University promotes continuous development for Marist leaders
60 Marist brothers and laymen from 18 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa began the first part of the training program “Marist Leaders – A Serving, Prophetic and Qualified Leadership ”. The goal of the program – which takes inspiration from the 22 chapters of the book Marist Voices – is to prepare leaders for the mission, for change and the development of social and intercultural skills and competences.
The program, promoted by the General Administration of the Marist Institute, with the support of Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), is inspired by the Message of the XXII General Chapter (Colombia – 2017) which calls us to assume “a prophetic and servant leadership, closely in line with Marist life and mission”. This document suggests that “at all levels of government, structures should be created and/or strengthened for all Marists to share leadership and responsibility in life and mission”.
For the Senior Vice President of PUCRS, Br. Manuir Mentges, Marist Universities can make a meaningful contribution to the training of faculty, staff and leaders in the different fronts of the mission. “In this sense, PUCRS and the General Government, have put together a training program for the development of Marist leaders working in the different projects and areas. For the University, it is an opportunity to put our professors and researchers at the service of the Marist Institute, thus generating impact in different realities and regions”.
Recently, the Vicar General of the Marist Institute, Br. Luis Carlos Gutiérrez, has visited PUCRS and delivered a lecture on the topic Education for service. On the occasion, he called the audience to reflect upon ways to develop leadership in educational arenas and the urged them to have an attentive and empathetic attitude towards the new generations, so that the incessant search for knowledge and the ability to adapt are encouraged.
The program has been designed for (prospective) strategic leaders in the Administrative Units in strategic areas of the mission. The first edition of the program will be in Portuguese and Spanish, and will be offered online until October, as participants will meet in Porto Alegre for two weeks. For next year, an English- and French- speaking edition is on the horizon.
Solidary and co-responsible leadership According to Ana Clarissa Santos, Business School professor and he program coordinator, this is an important opportunity for Marist leaders to reflect upon the different management tools and how to integrate them into the mission. “The possibility for Marist leaders to share experiences from different contexts, both virtually and in person, makes them stronger and, consequently, reinforce the actions promoted by the Institute around the world. We hope they have a chance to connect ”, she says.
