Evangelization and Ministry

Meeting: 19 August 2006

Topic: Evangelization and Ministry

Presenter: Br Ray Arthur fms

Brother Ray told us about the motivating factors that shaped the Marist ministry of St Marcellin Champagnat. The first is known as the Montagne experience when Marcellin went to the bedside of a dying 17 year old and was shocked at his ignorance about God, faith and the message of Jesus our Saviour. As a result Marcellin devoted himself and his brothers to the education of youth. The second story tells of how Marcellin and a brother were lost in a snow storm and in desperation pleaded with Mary through praying the Memorare. They were saved by a farmer who found them and gave them shelter in his home. Marcellin devoted everything to "Mary our good mother" and the Marist Brothers story was begun and continues to this day.

By relating experiences from his own ministry and through examining quotes from the Marist Brothers Constitution on Marist Apostolic Spirituality; Evangelii Nuntiandi and our invitation to witness to the truth and to bring God to people and People to God - Brother Ray led us into a lively discussion. From this we reflected on the Marial approach to evangelization and ministry with extracts from Craig Larkin's book "A Certain Way". The following are a few key points that came out of these readings that will give us much to ponder over the coming month.

• "The special vocation to be Marist is not only to go to the limits and then beyond. There is a work to be done at the margins, a work which is about the compassion of God. People on the margins remind us that after all, the things we possess, the reputation we have acquired at the expense of other things cannot save us." (p.142)
  
  
• "To do the work of Mary is not to do something directed towards her, but…to do something directed by her. It is to enter into her work....It may be significant that the day that the first 20 Marists made their first Profession was the feast of Our Lady of Mercy…When Jean Claude Colin asks Marists to be instruments of Divine Mercy, he is asking them to portray the 'feminine features' of God and to help build a church which is not perceived in terms of power, planning, control, administration and competitiveness but rather in terms of community, compassion, simplicity, mercy and fellowship. (p.50)
  
  
• "We look to Mary as Jesus First Disciple. She is for us a model of listening, of love of poor people and of welcoming the message of God. Her way of living the Word of God inspires us and directs us along the way we should go. Like Mary, we not only magnify the Lord with our lips, but commit ourselves to serve God's Justice with our lives." (Marist Brothers Constitutions - Article 29)