Phil: Marist Joint Formation

REVITALIZING SHARED CHARISM AND MISSION

Gathered for the purpose of reflecting together our distinct gifts of vocation and discerning creative expressions of our Marist mission, nineteen (19) participants, brothers and lay, gathered for a Joint Formation experience on May 18-21, 2017 at St. Joseph Retreat House, Tamontaka, D.O.S, Maguindanao. This activity is part of the East Asia Province Marist Bicentennial Celebration.

The Joint Formation was aimed at enriching our respective vocations as brothers and lay through personal faith encounter, exploring the new relationship of Brothers and Lay in communion and determining new ways of collaborating in the Marist mission.

The four-day formation experience developed a sense of community among brothers and lay where there was in-depth sharing of faith and vocation stories, fears, hopes and gifts in living one’s distinct vocation. And considering the trends and challenges of the Church in Asia, the Joint Formation experience provided the participants an opportunity to explore mission priorities where brothers and lay can work together with new vitality.

Some participants voiced out their meaningful experience:

• “Meaningful experience for me were the reflective prayers, information and sharing of insights and communion between brothers and lay.”

• “Each day is full of symbolism which brings more meaning to the topics being discussed.”

• “It opened my heart to better understand lay Marists working with the brothers. I admired their honesty to express their fears, hopes and gifts in relating with me as a brother.”

• “This formation serves as a bridge of understanding between brothers and lay Marists…”

The formation experience ended with participants hoping for the replication of the same process of formation to as many brothers and lay in the sector and the province.