Solidarity

The reference text is in French

I. Pilgrims of Solidarity

"Brothers, at this moment in history, our Institute is being called very strongly to strengthen the bonds of solidarity and to be more creative, more compassionate, more generous in this solidarity. It is a call that comes from the Holy Spirit." ¹

1. Responding to the invitation of Brother Charles Howard, former Superior General, delegates to the XIX General Chapter, prepared, in part, for that gathering by participating in a Pilgrimage of Solidarity. Each of us took the opportunity to meet and live among some of the marginalized people in our society.

2. That experience heightened our awareness of the plight of our less fortunate Brothers and sisters. It also provided an extraordinary opportunity for union with so many of our Brothers who work among the poor every day.

3. Our prayer and personal reflection led to an "interior pilgrimage", like Mary, who "kept all things in her heart," we experience the call to personal conversion.

4. Our personal experience and the history of our Institute leads us to this conclusion: the entire Institute is making its own pilgrimage of solidarity, becoming more conscious of Marcellin’s love for the poor and desire to have us "serve them first, without excluding anyone." ²

5. The leadership of our Superiors, initiatives of many provinces, and efforts of individual Brothers have helped us realize Marcellin’s vision anew. The attitudes of many of our Brothers have also changed: they too are more conscious of our mission to the most neglected. At the same time, however, we regret that "today we cannot truly say that the works of the Institute and the distribution of our personnel vigorously express the preference for the maginalized called for in our Constitutions." ³

6. Examining the situation in our Provinces and Districts, we experience an urgent need to build up the fraternity that unites us. It is a prophetic sign that rejects divisions between nations and transcends regionalism. This call to solidarity within the Institute will enable us to better serve those to whom we are sent on Mission.

Some initiatives have already been made possible by a renewed understanding of the need for internal solidarity and cooperation. We consider it essential to extend our fraternal solidarity through sharing human and financial resources.

7. The progress made has not come without difficulty and suffering. We are all aware of the fears, blocks, and limitations that must be faced at the present time and in the future. These must not paralyze us; on the contrary, they challenge us to be men of faith, boldness and hope.

II. Attentive to the Call

8. We believe that ...God is Father of all and that our common humanity as Brothers and sisters in Jesus is more basic and fundamental than our religion, race, culture and nationality. ⁴

And yet today more than ever before... our common humanity is endangered: while the majority of the world’s population is moving deeper into poverty, a small minority is accumulating ever more wealth.

And so we feel ourselves called... to a conversion of thinking and acting, ⁵ to see the world through the eyes of the poor and welcome the invitation of the Holy Spirit⁶ to live the Brotherhood of Christ with all, especially young people, ⁷ and preferably those most neglected. ⁸

9. We believe that... a preferential option for the poor is a Gospel imperative; it commits us, in our educational mission, to work for the promotion of justice, ⁹ being courageous, even at the risk of entering unexplored territory. ¹⁰

And yet today more than ever before... in spite of advances in technology, illiteracy is increasing.

And so we feel called...to place an emphasis on solidarity as a basic principle of our educational mission and to put our works at the service of the poor. ¹¹

10. We believe that... we participate in the mission of Jesus sent to announce the good news to the poor. ¹²

And yet today more than ever before... the number of poor and marginalized people who do not have the Gospel proclaimed to them is growing.

And so we feel ourselves called... to rediscover the "Montagne" experience by fidelity to Christ and the Founder and to educate in solidarity for solidarity as a powerful instrument of evangelization. ¹³ We see this as the best service we can render. ¹⁴

11. We believe that...the reality of the charism of Marcellin Champagnat urges us, on the personal, communal and interprovincial level, to see that the stronger members take care of those that are weaker. ¹⁵

And yet today more than ever before... the reality of our Institute should reflect the solidarity we wish to establish in the world.

And so we feel ourselves called... to discern, in the light of the Gospel, how we can best grow in communion of prayer and fraternity, and coordinated apostolic actions within the Institute, ¹⁶ and with the Church and other congregations and institutions, in sharing resources, personnel and finances. ¹⁷

III. Audacious in Action

12. The delegates to the XIX General Chapter are convinced that all Brothers of the Institute need to be more audacious in our living of poverty, in our sharing, and in our solidarity.

13. In keeping with the spirit of Article 34 of the Constitutions, we propose the following lines of action and strategies at the level of the Institute, the Provinces, in our institutions and communities, and among all the Brothers:

14. Institute

—       To commit the centers of initial and ongoing formation to include in their programs formation in solidarity, including a "pilgrimage of solidarity" with the poor and marginalized;

—       To commit those responsible at each level of government to give preference to new projects designed for the least favored children and young people;

—       To create a Secretariat of Solidarity that will incorporate the Social Secretariat and establish a fund for Solidarity, financed by the Administrative Units of the Institute, to support the General Council in the entire Institute’s commitment to solidarity.

15. Provinces and Districts

—       To urge all Administrative Units to a greater collaboration among themselves, facilitating greater mobility of Brothers when a solidarity project requires it;

—       To urge all Administrative Units to allocate part of their financial resources for solidarity;

—       To commit all Administrative Units to establish strategies to sensitize Brothers to and form them in the evangelical use of goods and in solidarity (e.g. commissions, assemblies, retreats).

16. Institutions

—       To stress that the schools and projects under the responsibility of the Brothers include the theme of solidarity in their educational programs and encourage action in this regard;

—       To insist that in the schools and projects under the control of the Brothers, concern with scholastic results, reputation, and income never be obstacles to opening them to those less gifted or belonging to economically disadvantaged families.

17. Communities

—       To call communities to a more simple lifestyle which keeps in mind their social and geographical context. Toward this end, time should be provided for periodic discernment; ¹⁸

—       To invite communities to commit themselves, if possible with laypeople, to outreach projects, social awareness efforts, or human rights causes;

—       To invite communities to set aside in their annual budget a fund to support solidarity initiatives.

18. Brothers

—       To encourage Brothers to a greater movement toward the poor, each one is invited:

—       To make a "pilgrimage of solidarity" in consultation with his Provincial;

·         To make a voluntary commitment to service of the poor, preferably with children and young people.

IV. Conclusion

19. All the Brothers of the Institute are involved in this call to solidarity. However, it is not possible for all to express it in the same way. Following each province’s expressed option for the poor, some Brothers are called to work directly with the poor. Some are also called to live like the poor in a way that allows us to speak of a real preferential option. All Brothers, wherever they might be, know the call to work for the poor and to organize their lives and their apostolates from the perspective of the poor.

20. This is the hour for us to accept, decisively and unequivocally, the evangelical call for solidarity.

21. We believe that Mary offers us a unique example of a life lived in solidarity with her Son and with those most in need.

In her Magnificat, a song of praise and solidarity, we discover the courage and the hope to carry out our Mission"... to evangelize in order to form true followers of Jesus Christ." ¹⁹ As pilgrims, accompanied by her, we walk in solidarity.