FEATURES OF LAY MARIST LIFE

Extended Bureau of the Laity Features of lay Marist life
Dear Champagnat Marists,
Only a few months ago, we had the
great pleasure of bringing out the
final edition of “Gathered around
the Same Table, the Vocation of
Champagnat’s Marist Laity.” Our
hope is that the document will be
for everyone concerned a suitable
means of deepening and increasing
the generous response to the
invitation that God is making to us
through the charism handed down
by Marcellin and so many of his
Brothers.
INTRODUCTION
As you are aware, the document
was edited on the basis of ninety-two reports submitted by Marist Laity in different
countries and continents. The reports offered testimony to the manner in which lay
people have experienced a vocational calling. The document is highlighted by several
striking paragraphs which give it freshness and a feeling of everyday life. We were able
to present only a few of the testimonies among so many that were at hand. As a result,
we feel that we should exploit more fully the treasure that has been bestowed upon
us.
To that end, we decided to publish the testimonies in their complete form. We have
done so on the web at www.champagnat.org. The testimonies are translated into the
four, official Institute languages. You can open the texts by going first to the heading
“Laity,” and then to “Life Experiences-Personal Vocation.”
We now wish to offer the testimonies in a format similar to the one used in “Gathered
around the Same Table.” We believe that these portrayals of Marist lay life can serve as
an important complement to the official document. The texts are not abstract. They
are drawn from real life and thus are more apt to deepen our Marist vocation whatever
be our state of life. A wide range of sensibilities both personal and cultural will be found