Prior General Addresses the Spanish Institute for Religious Life

The Prior General, Brother Donatus Forkan, was one of three Superiors General of Brothers’ Institutes who, from 10-13 December 2010, attended the Third Symposium of the Spanish Institute of the Theology of Religious Life, at Madrid, Spain.

The topic of the symposium was “The Religious Brother: Gift to the Church and Society”. The symposium was attended by more than one hundred and sixty religious – including the three Provincials of the Order in Spain with about 40 Brothers from all three Provinces.

 The Prior General reported  a very positive atmosphere even in the face of very serious issues – decreasing numbers and the problem of the vocation of the Brother being appreciated more outside the Church than within it.

Brother Donatus’s presentation was read in Spanish by General Secretary Brother José María Chavarri. At the symposium great interest was shown in our Order’s approach to renewal and in particular the relationship that it cultivates with its Co-workers. The Changing Face of the Order was quoted extensively by the General of the Marist Brothers in his presentation.