FEATURES OF LAY MARIST LIFE

Extended Bureau of the Laity Features of lay Marist life
Dreams
OPEN LETTER
dream of a larger, happier family work-
I ing actively for the Kingdom here below,
since, if that gives me so much life
surely this will be good for them.
I also dream of Marist school centres
that are more and more evangelical,
each time closer and more faithful to
Marcellin’s dream, real homes for the
young people and children who are
recommended to us, with teachers who
identify more and more with the mission,
that we live our daily work as a
gift from God and as a call to holiness,
that we see each one of these children
as an image of Jesus… and many, many
fraternities that radiate in the world the
joy and fulfillment of being Marists, of
living like Mary, with the faith, the openness
that God offers us each day, sharing
with the brothers the way and the
mission, all brothers, fraternal and all
close. (El Salvador)
dream of a time where we will see with more clarity the result of our efforts in helping children and
I young people. I dream of an Institute in which brothers and laypeople can sit at the same table,
share the same bread and the same Word. (Brazil)
My dream? That the Colleges now administered by laypeople continue the Marist educational
mission. My dream? That families follow the Marist community ideal in order to put together
resources to help deprived young people. My dream? Laypeople, builders of the Marist Spirit in the
footsteps of Marcellin Champagnat and of his brothers. Our world really needs them. (Canada)
It is certain that I am far from being an authentic witness to the Marist vocation; I know very well what
is difficult to live regarding eternity and sometimes I distance myself from this vocation. But what I
can certify in this small story, is how much I feel captivated by this call to have a simple heart, it is an
experience that seduces me and makes me become a free person. If the persistence in listening to the
call makes me more Marist, I ask God to preserve at least this desire in me and that, in or out of the
Marist Institute, I remain faithful to the dreams that He has certainly reserved for me. (Brazil)
dream of continuing to share life and mission with the brothers and laypeople with whom I feel very
I much in communion. I dream of a Marist school full of life, a school which is good news for the life
of the children and young people of our time. (Spain)