Values

As Marist Sisters, our General Chapter of 2008 renewed our call to be a presence of Mary in the Church and world of today and identified four of the greatest needs of our time and challenged us to address them. In the Sector of England we respond to these challenges in the following ways.

In today’s world the thirst for Meaning challenges us

We engage with those who are searching for meaning in their lives especially the young in a Youth Centre, the vulnerable in a Care Home and in hospital, pastoral ministry in Parishes and in a Retreat Centre those seeking a deeper spirituality in their own lives.

Through the Youth Centre, Manchester we work with young people from 10 to 18 years old so that they may discover the richness of their God-given talents and use them to serve others.

Through the Marist Retreat Centre, Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, we welcome those who are looking for a place of quiet and renewal in the business of their lives.

Through the many Marist Laity groups, we share our Marist spirituality with all who find this valuable for their journey in faith.

Through our work as chaplains and spiritual directors we share times of significant joys and sorrows with others.

Following in the footsteps of our Founders and living our charism, we are called to be a counter cultural witness in a world where Christian and human values have been eroded and replaced by materialism, individualism, consumerism.

In the Movement of Peoples the thirst for belonging challenges our spirit of compassion and hospitality.

We engage with others in work for migrants and displaced peoples.

In our world today millions are displaced either because they are forced to leave their homes or their countries (refugees, asylum seekers, trafficked women and children) or because they are seeking a better way of life (eg migrant workers).

War, natural disasters, political instability, poverty are both causes and consequences of this phenomenon.

In the midst of a divided world the thirst for healing calls forth our spirit of Reconciliation.

As Marists we are called to be a reconciling presence of Mary.

Our approach to people is characterised by gentleness, simplicity and compassion as in our daily ministries we strive to be a reconciling presence.

Like Mary in the Early Church we are called to be bridge builders where we minister – we aim to be people of prayer who promote reconciliation and the rights of people.

Thirst for Care of the Earth calls forth our spirit of simplicity and gratitude.

We support initiatives in our areas and actively support conservation practices.

The world and all it contains is God’s gift to us.

In our Marist living we strive for a simple life style keeping in mind the necessity of conserving natural resources and we support initiatives that promote integrity of creation and care of the earth.