Twenty-five brothers present in Togo participated in the assembly of the Region of Togo, from Friday June 21 evening to Saturday June 22 evening with the participation of twenty five (25) brothers. The purpose of this meeting was twofold:
- Meet together for a time of conviviality and prayer, in a large regional community
- Discuss together “the news of our mission”
The organizing committee had set up sub-committees with the following themes:
- The pastoral plan of our works and vocation ministry
- The formation of the brothers
- Finances
The fight for the protection of the environment is everyone’s business to protect our COMMON home. It is in this spirit that the commission has planned reforestation with a cashew tree (cashew trees) on part of our site in Sotouboua. This event took place on Sunday June 23 morning before the celebration of the first vows of our novice Alban Wilson-Bahun.
During the recreational evening of Saturday June 22, each community presented a symbol of their mission.
- Bx Chaminade and NDO communities of Kara: they presented a model bearing the signature names of brothers, teachers, students in the final year of the sixty years of Marianist presence where everyone could say on this day “I was there”.
COMMUNITY OF SOTOUBOUA: they presented a daba and a machete as strong symbols of the community. The daba as an instrument from the ground invites to humility and work, and the machete to prune from our lives anything that prevents us from blossoming as Marianist religious of the unit of Togo.
Bx Jakob Gapp community of Lomé: the community of Lomé was symbolized by a gourd which is a sign of welcome, and rightly the community welcomes brothers when they have to travel or make certain purchases in Lomé. It is also the capital of Togo.
Bx Ayastuy community of Nati (Benin): this community has as a symbol the watermelon, representing the world, the earth, where we are called as Marianists to work. As the watermelon grains give other watermelons, we are called in turn to give other sons to the Virgin Mary and other brothers to Jesus.
The assembly ended on the evening of Saturday, June 22 with messages of wisdom from our older brothers:
Br. Alexis: « Live in Hope»
Br. Christian : « Count on the Lord’s grace »
Br. Norbert : « Put your burden on your knees and the Lord will help you carry it on your head »
Br. Jérôme B., sm