Hi, Brothers and Marist Family,
We are fourteen (14) new Provincials and we are here at our FMS Generalate for a week of orientation, prayer, and fraternity as each of us begins our mandates (first year) as Provincials in the Institute. Check out www.Champagnat.org for more info.
This week, we had the extraordinary experience to walk the Pilgrimage of Mercy. The Holy Father, Francis I, has invited the church to come to Rome and to walk in prayer through the Holy Door, the “Door of Mercy” at St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate and to receive the Lord’s Mercy in the special Year of Mercy.
Along with Br. Emili Turu, our General, and the General Council, we walked the path of the pilgrimage from Castel San Angelo to St. Peter’s Square, and passed through the Holy Door.
As we walked and prayed in procession, we were reminded “to think of all those whom you would like to have with you in this moment, but for various reasons are not here perhaps because they are sick or too old, or maybe they have lost their faith. Remember all your deceased loved ones.”
Be assured you and so many others in the Marist Family throughout the world were in our prayers.
After we concluded the procession up a special designated center aisle in St. Peter’s, a Bishop from Mexico, an former Marist student, greeted us and took us to a chapel near the tomb of St. Peter to celebrate the Eucharist.
When Mass concluded, the Bishop took us upstairs and out the side door to see the statue of St. Marcellin Champagnat on the outside wall of St. Peter’s. The statue is directly across from the study and bedroom of Pope Francis in his residence. Although we did not see him, St. Marcellin sees him when he looks out his window. So, as a Marist Family, let’s remember his intentions as well.
