Year IX - Number 372
20 May 2015
Marist News 372
Marist Brothers - General House - Rome
Woman ‘impressed’ with first ever formation course for laity Gathering teaches Marist laity how to form other laity worldwide
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Loli affirmed that “it’s important to broaden the Marist spirit because before, it seemed that only brothers could transmit it.”
Spaniard taking part in a first-of-a-kind course for laity with over 50 Marists from around the world in Rome, labelled it as “impressive” and “enriching.”
“It’s important that us laity can also transmit it but to do that, it is important we receive formation,” she added.
“This is impressive and it really enriches you as a person,” said Loli Santos, director of Champagnat Marists School’s nursery and primary in Salamanca, Spain. “I feel proud to have been able to come from Compostela (Province) and be here,” she told the general house press office on May 19. “I have won the lottery in being able to live the Marist spirit with others.” Fifty-four lay Marists from around the world are gathering in the first course ever to train lay people how to form other lay Marists from May 19 – June 2.
“Some ways in which participants will be skilled as effective formators will be through a study of contemporary theological thinking in relation to lay people and deepening their understanding of new formation frameworks and spiritual itineraries that are emerging for lay Marists,” said Tony Clarke, codirector of the Institute’s secretariat of the laity.
Mike Greeff, who has travelled from Johannesburg, South Africa underscored that “in South Africa, brothers have taken very brave steps to let the laity manage and run the schools” and that he hopes to “take back the words spoken here to the laity in the community.” He was recently appointed as director of the Marist Schools Council, a body that oversees all Marist schools in South Africa.
General Administration * At the beginning of the week, Br Emili Turú, Superior General, was with a group of brothers of El Escorial, Spain, who are doing the course in spirituality called “Senderos.” * Brother Chris Wills, director of the secretariat for Collaboration for Mission, International (Cmi), and Miguel Ángel Es pinosa, vice director of the Secretariat for Mission, are taking part in a meeting of the Inter-american Comission of Mission in Porto Alegre from May 17 - 21. * A course for lay leaders began on May 19 at the general house in Rome, promoted by the secretariat of the laity. The 54 participants include some of the brothers of the general house and lay people from around the world. * The general councillors Josep M. Soteras, Eugène Kabanguka and Victor Preciado are visiting México Central Province.