Storming

As a social worker, we talk about the stages of a group or a community - and in shorthand, we say, "Forming, norming, storming, performing and adjourning" and variations thereof.  Our group here has certainly formed - community created.  And normed - settled in to the routine, getting to know one another.  Storming, with a group such as this,  simply means becoming comfortable enough to be uncomfortable - to face the challenging aspects, knowing that what one says will be treated gently.  Storming is where I am right now - acknowledging that there are some tough questions here, with no easy answers.  What may seem black and white to some is actually very complex.
 One question - how will the lay Marist role play out in the larger institute?
Are we merely helpers to the brothers?  Are we full partners?  Is a lay call to being Marist as valid as that of a brother?  What do you think?   It would be great for us to hear from  you WHILE WE ARE STILL HERE!  Please send along your thought in the comment section,

And just so have at least one photo here - this was our prayer around the fire this morning.  We had to choose a color that represented our feelings now - blue for strength and energy, green for harmony and hope, white for spirituality and faith, yellow for stability and depth.  We hung them on the line so we could see all that was represented.

Guess which colors we picked...

Culture: Respect for Our Past as We Look to Our Future

As Maureen mentioned here are some additional pictures from yesterday.

Procession before the Liturgy of the Word

 

First Reading at Mass

 

Drums leading to the dedication of the Charles Howard Park

 

And pictures from our time at Bomas...

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is interesting to me that despite the colonization that took place in Africa, people retained their customs and language.  In Kenya we saw that there are even distinct regional dances and customs.  What is the message for us?  Perhaps as we look at what it means to be "new" we need to make sure that we respect and preserve the traditions that are at our core.

And here is a quote to consider as we continue our discussion of what it means to be "New Marists in Mission".

For it's not light that is needed, but fire; it's not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind and the earthquake in our hearts.

— Frederick Douglass

workday/rest dayI

Saturday here in Nairobi was a challenging work day, full of important questions about brothers and lay, working together in communion.  Presentations, small groups, and large group processing drained my brain.  All good stuff...just lots to think about.

After dinner, though, we headed out to the garden for the Hakuna Matata party - a chance to let off a little steam.

Today, Sunday, was a "rest day".  We had breakfast at 8 instead of 7:15, went to Mass at the MIC, which was quite a celebration with great music, drumming, dance.  We then took part in a tree planting ceremony there at the MIC, followed by a picnic lunch.

THEN, we went to Bomas of Kenya - a place to see traditional villages of the various tribes of Kenya, plus dance and acrobatic performances of the many cultures here.

I think Br. Steve will have some better photos of the dancers.  Plus you can check the champagnat.org website and click on assembly or go to facebook page nairobi2014 to see lots of good pix.

Our first week is complete - many great memories, lots of good work, great conversations, beautiful prayer services...Marists do it right!

Challenges and Opportunities

As I mentioned in my previous post, the participants at the second Marist International Mission Assembly met with their regions to discuss evidence of life in each province and the challenges that we share.  The Province of the United States of America is part of the Arco Norte region, which extends from Canada down to the countries of the northern Andes and includes six provinces.  While diverse in language, culture and specific examples of new life, we share many challenges.

Maureen and I shared several examples of new life in our province. First, was the region sponsored Juan Diego community with its outreach to the growing Mexican population in East Harlem.  The other areas of vitality that we noted were our Marist Youth and Marist Young Adult Programs and the increasing call for lay formation and formal association.  We noted that in many ways the young (and not so young) are having a huge influence on the future of the province.

In discussing our common challenges, the following needs emerged:
- new ways of being Brother
- new structures
- new ways of relating between Brothers and Lay People
- an embrace of our internationality
- immediate action
- formation of lay and young Marists
- solidarity with poor children

I guess that it is good to know that our issues are not unique to us.  The challenge within the challenges is know how we can collaboratively address these issues.  As they say, a challenge is just an opportunity in disguise.

What do you see as the significant signs of life in our province?  What do you perceive as the greatest challenges?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section.


Below is the visual depiction of the sources of life and the common challenges we face which was used for the region's presentation to the assembly.

From Prayer to Peanuts - The Second Full Day in Pictures

We began our day with morning prayer in the cloister at Dimesse House.  Br. Valentin, the Provincial of the Province of Central East Africa, and Br. Francis,
Superior of the West African District were invited to spread the fertile soil of Africa in an image of the continent outlined in rocks. 

Each participant was invited to place a rock from his or her country into the continent.  These rocks were later used at evening prayer in a ritual typical of people from the Andes.

During the morning, we met in small groups to discuss our personal and province journeys to the assembly and then met with our region (Arco Norte) to discuss areas of life and the common challenges faced by the provinces of the region.

The highlight of the day was the cultural program for the evening, that you read about in Alice's post.  Here is our display table and a picture of the "got marist?" team before our big game.

Day 3 - New Marists in Mission

Another incredible day here in Nairobi - so much to absorb!   Meeting in groups after the presentations helps to sift through everything.  New ways to be Marist - news ways of thinking about how our Marist spirituality will inform the future work of the institute.  The day ended with a beautiful  prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe

out in the garden - finishing with a singing of the Salve.
The photos are of Br. Steve getting the USA table ready for last night's cultural exchange - peanuts and Crackerjacks to share!  And from this morning's prayer around the fire

Make sure to go to the Nairobi2014 Facebook page for lots more photos.

USA's Cultural Exchange

We are into our third full day of the II MIMA.  The community building is complete.  We've formed small groups, regional groups, full assembly, not to mention performance groups for last night's cultural exchange!  Steve, Maureen, and I performed a short "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" skit.  We offered Peanuts and Cracker Jacks and a rain poncho from Marist youth, just in case the "game" was rained out!  The crowd went crazy when we played YMCA.  Turns out it is popular worldwide, go figure!!