At a recent meeting I was asked the question “what is your dream for Marist laity?”
Initially, I hesitated as I did not know fully what this question meant. Often when Jesus is asked a question in the Gospels, he answers with another question. So initially, I answered “What is the dream of Marist Laity in 2023” but also “what is the dream of Marist laity in 2030?” In our discussion we drew upon a recent Marist Laity Australia committee meeting at Hunters Hill. In the committee meeting there was a wide range of answers as there are a deep array of lay people. Not one size does not fit all. We spoke of the struggle of lay people being involved in ministry. Like feeding the homeless at St Patrick’s Church Hill and young people going on an immersion to the Philippines. But when you translate it to “would you like to be a lay Marist?” People run away. In Australia there is a reluctance to make a commitment. I thought to myself “how do we create a pathway which inspires, calls and forms lay people so they take the step as lay Marist?”
We were then asked the question, “how does the founder John Claude Colin fit into this?” John Claude Colin was the founder who dreamt of a multi branched society. At its heart was the lay branch. The lay branch was a critical part, as today, all other branches often have their origins as laity. People are born into laity. People grow up as laity. But John Claude’s dream of a multi branched society was rejected by the Vatican. Often, we need to fight for what we truly believe in. There is a struggle. Are we willing to promote Marist Laity in our lives despite the struggles we face?
But the world today we face many global challenges. With War. With Climate Change. With loss of biodiversity. With family breakdown. With materialism. With individualism. With many injustices. With domestic violence. With sexism. With racism. Where people in the western world are walking away from religion. Due to a lack of women in leadership. Due to a sexual abuse crisis. Marist Laity needs to play its part with these global challenges. As lay Marists, we need to build connections across the earth, especially with those who are different from us to face these challenges.
As a lay Marist I said “my dream was that the Lay Marists become more interconnected with each other so that we might respond not as just individuals, but as a community who can inspire each other to make a difference”.
How can we awaken laity to take on their role as “Lay Marists”? The dream of the future is not that we have all the answers. But, that we have the willingness to step out of our comfort zone in order for Mary and Jesus to be born in us today.
(Audio Available)
