#Pope #receives #members #General #Chapter #Brothers #Christian #Education #Ploermel
The brothers of the Ploermel Religious Institute of Christian Education have gathered for the general chapter in Rome. On April 22, they met with the Pope. The Holy Father thanked God for the work of His Spirit, which is manifested in the institute’s charisma – the evangelization of children and young people through education.
Inese Steinert – Vatican
Francis noted that the general chapter of the institute coincides with the celebration of the institute’s 200th anniversary. It is an opportunity to remember the main ideas that guided the Venerable Jean-Marie de Lamene and Father Gabriel Deschais when they founded the Community of Brothers of Christian Education in Ploermel. “Today, the work they started is carried out in different countries of the world, because they believed that everything is possible for those who completely trust in the Lord and serve the integral development of every person,” said the Pope. He invited us not to forget where we come from and to always remember the motivation of our actions.
“Dear brothers,” said the Pope, “you are working in regions of the world where there is poverty, youth unemployment, all kinds of social crisis. Therefore, I invite you to be fathers to those to whom you are sent, fathers whose faces reflect the loving and compassionate face of God. In a world that is constantly changing, you generously give yourself to the service of young people, you are attentive to their longings, and at the same time always turn to Christ, who is the supreme rule of your life.”
The Holy Father noted that the vocation of the brothers of Ploermel Christian Education forces them to go where others do not go – to the peripheries, towards people who make up the category of the rejected, the wounded in life and the victims. Francis wished that the presence of the religious would serve as a source of hope for many. May these people recognize in their fraternal and hospitable spirit another face of humanity, not just that distorted by wars, indifference and rejection of the weakest. These children, these young people, these people also have dreams, but today, for many reasons, they are wounded dreams. “May you succeed in helping to heal their dreams, believe in them and make them come true,” the Pope wished.
The Bishop of Rome noted that children also play in war-torn countries, even under bombs. This can be seen in the photographs that come from these lands. Francis admitted that he is always overwhelmed by meetings with Ukrainian children who have been transferred to Italy and now live here. These children do not know how to smile. “This is what war does,” the Pope said, “it makes children lose their smiles.” Therefore, he called on the brothers of Ploermel Christian Education to work so that children regain the ability to smile.
At the end of the speech, the Pope reminded that the Church is one family and all of us, in the diversity of our charisms and vocations, cooperate for the salvation of man. “In this wonderful mystery of communion, I rely on your childlike trust and your belonging to the ministry of the Successor of Peter,” Francis said. He called on the Brothers of Christian Education of Ploermel to work in close cooperation with the dioceses in which they carry out their mission, as well as with the people of God; keep away from your life any spirit of pride, closed-mindedness, division and gossip. “Gossip does a lot of harm to religious communities. A good advice for religious men and women would be to bite your tongue every time you feel the urge to talk down to someone else,” Francis said. Citing the Apostolic exhortation “Evangelii gaudium”, he reminded that “to be the Church means to be the people of God according to the great plan of the Father’s love. It requires being the leaven of God in the midst of humanity” (114).
At the end of the General Chapter, the brothers will renew the consecration of their religious institute to the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary. The Pope wished that their pedagogy would always be inspired by Mary, who with her word “yes” allowed God’s saving plan for all humanity to be realized through her person. “May she help you to develop the zeal to go out into the streets to serve, as well as to develop humility, trust in God and the joy of being servants of His tenderness and mercy. Please do not lose your joy,” the Pope urged. He blessed the members of the General Chapter, as well as all the brothers of Ploermel Christian Education and the young people they accompany around the world. As always, Francis invited us to pray for ourselves as well.
