With the intention of continuing to contribute to the construction of the Pious Schools, the Council of the Fraternity has convened the Assembly of the Communities in which it is integrated for 19, 20 and 21 May 2023 at Casa Calasanz in the city of Oaxaca, Oaxaca, with the theme “The New Piarist – Subject in Search of the Will of God”.
It is important to note that this year’s assembly not only bears witness to the fact that it was held in person after three years of the pandemic but also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Piarist Fraternity in Mexico; there were exactly 43 people who belonged to the Fraternity group.
The organisation of the themes follows this particular arrangement.
- Building the Pious Schools
- Piarist spirituality, the essence of the Shared Mission.
- The new Piarist Subject: conceptions and challenges
- The search for the will of God: the horizon of Fraternity in the Province.
The meeting took place as follows:
Friday, 19 May, began with the registration of those present; Father Provincial Sergio Fernando Hernández Avilés welcomed them warmly in his message after the prayer; the presentation of the members of the Fraternity concluded with dinner.
Saturday, 20 May, began with prayer, followed by breakfast and the day’s activities, starting with a message from Ilona Rudka from the Polish Fraternity and Carolina Paredes from the Fraternity of Central America and the Caribbean, representing the General Council of the Fraternity, followed by the testimony of the journey of the communities of the Province; one of the most important moments was the talk entitled The New Piarist: Conceptions and Challenges by Father General Pedro Aguado Cuesta. After a short break, there was a panel discussion entitled The Building of Pious Schools with the participation of Elena Salazar Cortés, Father Juan Antonio Domínguez Zamora, Tere Arenas, Juan Fernando Arroyave and Miguel Sierra. After lunch and a break, the day continued with the report of the Fraternity Council, followed by a space for reflection by the communities on the hopes for the Fraternity in Mexico, considering their realities and the contributions the day should make. Finally, the thoughts and reviews of the communities were heard and appreciated.
After a challenging day, a lively workshop took place where the community could present their commitment to the Fraternity with a hopeful spirit. Finally, there was a dinner and social gathering. On Sunday, the 21st, a Eucharistic celebration was held to thank God for the gathering experience, especially for initiating the Fraternity and renewing promises. Participants also prayed for the members of the Fraternity who have applied for the final option and their upcoming process.
A commemorative photo was taken, and the day was rounded off with breakfast. Finally, the conclusions of the meeting were unequivocally expressed, and the relevant minutes were meticulously recorded, taking into account the invaluable contributions of the communities. These contributions, classified as hopes, will serve as an unshakable guide for the Pious Schools’ decision-making.
Council of the Fraternity of the Province of Mexico
