FEATURES OF LAY MARIST LIFE

Extended Bureau of the Laity Features of lay Marist life
his Spirit to bring me into the mission of the
Church. (Uruguay)
feel that in order to build and be the Church,
I it is sufficient to help each other discover and
strengthen our personal vocations, to find the
Source of all life. (Spain)
During my years as a student they invited me
to take part, as an aide, in formation mornings
where I went with a team of two brothers
and some of my class friends. We went to other
communities and schools that belonged to the
Pastoral Sector of M. The brothers organized
meetings with us to prepare the work and to distribute
the tasks of the meeting to us. Only later
did I realize that the brothers were forming us for
leadership by putting us with other young people.
From these small tasks, I moved on to permanent
activities in catechesis and youth ministry in my
parish, by a successive journey of commitment,
care for work, growth in faith and in the mission
of a layperson inspired by “the style of being
Marist.” (Brazil)
Preparing for the Journey:
Ongoing Formation
The on-going formation, specialized courses in
teaching technology, the study and the knowledge
of the life of Champagnat and the first community
if Brothers, their “exemplary presence,”
family spirit, with the virtues of simplicity and
love of Mary…have been and are the pillars of life
shared with colleagues and Brothers: “A Brother
among Brothers,” “One more plate among the
bowls at the table in La Valla”, “One more plate
and glass on the great table of the universe.”
(Spain)
Thanks to my youth group I was able to get to
know many people – Marist Brothers, monitors,
friends in the group, boys and girls – who
were the fundamental means of my personal process.
With them and thanks to them, I discovered
my capacities and limits, I became confident in
myself and I experienced my life in relationship
with others; that was my milieu in which I sought
God and in which I celebrated my meeting with
him. I had a complete process of human, social,
Christian and Marist formation. Thus, I also knew
the person and the project of Champagnat in a
concrete way.
I feel that I have been accompanied in each of
my steps, even though I have not been totally
conscious of it until I was able to see it with a
certain distance in time, and with the perspective
that is given by the years and the reflection
of vital experiences. I would like to highlight the
confidence that others placed in me and in my
possibilities, beyond what I could see myself.
Without these experiences, I would not be today
who I am. (Spain)
The La Valla Project is a lay initiative at C. High
School in which seasoned teachers mentor,
guide and support first-year teachers through
sharing sessions on methods, classroom management
and Marist charism. (United States)
In 2002 they invited me to an experience
of Marist Formation in Mexico (FORMARME):
there I got to know Marcellin better, his fam-