On 5 February 2024, the Council of Major Superiors was inaugurated in Manila. The Council of Major Superiors essentially gathers all the Major Superiors of the Piarist demarcations or presences in the world, the General Congregation, the Secretary General and the Father General who presides and directs the meetings of that week.
At present, there are 21 Piarist presences in 42 countries where the Piarist charism is being carried out with a wide variety of actions in favour of children and young people, families, the most disadvantaged, teachers, volunteers, assistants in works, religious, formators, the elderly, in short… a range of educational opportunities in three platforms: Schools, non-formal education and parishes.
Pedro Aguado has also invited the General Delegates who support him in a specific area. Some of them will take part in some of the sessions virtually.
On the first day, for example, we experienced the opening Eucharist and heard the words of welcome from Fr Miguel Artola, provincial host of this Council. They were words of welcome, encouragement and courage to continue building the Pious Schools. He expressed his gratitude for how in the history of Asia, various demarcations were at the beginning of the journey of the present Province to germinate in this part of the continent.
Fr Pedro Aguado asked the Major Superiors to share the joys and sorrows of the demarcations so that they may listen to the way God wants to go for the good of the Piarist mission.
In the afternoon sessions, the first results of the sectorial general visitation were presented and analysed – in particular, he spoke about initial formation – which Father Pedro Aguado is carrying out for the entire Order with three objectives: the young people in initial formation, the young adult Piarists and the leadership of the Demarcational Congregations.
Finally, the meeting was also enriched by the presence of the friars who diligently help with the logistics of the Council. We are grateful to Fr Lily Lorona and Fr. Juanito Nasataya who, together with the Juniors, ensures that this Council is conducted in the best possible way.
We place the diligent work of the Brothers in God’s hands, with the desire to continue building the Pious Schools.
