RELEM: Sharing the mission and life as a Lasallian Charismatic Family

From 3 to 5 February, the Generalate in Rome welcomed about 50 Lasallians from the Lasallian Region of Europe Mediterranean (RELEM) who responded to the invitation of the Regional Commission of Association, in accordance with the recommendations of the II AMEL of RELEM: “To organise a gathering in order to share experiences of community life and different ways of living the Association, together with the experiences of other charismatic families”. 

The novelty of this invitation was the choice by each District of two lay people to represent the countries that make up the Region, resulting in a larger and more varied presence. As for the presence of the Brothers, each District designated one, while the Brother Visitors designated two.

The meeting was attended by the European countries with Lasallian presence, as well as those of the Middle East. The main objective was to present the idea of the Association: the role that lay people can play in the educational mission (with a more explicit educational-evangelising commitment) and in community life (sharing moments of prayer and life with the Brothers’ communities, the communities of Brothers and lay people together, or communities of lay people alone). 

“This movement in the name of La Salle arose from the idea that emerged at the end of the 20th century of ‘Shared Mission’, that is, the role that lay people can play, together with the Brothers, in the Lasallian Educational Mission, fundamentally in the transmission of Gospel values through education, with particular attention to the most impoverished in our societies”, explains Tomeu Martorell, RELEM Delegate for Formation.

He continues, “In some countries of RELEM, the theme of Association already has a history (communities of Brothers and Associates, communities of Associates only), while in others the structures have not yet been created or the ideas relating to the Lasallian family have not yet been disseminated”. These points were also discussed during the meeting.

The animation of the three days of discussions was entrusted to Brother Paco Chiva (Auxiliary Visitor of the Arlep District) who, together with Ms Colette Allis and Ms Heather Ruple Gilson, led the reflection with all the participants. The following day, Father Raphäle Buyse and Nunzia Boccia of the Murialdo family led the reflection and presented their activities.

Several participants presented their local or District reality around the Lasallian Family and the movement of Association. “It was the most appreciated part of the meeting, as it allowed us to see the vitality of the Association in all its phases: nascent, developing and perfectly structured”, commented Tomeu Martorell at the end of the three days of work.