From the letter from the Capitulants

A God who surprises us....(Lk. 1:29)

God has a dream for each one of us, for humankind, and for our Institute. By listening to our hearts, we discover the love, mercy and tenderness of a God who is both Father and Mother. At the same time, we acknowledge our weaknesses and inconsistencies. It was a similar experience of God's love that drove Marcellin to be enterprising, daring, and to take risks. The essence of his dream was "to make Jesus Christ known and loved by children and young people".

We desire to carry on his dream: as men and women of God, prophets od fraternity in a dehumanised world searching for meaning and thirsty for God. In the light of this Chapter experience, we feel called to respond, as brothers and sisters, witnesses to the loving and maternal face of God.

...and transforms our heart (Ez 36:26)

We have heard the call of the Lord: "You must be born again" (Jn 3:7). Jesus invites us to conversion of heart. This implies making a firm decision to be open to the grace of God and to be transformed. Only if we are open in mind and heart can God change us and teach us to live with God's eyes and heart. God's love urges us to conversion, to rediscover the heart of our respective vocations. The world thirsts for authentic witnesses, people who risk their lives in order that the Good News is announced to everyone. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mk 1:15).

...God has surprised us with a visit, just like the Angel did with Mary at the Annunciation. For us, God has asked us to go out into a new land. Little and weak that we are, we've asked: "How can this come about at this stage of our history?" But our hopes have been buoyed by recalling Marcellin's favourite psalm" "If the Lord does not build the house...". We realise that no matter how small we are, God is standing tall beside us. It is in our weakness that we experience God's tender embrace and strength.

Together we have dreamed about our future and have discovered the fundamental call that God has for us today:

The Fundamental Call - from the Document of the XXI Chapter

With Mary, go in haste to a "new land"

We feel impelled by God to go out into a new land, to facilitate the birth of a new epoch for the Marist charism. We know that this presupposes a willingness to move on, to let go of the familiar, and to embark on a journey of institutional and person conversion over the next eight years. We go on our way with Mary as guide and companion. Her faith and openness to the will of God inspire us to undertake this pilgrimage.

The "new land" of an authentic renewal of the Institute invites each of us to a genuine change of heart. The spirit of this XXI Chapter, the approach of the bicentenary of our foundation, and a greater consciousness of our internationality urge us to:

• A new consecrated life, with a strong Gospel identity, that will promote a new way of being Brothers.
  
• A new relationship between Brothers and Lay people, based on communion, for the sake of greater vitality of the Marist charism for our world today.
  
• A highly significant presence among poor children and young people.

Mary, you are our companion on the way and main inspiration
for our pilgrimage towards our Marist bicentenary.

Welcome into our hearts and homes today. Your openness, faith and spontaneity
touch our hearts to be open in our turn to the Spirit, the gift of your Son Jesus.

As Marists of Champagnat, Lay and Brothers, we desire to change.

We look forward to you as model and companion in living our vocation of following Christ, with the joy, sensitivity, love and energy you brought to educating Jesus.

You gather us all and unite us across the world into one international community
bearing your name, a sign of communion to our Church and world.

When we contemplate you as woman filled with faith,
your spirit of intuition and initiative impels us, as it did Marcellin,
to be Good News
for the poor children and young people of our world today, in "new lands".

In trust we pray, like Champagnat, "If the Lord does not build the house..."
and we say, "You have done everything for us". Magnificat!

With you, Mary, we go to the Father,
in union with Jesus and in the Spirit of Love. Amen.

Brother Emili Turu,
Superior General and Brother Joseph McKee,
Vicar General.