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*********************************************************************************** FAMILLE MARIANISTE
FAMILIA MARIANISTA*********************************************************************************** Number 20 March 2000
The Year 2000 - A Year of Grace for Our Family
Greetings in this Year of Jubilee and of Fr. Chaminade. When the World Council met for the fourth time last May, we dreamed together about the beatification of Fr. Chaminade, our Founder. When it came to the practical things we formulated for ourselves some objectives and criteria for consideration at the Family level for the celebration of this great event. On December 20 we all experienced great joy as the Pontifical Decree recognizing the miraculous cure of Mrs. Elena Graciela OTERO DE GAUDINO, a member of the Marianist Lay Community in Argentina, was promulgated. That was the go-ahead for the Beatification . Only the date was not known, and that was set a few weeks later. Today we all know that it will be September 3. In view of this event, in all the countries where one or more of the four branches are present, we have started our preparations. It seems that priority ought to be given to an interior preparation for a Marianist renewal, working from the first objective proposed by the World council: To renew the life and mission of the four Branches of the Marianist Family. All the committees, whether international or national, are enthusiastically making plans and giving significant orientations along these lines. I am happy to note that the criteria given by the World Council are being respected on all levels. As for the themes which we are asked to develop, among those which refer to Fr. Chaminade and the heritage he has left us, it is good to point out two which present the Marianist Family with its four Branches. The first, theme number 3, about the Marianist Family is being prepared by the sub-committee for the participation of youth. The other one, for all, will be a publication on Fr. Chaminade and the Marianist Family. What graces this beatification of Fr. Chaminade is going to offer us! It will give us opportunities to experience ourselves as a Family and to grow as such; to deepen our sense of Family according to the intuition of our Founder; to make ourselves known as the Marianist Family; to offer our services to the Church and to the world with a renewed missionary enthusiasm. As Family and with the presence of the World Council and national and local councils, we will take part in various celebrations which will take place in Rome as well as in the different places where Marianists are present. This representation as Councils of the Family is a desire and it will be without any doubt a significant reality. In the light of so many graces for our Marianist Family in the year 2000 we could say with the psalmist, The Lord has been good to us and we are full of joy. May Mary help us to make this joy tangible in our pilgrimage during this Jubilee Year by our continued turning to God and by the charity we show to our neighbor.
Maria Blanca Jamar, FMI
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