhich “falls from on high,” butan achievement which takes intoaccount the lived experience ofeach one, to work out diverseproposals corresponding to eachone’s possibilities. Then, yes, ourwords will ring true:Choose life!

44.7 Br. Pablo GonzálezProvince of Santa María de losAndes, Peru

Taking co-responsibility to the next level

Our identity as brothers remindsus that we are forever andessentially “men for everyoneelse” and “men with everyoneelse.” This situation is shown in“the sharing of our lives:spirituality, mission,formation…” with others.(Message, 26)The Chapter’s recommendationcalls for taking this a step

further, from the realm of theoryinto practice, from deliberationsto specific results, from abstractthought to lived reality – thusenabling “shared mission” to beexpressed dynamically in concreteforms, in a genuine exercise ofco-responsibility. Lay people tooshould aspire to move intopositions of responsibilityaccording to their abilities andlevel of commitment, and shouldprepare themselves for this. Thisis not just about delegatingtasks; it’s about our undertakingeducational and apostolicendeavors together. Champagnatis our wellspring of inspirationfor this, for “he was a livingexample of evangelical zeal, andknew how to find solutions tothe problems he faced.” (C 81)This transformation will enrichthe inherent quality of our worksand underline their Marist,evangelizing nature. This is notabout merely parceling out jobsfor planning, animating, andmanaging our works. Rather it’sabout enthusiastically taking onfull co-responsibility, joyouslyand creatively, in our mission towelcome the Kingdom. Themission will then be an inclusiveone, the work of an authenticMarist fraternity of lay peopleand brothers, in which each onewill live according to his or herown religious calling. Our service will turn out to bemore effective and unassuming,and at the same time morecompelling and enlivening, morein tune with the grace of thelaity, whose empowerment willallow the grace of our ownvocation to shine more brightly.This call of the Chapter isbecoming ever moreindispensable “in the carryingout of new apostolicprojects.”

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Br. Samuel HolguínProvince of Norte, Spain

How much lifeawaits us!

What a precious treasure!Laymen and women sharing withus brothers their greatest gifts:their lives, experience of Godand baptismal consecration,rooted in the charism of FatherChampagnat. New hope hasawakened. The committed life oflay people in the Church is amanifest reality, budding like apreviously quiet mustard seedthat the Holy Spirit has seen fitto sprinkle and cultivate at thisstage of history and our Maristlife.How much we need to do! Wehave a long way to go andsometimes shadows may darkenour path. The mustard seed thathas budded and is sprouting upmay appear as an overgrown treeto us, disfiguring thecomposition of the garden towhich we’ve been accustomed.How much life awaits us! Theexperiences being shared bybrothers and lay people areturning out to be a grace andsource of renewed life in ourvocations. My experience hasbeen that religious communitiesthat open their doors to thelaity are more lively andgracious, that brothers whopractice their religiousconsecration ardently sharingtheir mission with the laity havea greater sense of being apostlesand brothers. In addition, moreand more the Church is beingviewed as a communion ofdistinctive vocations. I see newvistas opening up in my own life

as I look toward a shared futureand visualize our Marist vocationas transitioning from black andwhite to technicolor.A brother used to tell me thathe was wary about gettinginvolved in a ChampagnatMovement fraternity. But nowthat he’s done so, he wouldn’tgive up these personal andMarist get-togethers foranything. How he enjoyslistening and speaking with layMarists and feels ever moreaffirmed in his vocation asa BROTHER.

44.9 Br. Henri CatteauProvince of Beaucamps-Saint-Genis,France

Communityexperience:Brothers-LayPeople

“…the traveling together ofBrothers and lay people is oneof our preoccupations and achallenge in which our role wllbe decisive.” (Letter of the 20th

Chapter to the entire MaristFamily.)“…associations of layMarists…including those whoshare life. …We encourage agreater reciprocity betweenBrothers and Laity…in newpresences.” (cf. Message, 28 and30)The 20th General Chapter asks usto do this, and I had the graceto work with the group whichdeveloped this idea ofpartnership. It wasn’t easy,given the diverse mentalities

and the riches of our reflectiongroup.Because I belong to a Provincewhere for almost six years now acouple and two Brothers live inthe same house, share prayerand daily life, and have thesame goal: to welcome youngpeople, I have witnessed thisstep forward and experience.It is truly a Marist community,having a community mission,with the presence of 74 adultsand young people whoaccompany them, working at:reviewing life, individualaccompaniment, teaming up forwelcoming guests and helpingwith tasks, building solidarity,accompanying those responsiblefor youth movements,catechesis, preparation forConfirmation, etc….“Let’s choose life!” Let’s notchoke it at the start, let’sencourage the experimentswhich are being tried here andthere. All the appeals of this20th Chapter are directed to thissame goal: to go forwardtogether…in order to respond tothe needs of the young,especially the least favored.Let’s welcome lay people in ourcommunities everywherepossible: they are sometimesmore in touch with life and willbe able to help us live ourConstitutions: to go towards theyoung, especially the least favored.

40 FMS Message 32

WE ARE MAKINGSIGNIFICANT

PROGRESS IN THEAREA OF SOLIDARITY.

(C. M. 10)

44.10 Br. Adolfo CermeñoProvince of Central America

Preferential optionfor the poor

Dear Marist Family: These daysI’m living in a part of the worldwhere it’s absolutely clear thatday after day the rich are gettingricher and the poor poorer. Whatto say and do in the face of thisfact? There are no easy answers.I do think we understand whatneeds to be done. The problem is– how do we translate ourthoughts into action? I thinkthat the answer for Christiansand much more for religiousrevolves around fidelity.Religious families, including ours,are born to be signs, raisequestions, and reply to urgentneeds that no one else is takingcare of. As time goes by, wesettle into a middle-classmentality, and our decisions,plans, lifestyles...no longeraddress those urgent needs. Whydo we exist? What’s our purpose?Last year we held our 20th

General Chapter, and again thecall went out to go forwardtogether, brothers and laypeople, decisively and withdetermination, side by side withthe poorest and mostmarginalized of children andyoung people.I invite each of us to take anhonest look at our surroundings.Are our lifestyles distinguishablein any way from those that arecharacteristic of the prevailingculture? Our facilities andresources… what are peoplesaying about them? Who are thebeneficiaries of our mission?Anything can be justified, but as

long as we do not make thepoorest children and youngpeople our top priority, we willhave little meaning, and I wouldeven dare to question whether ornot our Marist Institute deservesto survive. Again, let us remember: thereligious life must be a sign, aquest, an imaginative response;we are called to bring vitality, tofoster life, which in our casemeans to do so for children andyoung people wherever we are.Our path is designated, ourdestination still to be reached.Untroubled, yet boldly, let us setout along this path, even if theprice to pay is sacrificeand conversion.

44.11 Br. Gonzalo Santa ColomaProvince of Río de la Plata, Argentina

Sowers of hope,with a clear vision

We’re well aware that education isthe key to unlock personal andsocial development, and that theschool is normally the place wherethe key fits. But there are childrenwho will never gain entrance to aschool, and Marcellin entreats uswholeheartedly not to abandonthem, showing us a thousand waysto draw near to them and attendto their basic needs.But as Pope Paul VI points out inSocial mortgage, running schoolscan turn into a liability if we don’tuse them in accordance withgospel values. Paragraph 44.11urges us not to allow our much-desired facilities to be misused bysocial and political leaders. Paulstresses six main points that need

to be studied carefully – andsensitively – if we want to bebrothers who sow hope.For the school to defend theinterests of today’s children, youngpeople, and families, it shouldquestion itself, in creative fidelityto its vocation for forming goodcitizens and dedicated Christians.Let’s keep in mind: our efforts toharmonize faith, culture, and liferequire us to constantly reexamineour goals: what faith, what culture,and what life are we interested inpromoting? Is it the faith thatpromises salvation only by meansof sacramental and devotionalpractices, or rather one that, inaddition, is vitally concerned aboutthe human situation of ourbrothers and sisters? (Gen 4,9). Isit the culture that has forsaken somany men and women and leftthem behind, outside the system,forgetting that the message ofJesus is plainly a counterculturalone? Is it a life able todisentangle itself from thisculture? To be honest, we mustadmit that our efforts in thisregard did not have much of animpact as the 20th Century drew toa close.As Marists, aren’t we being called to redefine the school inservice to the world oftoday?

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es 45.1

Br. Real Cloutier Province of Canada

Marist mission: aspirit, a document

One of the high points of theGeneral Chapter, besides theelection of the Superior Generaland his Council, was the worksession, done in GeneralAssembly, on the impact of thedocument, “In the Footsteps ofMarcellin Champagnat,”concerning the different sectorsof the Institute. For severalhours we heard eloquent andalmost unanimous testimoniesabou the richness of this newdocument produced by a team ofbrothers and lay people in thecourse of the term of the lastGeneral Council. Brothers fromseveral Provinces had had theopportunity to study thedocument, to experiment with itin their schools, and to adopt itas the basis of their work indeveloping their educationalproject.Throughout our work, I sensedthat the Brothers felt a certainpride in having a workinginstrument that more preciselyand clearly defined what ourMarist spirit was all about andhow it benefited us. Previouslywe had never quite succeeded inexpressing this in written form.A few days later I was happy tosee us adopt the followingproposal: “That in all countries,in all the situations of theInstitute’s mission, studying,reflecting on, and applying thedocument, “In the Footsteps ofMarcellin Champagnat,” takeplace.”“Besides offering elements to

help us, brothers and laity,discern our mission in fidelity tothe charism of Champagnat, Br.Benito Arbués reminded us thatthis document could be used asan instrument to evaluate thehuman and evangelicalfruitfulness of our undertakings,and to transform them ifnecessary or to transferthem.”

45.2 Br. Laurentino Albalá MedinaNor-Andina Province, Ecuador

Our apostolic worksshould be evaluated!Why aren’t wedoing it?Evaluating our apostolic worksisn’t an idea conceived at the20th General Chapter. The previousChapter had already asked us todo that, and in Latin America, itwas one of the calls of the 9th

Conference of Latin AmericanProvincials. Is it possible we’renot doing a good job? Or thatsociety doesn’t appreciate whatwe’re doing? The high schools werun – doesn’t everyone think theworld of them? So why change?There are weaknesses inherent inevery human undertaking, and asthe years go by, there’s thedanger that noble objectives andsome clearly defined beginningsmay fade away. It would beinteresting to recall “the dreams”

that our pioneers had when theybegan a Marist work in aparticular place: their priorities,lifestyle, relationships, the peoplethey served... We are the heirs ofa beautiful tradition and wecontinue to explore daringintuitions. This is not aboutreproducing styles and ways ofdoing things out of loyalty to thepast, but of responding withcreativity to the “dream” of ourpredecessors. A dream thatcoincides with our own, and thatis none other than to moldMarcellin Champagnat’s intuitionsand intentions into forms that fitthe needs of today’s world.Therefore, we must ask ourselveswhether or not the apostolic workcurrently consuming our lives isconsistent with evangelizationand our preferential option forthe poor and marginalized.Evaluations can show us paths toredirect our efforts and, in somecases, we will have to have theaudacity to abandon certainworks, as the Chapter itselfadvises. We can’t forget that wewere founded to be signs of God’slove, brothers to the most needychildren and young people. Theimportant thing is not to preserveinstitutions, but to keep alive thefire of the charism that gave usbirth. Are we really convincedthat the “Montagnes” of todayneed us much more than otherchildren and young peoplecurrently in our care?

46.1 Br. Richard MutumwaDistrict of the D.R. of Congo.

Along newpathways of

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education,evangelization andsolidarity

To choose life is to choosechange. Change has to take usalong new paths of education,evangelization and solidarity ina missionary project.That Provinces unite to begin orcontinue a missionary project“Ad gentes” is arecommendation of the 20th

General Chapter. Thisrecommendation must notremain a dead letter. ThatProvinces unite, i.e., thatProvinces each choose brothersfor a common missionaryproject. To unite to begin orcontinue a project is to outdoeach other for the good of acommon ideal. This requires anardent faith, and an ardent faithleads to a vision, and a visionleads to courage. That meansthat the Brothers whom theProvinces would choose must bemen of prayer, ready to practicediscernment personally and incommunity, ready to form aunited community, not simplyan assembled one; able toimprove their relationship withother religions with a Marialattitude of listening.The Administrative Units ofAfrica and Madagascar, groupedin a Conference of the Superiorsof Africa and Madagascar, areseriously reflecting on this.I would like to end this articleby thanking the Provinces whichhave already united together toattain this noblemissionary project.

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Br. Claudino FalchettoProvince of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

New ways of beingpresent

The 20th General Chapterrecommended “that groups ofProvinces, in agreement with theGeneral Council, initiate projects ofMarist mission with their owngovernment structure.” (ChooseLife, 46.2)In recent years, we have beenurged to renew our Marist charismparticularly by establishing apresence in situations that theConstitutions refer to as“unexplored” (C 85). There arenumerous circumstances, places,and groups of people that yearn forhelp that could be offered throughthe Marist charism. The structurescreated in the past, however, oftenhinder our mobility, conditioningour way of thinking and acting. Weall know how much easier it is toestablish a new institution than toclose one or change the objectiveof another that has becomevirtually secular in character.Can we give good reasons for notinitiating “projects of Maristmission with their own governmentstructure”? Appropriate structureswould be flexible, able to respondimmediately to calls coming fromreal situations. Such communitiesmight be composed of brothersand laypersons from differentProvinces, approved by the GeneralCouncil. The General Council wouldalso follow their progress carefully.Less rigid and practical structuresare more likely to awakenenthusiasm in others and attractnew vocations. We could considersetting up a District, or even aProvince, without a direct bond

with the structures existing in theAdministrative Units of origin.This idea is not new: we alreadyhave models. During the process offorming the District of Amazonia,some Provinces were ready to handover Colleges or other works sothat the Brothers of the regioncould more easily be supportedand provided with their needs.During the assembly, however,everyone took on the commitmentto maintain themselves with thefruit of their own work.Would it be merely utopian todream of a mission projectwith less rigid structures?

46.3 Br. Pedro Joao WolterProvince of Brazil Centro Sul

Mobility of theBrothers

Number 46.3 of the ChapterMessage reads: That Brothers beenabled to move easily from oneProvince to another for the sakeof projects of solidarity,evangelisation and education.For that to happen, there needsto be a willingness on the part ofthe brothers wanting to move aswell as on the part of theirProvincials to make them readilyavailable.A Brother willing to serveelsewhere needs a spirituality ofmission. He has to abandoncertainties, things he hasmastered, and false prudence. Heimitates Jesus in his availability:“Here I am, to do your will, OGod” (Heb 10:7).Provincial Superiors asked tomake Brothers available forneedier areas should have a heart

like Champagnat’s, one that knewno bounds. At the very beginningof the Institute he sent Brotherson mission to Oceania despitethe needs in France.The geographical limits of aProvince need to be seen in awider context. They cannot beseen as excluding collaborationwith other Provinces in workssuch as establishing a university,houses of formation andmissionary projects. All our worksbelong to the Church and theInstitute as a whole rather thanto a particular Province.Our Constitutions state thatProvinces are composed of anumber of houses whosepersonnel and material resourcesare sufficient to assure anautonomous existence. (cf. C.126) In fact, there is often agreat lack of personnel in someareas and a surplus in others. Itseems natural then that, in aspirit of brotherhood, a Provincewould be willing to share humanresources with another that is inneed. Such inter-provincialcollaboration is wholesome for all concerned and giveswitness to our fraternalspirit.

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47.1 Br. Nicolás García MartínezProvince of Castille, Spain

Wholesomepersonaldevelopment and asense ofcommunity

The Chapter feels that a quest forpersonal integrity and the renewalof our community life are essentialaspects of our Marist life todayand require immediate attention.We note a certain discontent fromdisharmony in our lives, both asindividuals and communities.Several times the Chapter Messagemakes reference to the convictionthat we need to be committed tomaking dedicated efforts toachieve greater personal integrityand to revitalizing community life.It is plain to see that, in one wayor another, these are key elementsin our efforts to “choose life.” In recommending to the GeneralCouncil that initial and ongoingformation foster these aims, theMessage is asking for somethingof vital importance. We experiencediscontent in community life,divided loyalties, and lives tornapart. It has been said thatreligious life is like a verybeneficial microclimate thatrequires special conditions to beable to offer the singularadvantages that make it soprecious. The Message asks theGeneral Council to help developthis microclimate, to promotestudies and activities to carry outplans for achieving personalintegrity and a profoundlycommunitarian frame of mind thatare indispensable today. It seemsto me that a substantial change is

needed, one that requires us to“be born again,” leaving behindoutdated customs, lifestyles...andpracticing the apostles’ way of life– they knew how to formcommunity around Jesus whilededicating themselves to whatwas essential for the Kingdom.Today we too need to formbrothers who will help createthese new communities that, like the one that gathered around Jesus, are to beexperienced in profoundlyhuman ways.

47.2 Br. Óscar Martín Province of Castille, Spain

Marist IdentityIdentity. Search. Process. Createnetworks, commissions... andmany more ways to re-establishhow we exist. Who we are. Whatwe share and what distinguishesus. Identity.Following this, there is not onlyone plan but, mainly, one ‘optionfor life’. Can we today, with thepsalmist, proclaim “My lot isbeautiful, I am happy with myinheritance”? When Marcellin, on his deathbed,made us his heirs, we receivednot only a treasure but also atask. To be brothers of thegospel, simple, in the family ofMary... working with children andyoung people, especially theleast favored. But, we are co-heirs of thislegacy. Today thousands ofbrothers and lay peopleeverywhere in the world, feelthat this is our aim. Andtherefore we have to go forwardtogether, with different rhythms

and different... identities.We are complementary butdifferent. And there are, as therich diversity of the Marist worldshows, different levels ofcommitment and obligationattached to this common dream. Because of this, consider all theprocesses. In order to see moreclearly. And to grow in identity.Hopefully those secretariats,meetings, groups, will be usefulmeasures. Urgent. But hopefullywe re-evaluate our identity fromour way of life. “Let’s see if, once and for all,you can define clearly what it isto be a Marist today,” a brothersaid to me before the Chapter.Will it be our apostolate? Ourstyle? The same path which wefollow?Like a perfume, identity issomething that surrounds us andwhich we do not know how todefine. Like blood, it issomething intimate and profoundthat animates everything. Infact, it is life itself.Let us continue to seek, brothers.With all of those who share theinheritance of Marcellin. And letus rediscover that we have foundour beautiful lot. That ourinheritance is happiness.Identity. Life.

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Br. Leo SheaProvince of Esopus, U.S.A.

Imagine…

“Where it is appropriate weencourage the setting up ofcommunities, open to lay peopleor with them living in, to workamong young people, especiallythe most neglected.” (20th

General Chapter.)IMAGINE... a new style ofcommunity for a new Maristproject, with members fromdifferent religiouscongregations, lay people, tooffer poor children a Christianeducation - a tuition-freeCatholic school.A NEW PROJECT – administeredand staffed by Marist Brothers,Christian Brothers, lay men andwomen, opened in Brownsville,Texas, USA this August 19th,2002. The school acceptedthirty sixth-graders for its firstclass. Next year another thirtywill be added, and the yearafter the final thirty, bringingthe total student enrollment toabout ninety. The students comefrom the poorest families in thispoorest city on the US borderwith Mexico, Brownsville.A huge difficulty is funding theproject. In the United States wereceive no tuition assistancebecause our Constitutionseparates Church from State. Itcosts more than $3,500 US ayear to educate each student,high because we have anobligation to pay just salariesto the lay teachers.A NEW COMMUNITY – Thetuition-free school is now areality. With only thirtystudents, next year we will need

more help. College graduateshave volunteered to teach inthe school and share communitylife. Grade 12 students at ourMarist high school in the cityare coaching, tutoring andmentoring. Former MaristBrothers and their wives areenthusiastic about differentways they can be a part of this.A new Marist community justmight be in St. Marcellin'splans.As John Lennon wrote and theBeatles sang in theSixties: “IMAGINE...”

47.4 Br. Josep Maria SoterasProvince of Catalunya

Shared formation

As brothers and lay people seekways to integrate their Maristmission and spirituality, jointtraining initiatives are probablyone of the most suitable andeffective means to accomplishthis in a thorough and forward-looking way.This being the case, we woulddo well to begin thinking abouta blueprint for shared formation(something like a jointFormation guide) dealing withareas of common interest suchas education, pastoral ministry,solidarity, and more and more,spirituality; likewise, with topicsthat apply specifically to

brothers or lay people, but withinput from both groups.The General Council can helpAdministrative Units with regardto these formation programs –on two levels, first one andthen the other:• STUDY: pinpointing already

existing needs and ways toaddress them, and discerningthe future for whichpreparation and training areneeded. This will bring tolight other demands, perhapsas-yet-unrecognized short-term needs.

• ACTION: undertakinginitiatives regionally and atthe level of the Institute,keeping in mind that eachlevel requires a particularapproach, e.g., working at thegrassroots level in localcultures, while promotingintercultural exchanges, inter-religious dialog, ecumenism,etc. throughout the Institute.It’s also very important to settime frames for theseformation programs tofacilitate efforts to evaluateand modify them. Suchprograms should be integratedinto formation plans of theAdministrative Units that theyassist, programs that thoseUnits are unable toprovide on their own.

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WE ARE SEARCHINGFOR NEW PROJECTS

TO EXPRESS OURPREFERENTIAL

OPTION FOR THEPOOR.

(C. M. 34)

47.5 Br. Gilles OuimetProvince of Canada

In thought andaction: reciprocity

So long as we remain timidabout the possibility of astronger participation of our laypartners in our structures, wewon’t dare to undertakeworthwhile actions and boldprojects. It’s too easy to simplyopen the doors of our chapelsand cafeterias.The beginning of true sharing iswhen we’re ready to take risks.Before that, it’s a only a mattercollaboration in words, which

seems to be pointless.Beforehand, however, needlessto say, we have to aim at a realsymbiosis in formation forbrothers and laity. As goal, let’slook forward to an attempt tocombine faith, prayer, andcommitment in view ofdeveloping the axis of ourpresence in the world. We’llsucceed then, in our majorthrusts, in manifesting anunequivocal solidarity with allkinds of excluded people. We’llencourage group encounter withJesus Christ, and we’ll help tocreate a Church that givesmeaning to the life of peoplecommitted to the service ofothers.For as long as we develop anapproach to spiritual, fraternal,and community matters in aunilateral way, the steps wetake will be conditioned by ourseparate identities as brothers

and lay people. What lay peoplepossess and seek to offer us isfundamental. We have yielded tothe phase of a captivatingcharism that will release theirenergy and provide them withall the room they want as laypartners in our Marist mission.Let’s remember thatChampagnat’s charism is notexclusively our own. Locally andas provinces, let us broaden thescope of what we’re about. Onthe international level, anorganization ought be able dodevelop a basic structure that’sflexible and responsive andgenerates dedicated service toothers throughout theentire Marist world.

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Br. Antonio MartínezProvince of Norte, Spain

Sharing andpassing on life

Paragraph 47.6 in the 20th

General Chapter’s Messagerecommends that the GeneralCouncil foster an interchange ofsignificant experiences amongdiverse Marist groups, usingsuitable means of communication.The Institute now has specificmeans available that I considerwidespread and well managed,but perhaps they have not yetreached their full potential forthis kind of communication.Here I’m not thinking about therole to be played by thisinterchange of experiences. Thequickness that life calls for ishandled with dexterity on theInternet. “Champagnat.org” oranother web page sufficientlygifted with means and personnelcan serve as a vehicle for thisinterchange of experiences. In efforts to increase

communication, obviously lifeexperiences themselves are what’smost important, at the heart of itall. Without experiences to relate,nothing of what we’re talkingabout here makes any sense. Buteven this is not enough. We needto raise awareness that theseexperiences can be shared andthat it’s worth our while to passthem on to other brothers and laypeople.Advancing to a new level, itmight appear that everything isfine and that a lively andabundant flow of messages willresult. Well no, not yet. A last bigpush is needed: a commitment towrite about what’s happening in

our lives and send this news andinformation around the Maristworld. And don’t think that’s easyfor us. I think it’s safe to saythat most of us prefer classroomactivities, chores around thehouse, extending a helping handto someone… anything butapostolic work with a pen.Life exists to be shared, not onlyto be enjoyed in isolation. Orbetter still, life is lived bypassing it on.

48.1 Br. André LanfreyProvince of Beaucamps-St Genis-Laval, France

Reflecting onspirituality

As far as I know, the word“spirituality” shows up lateamong us (in the 1970’s?) andfinds its consecration in thecirculars of Br. Charles Howard onMarist Apostolic Spirituality in1992-93. At the origins of theInstitute and for the longest partof its history it is a matter ofholiness, perfection, virtue,asceticism.The adoption of a relatively new

term is not due to an effect ofstyle following an identity crisis.On the contrary, it signifies thewill to reinterpret Marist traditionwith a conceptual tooling whichthis tradition didn’t have when itwas being fashioned.The word “spirituality” has theadvantage of reminding us that,though asceticism is trulyfundamental in Christian life,without mysticism it is onlyChristianized stoicism. And,without a spiritual theologywhich ties this experience ofunion to God, spirituality doesn’tsee the light of day. Withoutthese three components,mysticism, asceticism, andtheology, there is no realspirituality.But Marist spiritual theology hasbeen expressed in an asceticalvocabulary which hides anauthentic mystical experience, orwhich formulates it in allusivelanguage. The Marist tradition,therefore, can be useful to ustoday only if we know how tointerpret it critically andmystically. This means that to be Maristtoday is not primarily to be areligious or a teacher, but toadhere heart and soul to a Marianand apostolic spiritualityrecognized by the universalChurch and thus destinedfor all Christians.

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48.2 Br. Mariano VaronaProvince of Santa María de los Andes

A good bet togenerate life

It is strange what happens to ourMarist apostolic spirituality inthe Institute. In the listing ofneeds it occupies undisputedfirst place in the surveys. Thelast General Chapter said that “itwas the heart of refoundation.”Nevertheless, in a large part ofthe Institute there is confusionin understanding this, and thefruits gathered in the last eightyears are few. To be fair, in someregions it has been a determiningfactor in renovation, apostolicenthusiasm, and vocationalvitality. Not only for thebrothers, but also and especiallyfor lay people.The 20th General Chapter is notexempt from this uncertainty. Onthe one hand, the centrality ofJesus Christ appeared very clearlyas the first call, the fundamentalelement of all Christianspirituality. Centrality, I believe,which should be understood asan indispensable condition to bemen of spirituality, i.e., people ofdiscernment, guided by theSpirit, and religious with anapostolic spirituality whodiscover, adore, love, and serveGod above all in temporalrealities. I have my doubts thatit has been understood in thisway. The expression “Maristapostolic spirituality” onlyappears four times in the Chaptertext, three instances requestingthat we continue with itscultivation and enrichment. One of them is in this section, aChapter proposal. It requests the

development of the NETWORKbecause we believe in itsvalidity: it has made a positivediference in the life andspirituality of brothers and laypeople. It proposes that MASshould not lose its way, butcontinue with its great task, oneto be counted on for bringinggreater vitality to theInstitute in the future.

48.3 Br. Primitivo MendozaProvince of León, Spain

Formation ofanimators

There’s an axiom applicable toformation programs for animators:“You can’t give what you don’thave.” In order to train others,you yourself must be well trained.The formation of animators isvital for shaping futuregenerations. For this reason,animators need to be trained in athorough, systematic way, withreliance on trustworthy sources.So that a formation program isnot presented in black-and-whiteterms, thus rendering itinadequate, it ought to includesocio-cultural, human-psychological, theological-biblical,and institutional components (thecharism, history and spirituality ofthe particular religiousCongregation).An animator is called to be:• A Witness, one who gives

priority to encountering andfollowing Jesus and servingothers, and leads by personalexample.

• An Apostle, i.e., someone whoproclaims the Gospel and believesin what he’s doing. In personaland group accompaniment hepasses on reasons for hope andfills life with meaning. He givesof his time and persongratuitously. He proclaims Jesusrather than himself.

• An Educator, a man who putshis qualities at the service ofthe community, the brothers,and the young. The field ofeducation is the natural settingfor his mission. He knows hislimitations and the need forteamwork. He pursues plans forhis own ongoing formation.

• A Marist, a man of faith whotries to radiate the spiritualityand values inherited fromChampagnat, such as simplicity,hard work, family spirit, and atender love for Mary.

I identify myself with a formationprocess aimed at living today’sreligious life in a new way,generating compassion and hopehere and now. Jesus is calling onus to create and recreatecommunities of believers able toposition themselves in thecomplex, multi-dimensional worldthat gives meaning to our livesand the lives of ourbrothers and sisters.

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Br. Henry Spinks Province of New Zealand

Choosing Life inPrayer

A Brother said to me once: “WeBrothers would make good Jews;we pray rocking against a wallwhile shouting psalms at oneanother!”I liked the imagery used, andresonated with what he wasexpressing. After all, much ofour experience of communityprayer was such…Little Office inLatin, not understood by most.A big breakthrough came withthe use of the vernacular afterVatican II, but for most it was arather structured recitation ofthe Divine Office, and recitationbeing the operative word!In recent years there has been awonderfully liberatingexperience with manycommunities expressing thelived reality of their daily livesin community prayer.The nuts and bolts of teachingyoung students with theiragonies of growing throughadolescence; the concerns of ourcolleagues and their families;the often destitute needs of ourneighbours; the political eventsof the nations; the wonders ofcreation we experience in ourenvironment; the inspiration ofthe arts; all these and manymore become the vehicle for ourshared reflection and prayer-of-life. The mystery and wonder ofGod is so often reflected in ourexperience of educating youngpeople. I have reflected on thebeauty and wonderful creatingspirit of God in the unfoldingand growth in confidence of a

diffident student, and in thequieting of an unruly teenagerwho has grown to see that trustin another is possible. This isthe stuff of the psalms of lifetoday, and they call us into adeep reflection of God-in-my-lifeand a building of myrelationship and intimacy withJesus Christ.Our understanding andexpression of Marist apostolicspirituality has grown, and thisneeds to be reflected inour Constitutions.

48.5 Br. John ThompsonProvince of Sydney, Australia

The evangelical useof material goods

No circular has more unansweredquestions than “Concerning ourMaterial Goods” (Vol. 30, No. 4;October 31, 2000). The basicpremise of this circular is thatthere are no simple answers andwhen discernment takes place itneeds to be group-based, notindividual. “Unless the Instituteas such – Province, Districts andCommunities – adopt evangelicalattitudes about being poor,about simplicity and moderationto the point of self-sacrifice, Ithink it will be difficult toengage individual Brothers on

this issue.” (page 130)Personally I believe Article 48.5of our Chapter Message, “Toestablish a plan of discernmentcovering the evangelical use ofmaterial goods in the Institute,and to accompany itsimplementation in eachProvince,” is an impossible task.This was an issue that really didnot get any airplay at theChapter, not because it isunimportant, but rather becauseit is indefinable in universalterms. Its future is not dead butrather needs to be creativelyresurrected. For example, thesepoints could form the basis of amodel of discernment for acommunity when investigatingthe commencement of a newministry:– Define the project in Gospelterms.– Identify, profile the recipientgroups.– List desired outcomes.– Agree to appropriate standardsof facilities and lifestyle for thecommunity and ministry.– Determine staffingrequirements.– Check availability ofappropriate continuing staff.– Provide establishment costsand initial sources of funding.– Estimate recurrent expenditureand its sources.– Propose methods to ensurelong-term viability.– Identify opportunities forwider Province financial andother involvement.– Plan evaluation ofeffectiveness as a work in the spirit of Gospelvalues.

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48.6 Br. Maurice TaildemanProvince of West Central Europe

Finding a balanceon our journey

The request in article 48.6 is tocreate, support, coordinate,promote, start, represent. Thisprogram is an invitation toservice. It is even a command,albeit based on love. Command– what a paradox – implyingcomplicity, confidence: “what Ihave learned from my Father.”Can we do otherwise than theServant who calls us his Friends?

Wherever we are sent, we sharewhat Marcellin passed on to us.Which causes us to share withthose we try to serve. They arepart of us. New ideas, creativeboldness, surprisingachievements obliging us togrow in wisdom and grace underthe eye of Mary, our inspiration,who involves us. And structuresin all of this? Ah, yes,structures. Can they be based onpatience, humor, and respect? They will also be bearers of life.As lights, they will be able toanticipate chapter 25 ofMatthew, these cries of a worldthat provokes us unceasingly.Families, communities, we willeasily find what is appropriate.There will not be contracts,which cannot be adapted.Confronted by experience, wewill adapt ourselves with good

grace since Christ asks us toleave to the Spirit theresponsibility to speak up whennecessary. To advance isconstantly to lose and then toregain equilibrium. With a littlecoaching we can adapt and besurprised by the results. What a discovery! By combiningour actions with prayer, thepromise of Jesus is there for us:“you will achieve greater thingsstill.” Why be afraid, little flock? His yoke is easy to carry.

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48.7 Br. Miquel Cubeles Province of Catalunya

Displacement andour challenge

The call to move and to live innew places is a consequence ofour option for Jesus and hisKingdom, of our option for thepoor. He calls us to be brothers,committed, audacious, just,supportive, sensitive... brothers,yes, for children and youngpeople wherever they are, andwelcoming them as they are,gambling with brave andsometimes unheard-of options.

The life of Marcellin and ofmany brothers and lay peoplethroughout the history of ourreligious family has been agenerous answer to this call.The present reality requests newforms and other places. Ourpresence has to be prophetic,hazardous, evangelical... onethat breaks away from theinterests and the way of life ofthe rich, from power andprestige, that allows us to sharewith the excluded andimpoverished, allows us to besimple people and brothers toyoung people, allows us toconstruct a church with a newface, allows us to meet men andwomen, that allows... us to findGod. All of us, including the brothersof the General Council, mustclearly announce, with concretegestures, from whatever place

and with whatever company weare in, that we are at theservice of the poor. Our newpresences must be both areference and an inspiration tothe new religious life that wewant to live in company withlay people; with and like thesimple and poor people, workingto defend life, human rights, therights of children; we work forpeace, to alleviate the sufferingof those who are excluded, worktogether, educate all, share thehopes and many problems of theyoung... through new forms ofeducation, evangelization andsolidarity. And Mary is there.

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We walk alongside young people, helping them to piece together their fragmented lives and to discover the meaning of life.

Chapter Message, 31

Br. Thomas ChinProvince of China

Go forward in Hope

The 20th General Chapter was amoment of grace for theInstitute, and in a particularway, it was so for all those whowere privileged to activelyparticipate in it. We want to move away from thisunique experience with a senseof urgency and willingness toact. Yet at the same time, wewant to do so with a strongsense of HOPE. To me, hopeimplies faith, a trustingrelationship based on thegoodness of God and our own –in spite of the many weaknesseswe all have, both as individualsand also collectively. Inbelieving that the charism ofMarcellin Champagnat is a giftfor the whole church, we moveon with confidence and do allwe can, with joy and trust.There are certainly difficultiesand challenging decisions lyingahead of us. We may even haveto go through a process of“dying,” in order to achieve newlife. Yet in all of this, we areguided by the calls made duringthe Chapter, and we are awarethat with God’s help, there is apurpose in all our efforts. We all have our visions of abetter future that we desire. Atthe same time, there are hardfacts and realities that point usto the difficulties of the task athand. It is with a great sense ofHOPE that we are encouragedand prompted to move on. Toremain stagnant or to moveahead blindly is equally foolishand counterproductive. C

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The love of God for allhumankind, as expressed in theIncarnation, gives us a solidfoundation for this Hope. It isup to us, then, to respondgenerously to the calls ofthis General Chapter.

Br. Rodrigo Cuesta GuerraProvince of Central America

Let’s be creative tobe more faithful

In my younger days, I wasfascinated by the fidelity of ourelderly brothers to all the detailsof the rule. How many saintsfilled our Marist way of life byunderstanding and practicingthings in this way! Nevertheless, with the passage oftime, I came to realize that wewere losing vitality as weconfronted such a rapidlychanging world... we were beingleft behind, no longer generatinglife as we had before. The timehad come to see things in a newlight and to be even morecreative than our foundingbrothers. We needed tounderstand all of Champagnat’sinsights about life in abundance,rather than attempt to imitatewhat he did down to the lastdetail; to be a Champagnattoday, fully engaged in our world,responding to it, opening up life-giving channels in the here-and-now. Our Founder knewinstinctively that fidelity had tobe creative or we would not be

able to remain faithful toyesterday, today, and tomorrow.Then arose the power ofwitnesses, the power of menfaithful unto death, the kind whoblaze new trails and accept allthe consequences, a powermagnified by life in community.Our martyrs came to wake us up,inspire us, and tell us that wemust be bold and imaginative inour fidelity. They grasped theuniqueness of Champagnat intheir heart of hearts, and forgednew paths where he alwayswanted us to be, where the littleones are, the marginalized, theforgotten. When we arrived at the 20th

General Chapter, we were allconvinced that to respond totoday’s new challenges, weneeded, with never-failing grace,a huge dose of creativity. Thatway, our fidelity would no longerlead to stagnation anddisintegration but to what’sbrand new and typical ofthe spirit.

Br. Onorino RotaProvince of Italy

I have a dreamA tribal leader would be alaughingstock if he assembledhis people and told them theywere about to set out on avoyage even though he hadneither a reason nor adestination in mind.An expert fisherman would feeldepressed if he labored all nightand caught nothing, and thenpulled in an excellent catch onthe advice of an amateur.A young woman would think it

was ridiculous to suggest thatshe become a mother withoutthe involvement of a man.A parish priest in his firstassignment would be foolish todream about founding a religiousorder meant to take root inevery diocese in the world.Yes, these are humiliating,depressing, ridiculous, foolishsituations…for us accustomedto thinking in small-mindedways.Yet Abraham became the fatherof a great people, Peter filledhis boat to overflowing withfish, Mary gave birth to a Son,Marcellin became a founder … God’s dreams shake people up.They offer no guarantees, andleave those who have themdubious. But – they come true!For us who feel comfortable onlywhen our horizons are clear andwell defined and our plans arebased on experience, changesimposed on us by history weardown our sense of security, and“God’s dreams” seem absurd tous, even though we use words tothe effect that He is the onewho is directing history.We’re too accustomed to actinglike finches, those little land-based songbirds – “heading outto sea” can be a terrifyingprospect for us! The Lord made use of the FrenchInterior Minister on April 1,1903 to weigh anchor and savethe Institute. Today we are onthis ship and the Lord is ondeck with us. Not to beoverlooked among thepassengers is “she who has doneeverything for us.” And at thehelm, our Founder… We arebeing asked not to repeat theroute we’re accustomed to, butto head off in a new direction,listen to new proposals, run therisk of facing untold adventureon the high seas…Utopia? Better Utopiathan hopelessness. C

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Br. Eduardo NavarroProvince of Western Mexico

Revitalizing thechapter experiencein ouradministrativeunits

At the end of the 20th GeneralChapter, the Provincials andDelegates of the Provinces ofMexico spent some days planninghow best to report back to ourProvinces. Now I would like todescribe what we outlined jointlyand what has been achieved inthe various areas where we have

passed on the information.

What we saw and what weheard: The direct testimony of brothersand lay people who participatedin this gift of the Spirit seemedessential to us. And so each oneof us delegates hascommunicated our joys andhopes, as well as the personalassessments and challenges thatwe have experienced. In one ofour Directors’ meetings we alsoconsidered the valuabletestimony of CathérineDémougin. The helpful graphicsused to explain the diversestages and special moments ofthe Chapter also helped us.

Towards a sense of the Chapterexperience: It seemed a good idea to helpour brothers and lay people andto have a sense of the reasoning

behind the calls of the Chapterin relation to vitality. Wedesigned a process for them inwhich the participants weremade aware of the mostimportant documents thatcomprised part of the phase ofSee-Judge phase, and theythemselves became part of theprocess of the discernment thattook place during the Chapter.The conclusions concerning themore important calls have turnedout amazingly similar betweenthe provincial groups and ourchapter discernment. Only after this stage, wepresented the Message “ChooseLife,” inviting each person tomake a commitment tointernalize the Message in their lives.

56 FMS Message 32

Br. Afonso MuradProvince of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

To get to the heartof the Message

I would like to suggestquestions to use duringmeetings of brothers and laypeople. After reading theChapter’s Message, there shouldbe personal time to reply to thequestions in writing. Then,people could share theirresponses, and close themeeting with a prayer.

❖ In your locality, what positiveand negative realities do yousee impacting the lives ofchildren and young people?❖ What are we doing to makeinformation readily availableand extend educationalopportunities to the poorest?❖ What worrisome aspects ofreality, discussed during theChapter, are present in ourcommunity and Province?❖ What attitude of a truebeliever, pointed out in theMessage, best expresses yourexperience as a follower ofJesus?❖ What are the strongest Marianfeatures in our identity? Whichones do we need to develop?❖ In your view, what is themost significant characteristic ofFather Champagnat’s heart?What events in his life remindyou of this characteristic?❖ Recall the life of a Brother,living or deceased, which giveseloquent testimony to apassionate commitment toChrist. ❖ What was your bestexperience of living in

community? Why?❖ What are aspects of yourcommunity that you feel shouldbe revitalized?❖ Comment on the suggestionsin the Chapter Message, sections42 to 44, for achieving personalintegration and spiritual growth.❖ What do you think of thegrowing partnership with laypeople in your Province inrecent years? What steps havebeen implemented?❖ Taking note of the Message’ssuggestions (in sections 43, 44,and 47) for strengthening tieswith the laity, how can yourcommunity cooperate in thiseffort?❖ Tell of an experience inGospel ministry that helpsyoung people to “piece togethera beautiful mosaic starting fromits origins as tiny fragments.”❖ What can you, and yourcommunity, do to insure thatresponsibilities are more widelyshared instead of remainingsolely in the hands of“leaders”?

Br. Jean RonzonProvince of N.D. de l’Hermitage,France

God has somethingto tell me today

Every text can be approached ina variety of ways. I would liketo invite each brother to make aprayerful reading of this specialMessage by using the traditionalmethod of the Lectio Divina. When I do this, I come toregard it as a loving word thatGod wants to give me at this

time in our Marist history.It’s important to set out with anattitude of faith: I believe thatGod desires to speak with meand gift me with a life-givingword, and to do so through theword of my brothers whosculpted this Message. Withoutsuch an act of faith, I riskachieving only a limitedunderstanding of the reading. Ameditative reading invites me toput the word into practice bymeans of listening to it in myheart of hearts.So I pick out a passage from theMessage – perhaps it’s just afew lines long – and read it inan atmosphere of serenity. Afterthis initial reading, I stop. I leta word, an expression bouncearound in my head; I savor it.Relish the passage before me. Iask myself how it applies to mepersonally – what this word,this expression is saying to mein my personal situation such asit is right now.Then I gradually widen my viewand look into references toScripture and our Constitutions.However it is also good to keepmy attention focused on thetext that has been presented tome, to learn to delight in itsoulfully. There is a particularword here that the Lord isinviting me to discover today, inthis very text.I would also suggest doing thismeditative reading in smalldoses, for example, every day fortwo weeks. Each one of us needsto find an opportune time in themidst of our daily activities torest at this oasis of silence andplace ourselves on the samewavelength as the delegates to our 20th GeneralChapter.

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Br. Fergus GarrettProvince of New Zealand, Fiji

“Do whatever Hetells you!” –“Yes, mother!”Jesus calls us to choose lifewith God and persons, a life ofcommunion with the Lord andwith our sisters and brothers.Each day in our communityprayer we renew our choice ofLife.We greet Mary, and go, with her,into the Presence of the OneLife-giver.We open our hands, our minds,our hearts to the gift of a newday.We say, “Yes, Lord, yes, yes” tothe unknown joys and struggles

of the day.With the Church we praise andthank the God of Life. He hasmade us attentive, intelligent,reasonable, responsible andloving persons (Lonergan).We listen to the Word of Godthat encourages us, inspires usand challenges us to conversion,action and mission.With Jesus, we say, “This is mybody, given for you, my sister,my brother”.We allow Him to teach us, touchus, heal us and renew the divineLife within us.We carry within us throughoutthe day the divine Life. Wetouch others’ lives and aretouched by them in word andaction.We listen for the quiet voice ofMary: “Look, they have no wine,no peace, no joy, no life”. AndHe says: “Give them somethingto eat yourselves, give them thetrue Bread from heaven, it isthe Spirit that gives Life”.At the day’s end we are ready to

know His Presence in thestillness.He shows us where He was mostactive in persons, words orevents.As we share these preciousmoments, we give Life to oneanother.We share our faith in His activePresence as we give praise andthanks. We pray for those whocame into our lives that day,and for our own weaknessesrediscovered.If we are to pray like this, weprobably need to change ourprayer forms:• Our “morning offering”

becomes our YES to Life.• Our “Review of the Day” makes

us aware of “the great thingshe has done”, and we cantruly join in Mary’ssong.

58 FMS Message 32

May 2003 59

GENERAL STATISTICS OF THE INSTITUTEAS OF 31 DECEMBER, 2001

BASED ON DATA RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRY AND STATISTICAL SERVICE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

P R O V I N C E SNOVICES BROTHERS LOSSES PROFS

1ºNov 2ºNov Total Temp Perp TOT DEC DEP TOT 1st Prof P.Perp

1. BEAUCAMPS-ST.GENIS 1 0 1 4 170 174 8 1 9 12. BÉTICA 3 0 3 12 156 168 3 4 7 3 13. BRASIL NORTE 0 4 4 23 65 88 2 2 74. CASTILLA 0 2 2 0 133 133 3 4 7 15. CATALUÑA 2 1 3 9 198 207 2 6 8 16. CENTRAL AMERICA 2 3 5 12 133 145 1 1 3 27. CHILE 0 0 0 3 76 79 2 2 28. CHINA 0 0 0 0 38 38 1 19. COLOMBIA 0 0 0 17 60 77 3 6 9 6

10. CONGO 3 1 4 8 28 36 1 1 2 211. CÓRDOBA 0 2 2 4 71 75 2 2 112. ECUADOR 0 0 0 1 32 33 1 1 113. ESOPUS 0 0 0 7 124 131 2 1 314. IBERVILLE 0 0 0 3 126 129 4 1 515. ITALY 0 0 0 1 72 73 1 1 116. LEÓN 0 0 0 2 136 138 3 317. LEVANTE 5 3 8 21 103 124 4 4 8 3 118. M.C.O. DE L'HERMITAGE 0 1 1 0 170 170 10 1019. MADAGASCAR 2 2 4 13 50 63 2 3 5 220. MADRID 0 0 0 2 109 111 1 1 121. MELBOURNE 8 3 11 5 113 118 3 322. MEXICO CENTRAL 10 5 15 16 137 153 3 3 6 5 823. MÉXICO OCCIDENTAL 2 1 3 17 148 165 2 1 3 5 124. NEW ZEALAND 1 0 1 7 133 140 3 6 9 1 125. NIGERIA 2 1 3 21 66 87 1 1 2 426. NORTE 0 3 3 4 117 121 2 227. PERÚ 0 0 0 0 45 45 2 3 5 128. PHILIPPINES 2 8 10 14 34 48 1 1 529. PORTO ALEGRE 0 9 9 21 130 151 6 1 7 2 230. PORTUGAL 0 0 0 2 36 38 1 1 231. POUGKEEPSIE 0 0 0 2 101 103 3 332. QUEBEC 0 0 0 0 81 81 3 333. RIO DE JANEIRO 0 3 3 10 52 62 2 3 534. RIO DE LA PLATA 2 0 2 3 98 101 4 2 6 135. RWANDA 4 2 6 8 24 32 1 1 236. SANTA CATARINA 1 0 1 14 58 72 1 1 3 237. SANTA MARIA 5 3 8 14 73 87 2 2 3 138. SÃO PAULO 5 0 5 8 72 80 2 2 1 439. SOUTHERN AFRICA 12 5 17 36 65 101 3 2 5 5 540. SRI LANKA 0 0 0 5 35 40 2 2 141. SYDNEY 7 0 7 22 240 262 1 4 5 742. VENEZUELA 0 0 0 2 56 58 1 3 443. WEST-CENTRAL EUROPE 1 0 1 6 219 225 7 2 9 2 1

TOTAL 80 62 142 379 4183 4562 104 71 175 77 35

STATISTICS

60 FMS Message 32STATISTICS

BROTHERS WHO MADE FIRST PROFESSION IN 2001

BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRY AND STATISTICS SERVICE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

FAMILY NAME FIRST NAME PROVINCE C’TRY OF ORIGIN DATE

1. Chinchilla Villalobos Ricardo Enrique Central America Guatemala Oct 282. Sánchez Kopper Jorge Central America Costa Rica Oct 283. Sandoval Martínez Juan Antonio Central America El Salvador Oct 284. Wado Michel Christian Beaucamps/St-Genis C’tral Afr’n Rep Jun 105. Colomo Zaballos Javier Betica Spain Jul 16. Sánchez Domínguez Javier Betica Spain Jul 17. Hobeika Miled Betica Lebanon Jul 18. Pissolato Márcio José Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 89. Moreira Emerson Almeida Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 8

10. Begnini Sergio Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 811. Cecatto Adriano Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 812. Santos José Antônio Dos Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2213. Ferreira Júnior Rafael Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2214. Menezes José Cicero De Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2215. Oliveira Francisco De Assis Lucas De Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2216. Costa José Edvan Da Silva Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2217. Lima Erisvaldo Ferreira De Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2218. Simões Marilson Da Costa Brazil Norte Brazil Dec 2219. Kifala Munyilongo Joseph D. R. Of The Congo D.R. of Congo Jun 1020. Baindekeli Beimoyato Vencelas D. R. Of The Congo D.R. of Congo Jun 1021. Mugera Hosea Munene West Central Europe Kenya Jun 3022. Lusenaka Eric Silali West Central Europe Kenya Jun 3023. Pardo Daniele Italy Italy Jul 124. Sarfo Prince Patrick Goly Levante Ghana Jun 1625. Ngek Elijah Ngum Levante Cameroon Jun 1626. Kouassi N'guessan Vincent De Paul Levante Ivory Coast Jun 1627. Razanandro Maurice Paul Madagascar Madagascar Jun 1028. Rakotonirina Olivier Tovo Heriniaina Madagascar Madagascar Jun 1029. Arriero Perantón Fernando Madrid Spain Jul 130. Franco Hernández Juan Jesús Central Mexico Mexico Jun 2331. Yu Pio (Woan Hee) Central Mexico Korea Dec 1932. Kim John (Byeong Chae) Central Mexico Korea Dec 1933. Ocejo Lambert Mauricio Central Mexico Mexico Jun 2334. Olivera Nava Humberto Adolfo Central Mexico Mexico Jun 2335. Vázquez Zarazua Hugo Pablo Western Mexico Mexico Jun 2336. Rivero Flota Juan Pablo Western Mexico Mexico Jun 2337. Medina Lugo Antonio Western Mexico Mexico Jun 2338. Salazar Rivera Marco Antonio Western Mexico Mexico Jun 2339. Chiquini Méndez Alfonso Junior Western Mexico Mexico Jun 2340. Talivaa Fifita New Zealand Samoa Nov 2441. Iwu Elias Odinaka Nigeria Nigeria Jun 1642. Umoh Benedict Nigeria Nigeria Jun 1643. Eke David Onyemaechi Nigeria Nigeria Jun 1644. Anani Ebinum Jude Nigeria Nigeria Jun 1645. Manzano Plaza Jesús Yobang Nor-Andina Colombia Dec 846. Echeverry Velásquez Javier Alfonso Nor-Andina Colombia Dec 8

May 2003 61

FAMILY NAME FIRST NAME PROVINCE C’TRY OF ORIGIN DATE

47. Vélez Rojas Juan Diego Nor-Andina Colombia Dec 848. Santacruz Moncayo Benedicto Nor-Andina Colombia Dec 849. Ropero Sánchez Oscar Eduardo Nor-Andina Colombia Dec 850. Marín Esparza Juan Pablo Nor-Andina Colombia Dec 851. Alo Johmel Philippines Philippines May 2052. Bantilan Freddie Philippines Philippines May 2053. Selayro Jerry Philippines Philippines May 2054. Rafaila Riel Philippines Philippines May 2055. Calabria Demosthenes Philippines Philippines May 2056. Walder Bonomi Jorge Horacio Rio de la Plata Argentina Jan 257. Rocha Jaires Santos Da Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Dec 858. Freisleben Inácio Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Dec 859. Mafalda Genésio Rodrigues Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Dec 860. Malfatti Vivicios Meneguzzi Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Dec 861. Silva Joseney Castilho Da Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Dec 862. Mazimpaka Désiré Rwanda Rwanda Jun 1063. Nsabimana Egide Rwanda Rwanda Jun 1064. Sepúlveda Romero Álvaro Danilo Sª. Maria de Los Andes Chile Jan 665. Moreno Bovet Francisco José Sª. Maria de Los Andes Chile Dec 3066. Chilombo Justine Southern Africa Zambia Jun 3067. Hanjoomo Charles Wilyjay Southern Africa Zambia Jun 3068. Mudubai Arcanjo Domingos Southern Africa Mozambique Jun 3069. Chakasara Francis Fortune Chiedzo Southern Africa Zimbabwe Jun 3070. Mushitu Maurice Ackim Southern Africa Zambia Jun 3071. Epa Gerard Sydney Papua New Guinea Nov 2472. Kelets Cornelius Sydney Papua New Guinea Nov 2473. Lasin Ken Sydney Papua New Guinea Nov 2474. Maetaoha (Maehvara) Stanley Sydney Solomon Islands Nov 2475. Sagolo Alfred Sydney Papua New Guinea Nov 2476. Tsibuen Dominic Sydney Papua New Guinea Nov 2477. Warao Elias Sydney Papua New Guinea Nov 2478. Robertson Anthony Sydney Australia Dec 13

STATISTICS

62 FMS Message 32

BROTHERS WHO MADE PERPETUAL PROFESSION IN 2001

BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRY AND STATISTICS SERVICE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

FAMILY NAME FIRST NAME PROVINCE C’RY OF ORIGIN DATE

1. August Salazar Pablo Daniel Central America Guatemala Mar 252. Vielba Infante Miguel Central America Spain Mar 253. Rodríguez Marín Evaristo Betica Spain Sep 224. Squersato Nilto Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Jan 185. Fontana Francisco Brazil Centro Sul Brazil May 206. Gaio Jorge Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 157. Lovato Mauro Rogério Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 158. Dias José Pereira Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 159. Siqueira De Oliveira Luiz Brazil Centro Sul Brazil Dec 15

10. Sánchez Lozano Antonio Castille Spain Aug 1511. Giménez González José Catalunya Paraguay Aug 2512. Nzabanita Charles D. R. of Congo D.R. Oof Congo Nov 413. Mautino Guillermo José Cordoba Argentina Oct 2714. Kenagwa Patrick Otwori West Central Europe Kenya May 2015. Fuertes Mari Juan Carlos Levante Spain Dec 816. Espinosa Barrera Miguel Ángel Central Mexico Mexico May 1917. Lee He Dong Agustín Central Mexico Korea Jun 618. Oh Seon-Keun John Baptist Central Mexico Korea Jun 619. Conde González Francisco Javier Central Mexico Mexico May 1920. Espinosa Larracoechea Rodrigo Central Mexico Mexico May 1921. González Ruiz Luis Felipe Central Mexico Mexico May 1922. Soto Sánchez Marco Antonio Central Mexico Mexico May 1923. Gómez Preciado Paul Gustavo Central Mexico Mexico Jul 724. García Blackaller Sergio Western Mexico Mexico Jun 925. Hazelman John Mattew New Zealand Samoa Jan 2026. Amaro Solimar Dos Santos Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Aug 1127. Seibert Clóvis Inácio Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Oct 2828. Faqui Genuir Civa Rio Grande do Sul Brazil Aug 1129. García López Juan Manuel Sª. Maria de Los Andes Peru June 630. Masekesa Felix David Southern Africa Malawi Aug 1131. Bwalya Virgilio Southern Africa Zambia Aug 1832. Mwanalirenji Emmanuel Gundul Southern Africa Zimbabwe Aug 2533. Chirambo Boniface Southern Africa Malawi Aug 1134. Mwambucha Franck Lackwell Southern Africa Malawi Aug 1135. Wijesuriya Benedict Hemasi Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Feb 3

STATISTICS

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BROTHERS WHO DIEDIN 2001

BASED ON INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE REGISTRY AND STATISTICS SERVICE OF THE GENERAL SECRETARIAT

FAMILY NAME FIRST NAME RELIGIOUS NAME DATE AGE PROVINCE

1. Portal Jean Privat Jan 5 78 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage2. Castrillo Arribas Evasio Pablo Isidoro Jan 7 88 Levante3. Morin Rosaire Donat Jan 8 85 Quebec4. López Campillo Plácido Bernardino Rafael Jan 17 78 Levante5. Aguiar José De Abilio José Jan 18 90 Rio de Janeiro6. García Fernández Ignacio Ignacio Javier Jan 24 65 Castille7. Martínez Rodríguez Saturnino Saturnino Dato Feb 1 72 Leon8. Tyrrell Edward P. Patrick Francis Feb 2 70 Poughkeepsie9. Cadoná Mansueto Teófilo María Feb 2 71 Porto Alegre

10. Dufour Marcel Pierre Justin Feb 7 90 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis11. Rachor Blasius Florenciano Feb 9 75 Porto Alegre12. Calvo Sánchez Teódulo Víctor Teódulo Feb 10 86 Chile13. Bringmans Marcel Gerbert Feb 12 95 West Central Europe 14. Foscolos Pierre Petros Feb 13 74 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage15. Regul Hermann Blasius Feb 21 88 Sri Lanka16. Houben Albert Dominique Jérôme Feb 23 84 West Central Europe 17. Geissler Anton Gamelbert March 1 79 West Central Europe18. Audet Jean-Louis Marie Euthyme March 4 76 Iberville19. Mathieu Henri Henri Louis March 11 96 Quebec20. Jiménez Enríquez Paulino Pablo Eliseo March 15 85 Castille21. Lakomy Jean Basile Stanislas March 23 79 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis22. Ozenda Salvatore Ilarione March 27 93 Italy23. Mc Beath Nicholas Adrian March 27 52 Melbourne24. Pereira Da Silva Miguel Miguel Alipio March 27 79 Portugal25. Naouna Célestin March 28 79 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis26. Jackson Thomas Henry March 31 72 West Central Europe27. Voegtle Kenneth J. Leonard Alphonse March 31 68 Esopus28. Boudreault Maurice Yvon Maurice April 8 70 Iberville29. Roughana Maxwell John Evin April 9 74 Melbourne30. Rueda Herreros Jenaro Silvio Marcelino April 10 74 Leon31. Geble Kunz Franz Josef Paschalis April 13 85 Rio de La Plata32. Rakotozafy Laurent Hilarion April 13 82 Madagascar33. Chambonnière Daniel Daniel Marie April 18 60 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage34. Ramaromanana René Martial April 24 51 Madagascar35. Díez Alonso Julián Eladio Ángel April 25 92 Rio de La Plata36. González García Jesús María Cipriano Vidal April 27 93 Colombia37. Antón Merino Calixto Ramón Eusebio April 27 81 Spain Norte38. Hennache Marcel Paul Vincent April 27 75 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis39. Aguiar Delphino Cardoso De Dimas João April 29 71 Santa Maria40. Urién Marcos Lorenzo May 9 55 Spain Norte41. Saint-Laurent Pierre Pierre Laurent May 14 87 Quebec42. Meis Joseph Balduin May 17 87 Southern Africa43. Labonté Adolph Adolphe Leo May 19 76 Poughkeepsie44. Daly John Joseph Casimir John June 2 95 West Central Europe45. Huot Aurèle (Onil) Léon Ignace June 10 90 Iberville46. Beunza Alecha Jesús Luis Graciano June 12 84 Catalunya

STATISTICS

64 FMS Message 32STATISTICS

FAMILY NAME FIRST NAME RELIGIOUS NAME DATE AGE PROVINCE

47. Kim (Soo Hun) Anselmo June 13 56 Central Mexico48. Ryan Desmond T. Gregory Vincent June 16 72 New Zealand49. Baiotto Virgilio Luiz Zeferino Miguel June 17 75 Porto Alegre50. Caballero Carrera Jesús June 18 42 Venezuela51. Mediavilla Madina José Moisés Pedro June 19 86 Rio de La Plata52. Long Patrick J. Ronald Bernard June 21 74 Esopus53. Van De Velde Roger Ange Aloys June 22 80 West Central Europe54. Tanyi Anthony June 27 69 Levante55. Anthony Felician July 2 58 Sri Lanka56. Hartmann José Antenor Justino María July 3 73 Southern Africa57. Lauler Jean Paul Victor July 4 74 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage58. Saez San Miguel Geraldo Esteban July 8 90 Rio de Janeiro59. Echeverri Murillo Miguel Ángel Miguel Ramón July 15 65 Catalunya60. García González Benjamin Garfield Fabio Vicente July 19 81 Southern Africa61. François Jean-Marie Jean Félix July 30 63 D. R. of The Congo62. Pradella Albino Olavo José July 30 80 Santa Maria63. Cermelj Baic Vladimiro Damaso Corrado August 5 72 Peru64. Meresinihinua Isaac Edwin Edwin Peter August 7 69 Sydney65. Castañon Hernández Francisco Javier Benigno August 8 75 Leon66. Venables William August 9 89 Melbourne67. Perret Joseph-Louis Joseph Régis August 10 72 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage68. Magand Gabriel-Marie Didier August 10 92 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage69. Vadillo Robredo Cándido Cirilo August 13 95 Betica70. Martim Ireneu Jorge Cristiano August 15 70 Sao Paulo71. Rodríguez Pastrana Crescencio Jorge Arturo August 17 75 Ecuador72. Mc Kiernan Thomas Columba John August 28 85 New Zealand73. Jacquat Clément Louis Valéry August 29 88 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage74. Pandolfo Hermes João Hermes Sept 5 84 Porto Alegre75. Bernardi Forcellini Eugenio Andrés Michaelis Sept 5 85 Peru76. Poirier Laurent Lawrence Joseph Sept 6 94 Poughkeepsie77. Fuente Rojo Agustín De La Clemente María Sept 6 75 Levante78. Sarraillé Pierre Louis Césaire Sept 10 73 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage79. Rodolfi Luiz Attilio Luiz Berchmans Sept 15 83 Porto Alegre80. Luna González Luis Luis Ramón Sept 16 92 Western Mexico81. Orjikwe Oliver Chukwuma Sept 21 47 Nigeria82. Borne Raymond Jules Laurent Sept 25 78 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage83. Vincent Maurice Oct 2 59 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis84. Droguett Miranda Rodolfo Rodolfo Vicente Oct 7 83 Chile85. Noll Alfred Gérard Alfred Oct 7 67 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis86. Bentley Sydney Felix Therese Oct 9 71 New Zealand87. Buitrago Aguirre Gonzalo Agustín Carlos Oct 11 78 Colombia88. Marc (Saballail) Paul Paul Marc Oct 13 97 M.C.O. N.D. de l’Hermitage89. Mocellin Marius Marius Anselme Oct 14 78 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis90. Marotzki Edgar Joaquím André Oct 18 82 Porto Alegre91. Laramée Aurèle Aurèle Eugène Oct 21 74 Iberville92. Moors Alphonse Alphonse Michael Oct 26 83 West Central Europe93. Leone Carlos Fortunato Cruz Nov 10 84 Sao Paulo94. Martínez Erazo Gerardo María Guido María Nov 13 64 Colombia95. Krenz Kloster Victorio Víctor Alfredo Nov 16 63 Rio de La Plata96. Ronzon Joseph Jean Stanislas Dec 3 83 Beaucamps - Saint-Genis97. Sargolini Rinaldo Domenico Bruno Dec 8 73 Betica98. Robla González Urbano Urbano León Dec 8 93 Castille99. Sanial Marius Régis Chanel Joseph Dec 9 100 Brazil Norte

100. Preciado Morales Pablo Pablo Máximo Dec 13 88 Central Mexico101. Rodríguez Rodríguez Emiliano Dec 17 58 Central Mexico102. Chanal Régis Pierre Joseph Aimé Dec 19 89 Brazil Norte103. Boukheir Rafic Elie Stanislas Dec 23 80 Betica104. Pedroza Pardo Ramón María Ramón Dec 28 96 Western Mexico

RESTRUCTURING IN THE MARIST INSTITUTE

RESTRUCTURING IN THE MARIST INSTITUTE

ADMINISTRATIVE DATEUNITS C O U N T R I E S CREATED

1. Southern Africa Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe April 19992. East Central Africa Central African Republic, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania April 20033. Central America Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico —4. South Central Brazil Brazil (Santa Catarina & São Paulo) July 20025. Canada Canada and Haiti July 20026. China China, Malaysia, and Singapore —7. Compostela Honduras, Portugal, and Spain (Castille & Leon) December 20038. Southern Cross Argentina and Uruguay July 2003

District of Paraguay Paraguay9. United States of America USA (Esopus & Poughkeepsie) and Japan June-July 2003

10. West Central Europe Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, and Ireland April 200011. Philippines Philippines —12. Iberian Romania and Spain (Madrid & Norte) November 200313. The Hermitage Algeria, France, Greece, Hungary, and Spain (Catalunya) July 200314. Madagascar Madagascar —15. Mediterranean Italy, Lebanon, Spain (Betica & Levante), and Syria September 2003

District of West Africa Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Liberia August 200016. Melbourne Australia, East Timor, and India —17. Central Mexico Mexico —

District of Korea Korea —18. Western Mexico Mexico —19. Nigeria Nigeria —20. Nor-Andina Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela January 200321. New Zealand Fiji, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa, and Tonga —22. Rio Grande do Sul Brazil (Porto Alegre & Santa Maria) July 2002

District of Amazonia Brazil23. Santa María de los Andes Bolivia, Chile, and Peru August 200224. Sydney Australia and Cambodia —

District of Melanesia New Caledonia-Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands25. Sri Lanka Pakistan and Sri Lanka —26. Name to be announced Brazil (Brazil Norte & Rio de Janeiro) TBA

General Administration Cuba —

“The challenge of vitality is at the heart of restructuring.” – Chapter Message, 37

MARYTEACHES US TO BE

CLOSE TO CHILDRENAND YOUNG PEOPLE

AND FOCUSED ONTHEIR WELLBEING,

AS SHE WAS TOJESUS;

LET USFOLLOW

JESUS INMARY’S WAYAND IN HER

COMPANY. (C. M. 12)

… TOPROCLAIM,

DARINGLY ANDPROPHETICALLY, THAT

GOD PREFERS THE‘LITTLE ONES.’ (C. M. 13)