Directory of Regional Scholastics

Directory of Regional Scholastics

Dear Marists of Champagnat!
Greetings from NYC!

I am writing to you once again to share with you information about young people in initial formation from all over the region. With pleasure I present to you some scholastics from the province of Norandina.

As Marists of Champagnat, we thank God and celebrate that there are young people responding to his call to be brothers.

¡Espero que disfrutes leyendo los perfiles! También les pido que recen por ellos mientras que continúan discerniendo su llamada a ser Hermanos Maristas.¡Que Jesús, María, Nuestra Buena Madre, y Marcelino, sigan iluminando y bendiciendo nuestro camino como familia Marista!

Click here to meet the scholastics.

Fraternally,

Hno. Albert Rivera, fms

Arco Norte Regional Team


Meeting of Postulants of the Region, for the celebration of María de Guadalupe

Meeting of Postulants of the Region, for the celebration of María de Guadalupe

On December 13, the Marist postulants from around the Arco Norte region met, to continue to build a sense of fraternity and to strengthen our identity as a global Marist family. After re-introducing ourselves to the group, we were led in a prayer service that was in both English and Spanish and which was centered on the image of our Lady of Guadalupe. A song was used to help the set the tone for our opening prayer and time together.

Afterwards, we had time to share what we have enjoyed the most during our time in the postulancy. Some aspects that were appreciated were community life, weekend retreats, manual work, times for individual and community prayer and reflection. In addition, some used the time to learn to cook and develop other talents. All were valuable aspects that we have felt during this stage of formation.

At the conclusion of the first round of sharing, Brother Javier led the applicants in a short dance. Javier does not teach the movements and the words of the song. There was a lot of laughter and we had a lot of fun with this activity.

The second round of questions focused on the challenges we experienced during our postulancy. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was a common source of frustration, but besides that the postulants discussed some of the growing pains of community life and the difficulties that can be encountered with introspection and personal reflection. The postulants were asked to make suggestions for improving the program. Several of the postulants mentioned that it would be better to bring more people into the formation experience. Some possibilities that were shared were working with other Marists from across the region, interacting with other religious congregations, and connecting with lay Marist groups.

Finally, each member was asked to bring an object that symbolized their postulancy experience. It was a fun and reflective ending to a great gathering!

Fraternally,

Robert Dittus and Moisés González.

Coordinators of the Postulants of Arco Norte


As Brothers: “Invited to be Beacons of Hope Wherever We Are”

As Brothers: “Invited to be Beacons of Hope Wherever We Are”

On October 31st, 2020, the second regional gathering of brothers in the Scholasticate and those in temporary vows of the “Arco Norte” region was held via Zoom. This gathering included the Superior General, Bro. Ernesto Sánchez, members of his council, as well as several formators from around the region and approximately 20 brothers who are in temporary vows.

There were two primary objectives for this gathering. First, after several complicated months, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we wanted to have an opportunity to be in fraternity with Brother Ernesto. Second, the gathering provided us with a moment to reflect and comment on Bro. Ernesto’s presentation…what is the Institute asking of us as young brothers, especially during this time of great uncertainty.

Brother Ernest began his presentation by recalling the dedication of our brothers in Bugobe, as men who set an example of love and who are examples of the fidelity and dedication needed to be a brother to all. Afterwards, grateful for their witness, Brother Ernesto began his reflection, from his circular “Homes of Light”. He began his reflection from a Marian perspective, which he considers vital to our identity as brothers. Mary is, in the words of Brother Ernest, the woman who “radiates the light of God”.

Throughout the meeting, Brother Ernesto continued to emphasize, to the younger brothers, the need to be “Beacons of Hope and Homes of Light”. He indicated that there is a need to create connections between the care shown and experienced in community, care for our common home and care in our encounters with children and young people.

Brother Ernesto continued to speak to us about the importance of self-care, the need to grow in personally and the constant invitation to give of ourselves, in our way of being brothers, and aware of the challenges of the life cycle that we will experience. In addition, he invited us to reflect on the following:

  • – Within your vocational process, it is necessary to give your all. You must not lack strength and look for shortcuts in the formative processes.
  • – The need for global availability, being brothers regardless of where the ministry is located, even if it is outside of our own province.
  • – Vocational, spiritual, and personal development are indispensable as you prepare for the perpetual profession.
  • – Finally, Ernesto, invited us to dream and to prepare ourselves because we are all invited to be part of this global family by putting our minds and hearts into this endeavor.

The meeting concluded with an informal conversion, where some of the brothers shared their concerns and their views on internationality, the new realities that we are facing, the invitation to care for all and to be, like Mary, people who radiate the light of God, wherever we are.

As young brothers, of the Arco Norte region, we are grateful for this time together, we thank Brother Ernesto for the time he shared with us, as well as the presence of Brother Luis Carlos, Vicar General, Brothers Joao Carlos do Prado, Ken McDonald, Angel Medina and Lindley Sinonosa as well as our brother formators.

We look forward to meeting again, sharing our experiences, hopes and doubts as we walk together as brothers.

Fraternally.

Bro. Roberto Constance, fms

First Great Regional Forum Arco Norte: “A new present, a better future”

First Great Regional Forum Arco Norte: “A new present, a better future”

On October 26 and 27, the first Regional Forum of Arco Norte was held, which was attended by more than 100 Brothers, lay women and men from all the provinces that are part of the Region (Canada, USA, Central Mexico and Western, Central America and Norandina), as well as with the participation of members of the South America Region and the General Government in Rome. Magisterial conferences were also held by brother Emili Turú and sister Liliana Franco, president of CLAR.

“As Arco Norte, we look to the horizon of recognizing ourselves as a Region, orienting the joint work that we carry out to finally reach the marked transition. Like Mary in Cana (Jn 2,5) ‘Make him tell you’ ”, Br. Hipólito (Central America) invited all those present, emphasizing the mission entrusted by the XXII General Chapter.

To read more about this event, click here.


Virtual Encounters of the Regional Vocational Culture team

Virtual Encounters of the Regional Vocational Culture team

The Vocational Culture Team of Arco Norte has prepared a series of virtual meetings that invites us to advance mutually, as a region, in terms of vocational animation as key of Vocational Culture, sharing the same vision that sustains, drives and updates the programs in this area that are carried out throughout our different Provinces.

The first meeting, which took place on Monday, October 19, sought to encourage through diverse dynamics, the informal gathering, getting to know each other a little better and strengthening personal and Marist links. Vocation and youth ministry animators from each of the Arco Norte’s Provinces participated in the meeting.

Brother Hipólito, in his greeting as Provincial Coordinator of our region, invited us to generate from our field of action a change of mentality that will drive us to walk together, weaving a language and common projects that will support vitality and diversity. Likewise, he encouraged us to carry out processes of formation that will foster an enthusiastic Marist leadership, centered on personal and group follow-up.

The planned virtual meetings for the coming months invite us to learn more about the present Youth Realities in our region of Arco Norte.

The next virtual meeting has been set for Tuesday, November 17 of this year.