FEATURES OF LAY MARIST LIFE

Extended Bureau of the Laity Features of lay Marist life
Christ Send Us: the
Mission of the Lay
People
What captivated me about
Marist life was the actuality
of Champagnat’s project:
“To educate children and youth,
making Jesus known and loved
in order to form good Christians
and virtuous citizens”. The perspective
of an education committed
to the integral formation
of the students, associated with
the preoccupation for the great
social questions, drew my attention
very much. (Brazil)
Through the testimony of the older animators
at the Camp, I discovered what it meant
to give your life for your friends. The numerous
hours in organising and animating the activities
so that the children could be enriched by the life
of friendship and of respect experienced at the
Camp, in particular the poor children gave meaning
to unconditional love. It was Brother G. who
revealed this meaning to us through his ministry
activity, through the morning prayer and by his
witness to Marist values: family spirit, simplicity,
confidence, etc. (Canada)
When I finished my studies, I was invited by
Brother N. to visit the X district and join
the activities that the brothers were carrying
out. At the start it was very difficult and I will
not deny that several times I thought of giving
up and choosing another lifestyle for myself.
But the devoted and committed work of the
brothers, of some teachers from the college
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THE MISSION
and of some people from the district who were
fighting to improve the living conditions, were
the best motivation for wanting to continue at
this time, and thanks to the spirit that I found
in them, I started to understand what family
spirit, simplicity of life and love of work meant.
Today, when I look back on these years, I give
thanks to God for having allowed me to discover
this not only in others’ life witness but
also in my own actions. (Colombia)
We laypeople are also called to be a reference
in our milieu, to co-operate in the building of
the Kingdom and especially to make Jesus Christ
known and loved. Champagnat shows us that we
are not saints, but that we can seek holiness. I
try in my work relationships and in my personal
relationships to always be in agreement as far
as possible since it is not easy to implement the
little virtues which, undoubtedly, harmonise our
relationships and make them better. (Brazil)