The Itinerants Path

The meeting of the General Administration of the Marist Brothers turned to be successful as the representative of the Marist youth from different parts of Asia responded to the call to participate to the said meeting. It was held at Mariapolis in Tagaytay last September 21 to 24, 2007.

The main objective of the meeting was to give a chance to the Marist Asian youth to think, talk and share their Christian life and today’s Marist vocation. There were small groups sharing to get a clear picture of the Asian reality and how do they understand, what are their roles and how do they respond these realities. Somehow , the young people from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea and Philippines were able to share their own experiences from their respective countries. Some shared about their country on how do they see it at moment. Delegates from Hong Kong noticed the population of children as decreasing while Filipinos shared that children’s population are increasing. The irony being presented was that in Hong Kong, classrooms have small numbers of students while here in the Philippines, we lack classrooms for many students. Youth from Malaysia expressed their disappointment towards suppression of religious freedom in some parts of their country.

The meeting was before the Burma’s massive campaign for peace, which is another reality in Asia. Unfortunately, nobody from Myanmar represented the youth during the meeting. But the message of Brother Sean is addressed to all youth in Asia. Here is the excerpt from Brother Sean’s remarks delivered at the closing ceremony of the meeting with young people of Asia.

“… You are a new generation here in . Never for a moment believe that you are only the future, for you are the present also. Real life does not start at some pre-appointed time during the days ahead. What you are living today is not the dress rehearsal for life but rather it is your life. Make of it what you can.

Marcellin Champagnat did just that. For he was but 27 years of age when he founded the Marist Brothers. He had no money, an old house on which there was a mortgage to pay, and two recruits???one of whom had almost no schooling. But Marcellin had a dream. And that is what lies at the heart of a religious vocation: a dream, God???s dream for you and for me.

If Marist education is meant to do anything, it is meant to teach young people to dream. To dream very large dreams about changing our world for the better because of Jesus Christ. How do you want to make a difference in our world and what price are you willing to pay in order to do so?

These four days together were meant to help our General Council learn something more about the world of young people living in the region of Asia. And we are grateful for all that you have shared with us. For our part, we hope that we have left with some better understanding about religious life today. Yes, it is but one way to serve the Lord but today it is not as well understood as it might have been in the past.

Some worry that religious life requires too much discipline and sacrifice. But any life lived well demands discipline and sacrifice. Others worry that it is a lonely life; but religious life is no lonelier than any other life. Each of us has a responsibility for taking the risks necessary to develop rich friendships.

Marcellin Champagnat was a man in love with God. He could not have accomplished what he did in life were that not the case. And herein lies the very core of religious life. You cannot live it unless Jesus Christ is the center and passion of your life. And so, as we ready ourselves to leave here today, let us pledge ourselves to listen for God???s Word in our life, and let us pray for hearts generous enough to respond to what that very e God might have in mind for each of us and for our lives. Thank you.

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