Village Chaminade Marianist Spiritual Center, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, led by Marianist Religious, offers resources, including psycho-spiritual accompaniment, through retreats, training seminars, and recollections.
Africa is home to a large number of Marianists, including Religious men and women, members of the Alliance Mariale, and Lay people. In each country, the different branches collaborate. The Religious of the Society of Mary spontaneously take charge of the formation of the members of each branch.
In this July issue of Magnificat, this spontaneity in the supervision of the laity leads us to share this article with you:
the mission of Marianist Religious in Africa and beyond;
the presentation of works linked to this mission.
The mission of the Religious in Africa consists first and foremost of being a witness to Christ through the authentic living out of his religious commitments: vows and community life.
In concrete terms, the Marianist Religious must bear witness to a Christ-like outlook.
Religious live an intimacy with Christ that consists of doing good everywhere, inspired by Christ's prophetic gaze.
Four attitudes describe this:
a) A loving gaze: "Then Jesus fixed his gaze on him and loved him" (Mk 10:21). Like the Lord's gaze on the rich young man, religious today must feel that God is calling them to love others appropriately, to welcome without discrimination and to respect every person, man or woman, young or old, who wishes to meet God.
b) A look of pity: "When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he took pity on them and healed their sick" (Mt 14:14). Jesus asks religious to be attentive to the men and women of today, to discern their true needs and to help them.
c) A look that corrects: "He found the sellers of oxen, sheep and doves and the moneychangers seated in the Temple. Making himself a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple, both the sheep and the oxen; he spilled the money of the moneychangers and overturned their tables, and to the sellers of doves, he said, 'Take this away from here. Do not make my Father's house a house of commerce" (Jn 2:14-1). Many people attend church. But do these believers have good pastors? It's not impossible for profiteers to get involved and spread doctrinal errors. Faced with such situations, religious should feel a strong urge to speak with conviction about Jesus Christ, who came among us "not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45).
d) A liberating gaze: Continuers of Jesus, his disciples perpetuate his action under the influence of the Holy Spirit. They must not be afraid to alleviate the world's misery. God never ceases to act through his mysterious presence in his Church (Mt 28:20).
This mission of Marianist Religious is expressed in various fields in Africa, one of which is the Village Chaminade Marianist Spiritual Center in Abidjan.
This center offers resources, including psycho-spiritual accompaniment, which is led by Marianist Religious. It welcomes groups and/or individuals in a magnificent setting, ideal for retreats, recollections, and training seminars. The center is open to all and, in case of need or request, offers accompaniment for people wishing to experience God through Mary, offering a space of silence with quality accommodation and catering facilities. The center has air-conditioned and ventilated rooms and a conference room.
[Source: Marianist Magnificat Newsletter, July 2024]
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