Dare to Dream Archives - Society of Mary

Superior General leads Fourviere bicentenary Mass

The bicentenary of the Marist pledge at Fourviere on 23 July 1816, was marked with the celebration of Mass in the Basilica of Our Lady of Fourvière, Lyon, France.

The basilica adjoins the chapel where Marist aspirants signed the pledge to found the Society of Mary.

Fr John Hannan SM, Superior General of the Society of Mary, presided at the Mass which was streamed live on the Internet. Joining Fr Hannan were representatives of the Marist Sisters, SMSM Sisters, Marist Brothers, Marist Fathers and Marist Laity from around the world.

Coinciding with the bicentenary was an event Dare to Dream for lay Marist Youth.

Dare to Dream presentation nerves

LOGOS’ leader Jen Martinez admits to being slightly nervous prior to departing for Dare to Dream; a meeting of lay Marists in France.

She, and fellow presenters Sam Mano and Matt Grevatt are due to deliver a presentation to young people at the Marist gathering Dare to Dream in Lyon.

Familiar with delivering presentations in a New Zealand context, it is the first time they will present in an international setting.

“We’re told that our English will be translated by an App!” she said by phone the evening before departing.

Jen is uncertain how many of the 400 attendees understand English but expects there will be a number who wont.

“I hope the App understands Kiwi”, Jen said optimistically.

Language translation aside, Jen, Sam and Matt are confident in their presentation and tested it on a group the day before departing.

“We’re told that our English will be translated by an App!…I hope the App understands Kiwi.”

“I was really pleased with the quality of the in-depth conversation that followed” she said.

LOGOS, the Society of Mary’s Youth Development team, is leading a workshop on chapters three and four of Pope Francis Amoris Laetitia “The Joy of Love”.

The LOGOS presentation seeks to explore the “vocation of the family”, and “love in marriage”. Their starting point is 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Dare to Dream takes place on 17 – 23 July, however Jen Martinez and Sam Mano left today to be part of a team helping prepare the venue for 400 attendees.

Dare to Dream marks the 200th anniversary of the young Marists who signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

The gathering, a joint initiative of the four religious branches of the Marist Family, takes place in the Marist School of Sainte Marie Lyon – La Solitude.

Fr Alejandro Muñoz SM of the ‘Dare to Dream’ organising committee said the meeting is to encourage young people to dare to dream, like the group of young Marists did 200 years ago when they signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

Fr Muñoz says the Dare to Dream programme aims to

promote the coordination and integration of young Marists
celebrate of the bicentenary of the Pledge of Fourvière
prepare for the bicentenary of the founding of the Institute of the Marist Brothers on 2 January 2017.

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Dare to Dream is ready to go

With just on a month to go, everything is ready for the launch of Dare to Dream programme in Lyon, France.

“The final touches are all that’s left” says Marist Father on the organising committee, Alejandro Muñoz.

Dare to Dream is ready to go says Alejandro Muñoz — Alejandro Muñoz SM of the Dare to Dream organising committee

Dare to Dream is a world-wide gathering of Marist Youth taking place from 17 – 23 July and marks the 200th anniversary of the young Marists who signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

“Sharing “The Marist Places“; our spiritual origins, is such a pivotal part to understanding our Marist spirituality”, he said in a statement and responding to questions put to him.

As well as visiting a number of the Marist Places, the programme also provides for participant input.

Fr Muñoz thinks the opportunity to meet and learn from other young lay Marists will be a rich experience for everyone. He hopes the youth who mark the Fourviere event will return to their provinces enriched, energised and willing to share the Marist charism.

Fr Muñoz also hopes Marist provinces and mission districts will help the Dare to Dream experience grow.

“We have a number of New Media networks in place and we’ll of course be promoting these.

“I also intend to start a reflection group around the topics of youth ministry and vocations in preparation for the 2017 General chapter”, he said.

Of the 400 young Marists participating in Dare to Dream; 50 will represent the Society of Mary Fr Muñoz said.

He says the Society of Mary is making a large contribution and the organising committee is very grateful to the Marist school, Sainte-Marie, Lyon who will host the event.

The school is going beyond the call of duty and giving extra support and personnel to help make the event go smoothly, he said.

Dare to Dream is the first time since the last World Youth Day the four branches of the Marist Family; Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and SMSM sisters have worked together on a programme for youth.

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Young lay Marists Dare to Dream in France

A sense of expectation is rising amongst young lay Marists around the world as they begin the count down to Dare to Dream; the International young Marist meeting in Lyon, France.

More than 400 from the four branches of the Marist family will attend the 17-23 July event.

New Zealand’s Jen Martinez and Sam Mano will travel over earlier to help organise the final stages of the event.

Jen Martinez says she is looking forward to learning from others and hopes the meeting will inspire and encourage young lay Marists.

Eight young Marists, four from LOGOS, and four teachers from Marist schools in New Zealand will attend.

Fr Alejandro Muñoz SM of the Dare to Dream organising committee said the meeting is to encourage young people to dare to dream, like the group of young Marists did 200 years ago when they signed a pledge at Fourvière to found the Society of Mary.

“Fourvière is a promise that has given us a lot of life and has certainly given a lot of service to the world,” said Fr Muñoz.

Fr Muñoz says the Dare to Dream programme aims to

promote the coordination and integration of young Marists
celebrate of the bicentenary of the Pledge of Fourvière
prepare for the bicentenary of the founding of the Institute of the Marist Brothers on 2 January 2017.

According to Fr Muñoz the programme will include an opportunity for the youth of the four Marist branches will visit historical places such as L’Hermitage, La Neylière, Belley and Sainte-Foy.

The gathering will take place in the Marist School of Sainte Marie Lyon – La Solitude, located on the hill of Fourvière with participants staying at the Lycée Aux Lazaristes high school.

This world-wide gathering is a joint initiative of the four religious branches of the Marist Family, and precedes World Youth Day, in Krakow from 26 to 31 July.

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