FEATURES OF LAY MARIST LIFE

Features of lay Marist life
lived there our best experience of a Marist marriage.
We formed a part of the Brothers’ community
and followed their pattern of life in every
way: prayer, celebrations, pastoral projects, etc.
We were able to enjoy community life with its
attractive points and its difficulties, in a context
- Paraguayan - that seems to make things easy.
(Spain)
think that we are lacking in taking more auda-
I cious steps and signs for building lives that are
more shared, especially in mixed communities, or
in communities of life, since today we have thousands
of laypeople in the entire world who are
Marists by choice and want to live this choice in a
more radical way, by exchanging their spirituality
each day. (Brazil)
In my experience of community life, discovering
the Brother to be an equal, not as a stranger
or a superior being. Valuing their options and
gifts, and understanding their limitations and
deficiencies. Having communal experiences and
disagreements, being stimulated and stimulating
when sharing our lives. Learning. Being welcomed,
respected, and not judged. Invited and
not forced. Opening up their house. Being valued
and kept in mind. Knowing myself to be tolerated
in my more difficult moments. Appreciated. All
this through simple and fraternal relationships,
of small details that say a lot. If I had to choose a
couple of words, fraternal relationship and communion.
(Spain)
Extended Bureau of the Laity
Other Lay Marist Groups
O ne of the things I have got the most from
in these past 6 years or so has been the
Lay Partnership Group. Just meeting with such
people gives me a new lease of life. You just
connect with people like this - gentle, sincere,
kind, have faith in God and live this through
their work and conversation. Through this I
have been able to be involved in workshops,
had input into documents and met many
Marist Brothers and Marist laity from all over.
As this has happened I feel I have become
Marist. (Australia)