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.