ASSEMBLY DAY 2: TUESDAY

Grounded in Prayer and Openness

The day began with a moment of spirituality led by the Norandina Province, inviting participants into a posture of listening, openness, and discernment. This spirit carried throughout the day and echoed one of the central invitations of the Assembly: to engage in true “dialogue, openness, synodality, and horizontality.”

Participants were reminded that this Assembly is not simply about analysis, but about listening deeply to God, to one another, and to the realities of the region.

Listening to the Reality of Each Province

The morning focused on the presentation of Provincial SWOTs, offering an honest and hopeful look at the life of each Province.

What emerged was a region marked by both vitality and complexity:

• A growing sense of regional family, built across languages and cultures
• Strong collaboration structures and shared formation efforts
• Increasing leadership and ownership among lay Marists

As one synthesis noted, the region has moved “from isolated efforts to a professional structure that enables collaborative work and resource sharing.” 

At the same time, participants did not shy away from naming challenges, particularly around sustainability, communication, and ensuring that regional initiatives truly reach local communities.

From Reflection to Regional Awareness

The conversation deepened during the Regional SWOT session, where participants reflected together on what they had heard.Key tensions and hopes surfaced:The need to move from reflection to impactful actionA desire to ensure that regional work is not experienced as an extra burden, but as a shared and integrated missionThe importance of keeping structures simple, agile, and focused on missionThis moment marked a shift from listening to individual realities toward embracing a shared regional identity and responsibility.

A Vision Beyond the Region

In the afternoon, participants received a presentation from the General Administration, placing the work of Arco Norte within the broader life of the Institute.This session echoed a central call of the XXIII General Chapter:“The future of the Marist mission depends on our willingness to live the calls with courage, faith, and hope.” Participants were invited to see themselves as part of a global Marist family, called not only to respond to today’s realities, but to help shape the future with boldness and trust.

Dreaming the Future: Calls of the XXIII General Chapter

A central moment of the day was the presentation and reflection on the Calls of the XXIII General Chapter, framed by a powerful question:How are we invited to dream about the future of Marist life and mission?The Calls highlighted several key directions:Deepening Marist identity through prayer, simplicity, and fraternityRenewing mission among children and young people, especially those on the marginsWalking together in synodality with shared leadership between Brothers and laityResponding to the cry of the earth and the poorEnsuring leadership and structures serve the missionParticipants were reminded:“Safeguarding charism is not the same as protecting institutions or structures; it is the spirit that we must protect.” This session invited not just reflection, but conversion, calling each participant to imagine new ways of living the Marist mission.

A Call to Be Good News

Throughout the reflection, a unifying invitation emerged:“We are called to offer the world a new way of living: simple, joyful and fraternal.” And more concretely:“To be hearts that welcome, hands that care, and minds that create.” These words captured the spirit of the Assembly, rooted in identity and oriented toward action and transformation.

Eucharist: A River of Life

The day concluded with the celebration of the Eucharist, centered on the powerful image of water as a source of life, renewal, and healing.

Participants were invited to renew their mission:

“To be Good News for children and young people, especially the most vulnerable, through an audacious, creative, and transformative presence.” 

The reflection deepened with the image of mission as living water:

“May our commitment be like water that regenerates, revitalizes, and brings life wherever it flows.” 

In this sacred moment, the work of the day was placed before God, held in faith, gratitude, and hope.

Closing the Day in Fraternity

The day concluded with dinner and informal time together, strengthening the bonds of fraternity that continue to shape the Assembly experience.