International Marianist Family
Familia Internacional Marianista
Famille Internationale Marianiste

Statutes & Objectives
of the
World Council

Statutes

Preamble

  • Marianist life, like every living reality, evolves with time.

  • We understand that the Marianist Family was already contained in the intuition of Father Chaminade. Today we see it existing and taking shape, and we attempt to give it a systematic expression.

  • The charism that inspired the Marianist Family today animates the four branches which compose it: Society of Mary (SM), Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI), Alliance Mariale (AM), and Marianist Lay Communities (MLC).

  • This Family understands itself to be sent by the Church on the mission of evangelization that springs from its charism.

1. The Marianist Family understood from its foundational roots

  • 1.1 The foundation of the Sodality and of both Institutes did not happen in isolation but rather in mutual relationship.

  • 1.2 The unifying element was the Marianist charism transmitted by the Founders.

  • 1.3 Each branch understands itself and is revealed to itself in the others who are an integral and complementary part of its own being and acting.

  • 1.4 As a result, we understand ourselves as a spiritual family with a structure which unites laity, religious men, and religious women on a basis of equality.

  • 1.5 The structure and organization as family enable the foundational charism to be expressed and communicated today.

  • 1.6 The missionary vocation to which it is called is fully achieved when the branches unite their efforts, since in this way a family is revealed, which goes beyond any single branch, and summons them to work together.

2. A Model of the Marianist Family

From the foundational roots, as well as from the way each branch of the Family understands itself today, and from some expressions and relations as family already existing, it can be deduced that:

  • 2.1 The charism of our Founders becomes real and effective to the degree that the Marianist Family exists.

  • 2.2 The guarantee of the Marianist identity of each branch is in its union with the other branches.

  • 2.3 The actualization of the Marianist Family makes each branch grow in identity and fruitfulness.**Consequently, the necessity arises of offering a model of the Marianist Family that is capable of giving a convincing response to the world today. Therefore, we decided to constitute the WORLD COUNCIL OF THE MARIANIST FAMILY as the representative organ which enables the actualization of the Marianist Family today and the fulfillment of its mission.

3. World Council of the Marianist Family

  • 3.1 The World Council is composed of the members of the General Councils of the four branches.

  • 3.2 Organization and meetings:

  1. The head of each branch, in rotation, is president for a term of two years; he or she sets the agenda after consulting the other branches.

  2. -The Council meets at least once every two years, for a minimum of two days.

    In order to assure its efficient functioning and putting into practice its decisions, the World Council has a Secretariat.

    The secretary is appointed unanimously, upon the advice of the head of his/her branch. 

    • His/her term of office is four years, renewable once. It can be interrupted at the request of the interested party or of the head of his/her branch or of the World Council. This decision must be taken unanimously, with a notice period of at least six months.

    His/her ordinary functions are:

    • to assure communication among the members of the Council and between it and the national Family Councils;

    • to to publish the convocation letter and the agenda for the meetings, prepared in accord with the President;

    • o to foresee the organizational and practical elements for the meetings in connection with the guest house (reception facilities, interpreters, transportation, documentation …);

    • to write up the minutes of the meetings and send them to the members of the Council;

    • to send out the communications and proposals of the Council to the Marianist Family;

    • to maintain the historical archive of the minutes and other documents of the Council.

  • 3.3 Competencies:

  1. To promote a family spirit which makes possible mutual challenge.

  2. To combine respect for the autonomy of each branch with the spirit of interdependence.

  3. To submit to the consideration of each branch the suggestions made by the Council.

  4. The deliberations of the World Council are concluded in two ways:

  1. The formal decisions are taken unanimously and are binding on all branches, it being understood that each branch has one vote.  The following matters require a formal decision:
    a) A modification of the statutes.
    b) Multiannual objectives.
    c) Any decision for which at least two branches request that it be the subject of a
    formal vote
    .
  2. Every other decision is considered ordinary and requires a two-thirds majority of the members present.
  • 3.4 Functions:

  1. To “build family.”

  2. To share about the life and reality of each of the branches.

  3. To reflect in common on that life and to make suggestions about it.

  4. To determine modes of coming together: celebrations, formation, experiences and common actions of ecclesial or social character.

  5. To determine directives in what concerns the Family.

  • 3.5 Economic relations:

  1. Meetings:

    • The cost of travel is prorated among all.

    • Each branch pays its own lodging expenses for meetings, when there are such.

  2. Organization:

    • The costs of organization are shared among the branches, which contribute according to the following percentages:  44% by the SM, 35% by the MLC, 20% by the FMI and 1% by the Alliance Mariale.

  3. Projects:

    • The approval of a joint project, depending upon the World Council, requires the approval of the budget for foreseeable expenses, along with the contribution of each branch to the project.

    • Those in charge of the project present an annual report on it, including the corresponding budget report, for evaluation at the Council meeting.

OBJECTIVES

  • Introduction

    “Let it be done to me, according to your word.” 

    Mary accepted the call of the Lord, responding to the world’s deepest needs, and placing her full self at the Lord’s disposal.  Our times call us to a similar response, as a Marianist Family.  The many challenges of our world, be they social, environmental, faith-related, or even considering the new realities brought about by the pandemic, present many opportunities, even new ones, in which we may respond.

    The World Council has reflected upon these times, and our response to them.  Mindful of a renewed call toward synodality we have formulated a series of OBJECTIVES that will guide our work as a family for the next four years.

    A. Working toward a Marianist Family that gives life in abundance

    The challenges of today, and our understanding of our role as a Family, require a progressive adaptation of our structures and methods to respond adequately to our charismatic mission. To this end, the World Council will:

    1. Reflect on how it operates, with an openness to adjust and adapt as necessary. This could include studying and adopting new structures for itself, in order to infuse new life into the Family.
    2. Seek opportunities to dialogue with the national Family Councils for mutual support and better service to the Family.

    Some of the areas of dialogue are:

    • The role of the Family Council
    • Its structures and organization
    • Its capacity to reach its entire geographical region and to fulfil its mission
    • Its collaboration with others who are inspired by our charism without belonging to our Charismatic Family.

      B. Oriented by the same spirit of mission

    We consider two priority work areas with their respective lines of action:

    1. YOUNG PEOPLE
      a.  to encourage national and local councils to promote pastoral ministry among young people, as well as vocation ministry,
    • offering spaces for silence and prayer
    • developing a ministry even beyond the secondary school stage.

      b.  to support the development of pastoral care with young adults by creating work teams in collaboration with other members at the national and/or local level.  In this context, promote all Marianist vocations.

      c.  to invite to open spaces for dialogue, at the national and local level; to share experiences and resources on ministry with young people, especially with young adults.

    1. JUSTICE, PEACE AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION:
      a.
        to invite and encourage all members and components of the Family to live according to the spirit of Laudato sí and to register on its platform. [1]

      b.  to reflect on the connection between our charism and Laudato sí;

      c.  to care for relationships between people at all levels, with special attention to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged; following the spirit of Laudato sí and Fratelli tutti and letting ourselves be inspired by Mary’s attitudes.

      C.  Strengthen the opportunities for collaboration to develop a common formation

    To achieve this goal, we propose:

    1. to promote formation processes that engage the whole person in a process of transformation, without being limited to a theoretical aspect;
    1. to collaborate in the formation of the formators necessary for each of the branches;
    1. to commit ourselves to the development of existing formation structures (Continental Marianist Studies Centers, formation houses, etc.), whenever this is appropriate;
    2. promote the study of important charismatic themes to strengthen our identity and mission.

    [1] https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/

News and Information - World Council

About the Marianist Family

The Marianist Family today is spread around the world.  It is comprised of separate, yet interconnected, branches: Lay Marianist Communities (MLC-CLM), the Alliance Mariale (AM), the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (FMI) and the Society of Mary (SM).

Publications

We share these documents with you for your information and as a resource for developing a better understanding of the identity and mission of the Marianist Family.



Statutes & Objectives 2022-2025

Statutes of the World Council.

Objectives proposed by the World Council of the Marianist Family for
2022-2025

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