Working With Youth, A Global Peek

Two interesting articles appeared in our Noticias Maristas, a weekly publication from our Generalate in Rome which gives us a glimpse of the greater Marist World. Our brothers in Cuba, allowed to be a presence, but not to conduct schools, are reaching and teaching basic fundamentals of human interaction, sportsmanship, kindness and consideration through baseball, the national passion for all ages of Cubans. Known simply as "the ball", it has become the training ground for what we would be teaching in a school: family spirit, acceptance of all levels of ability and all personalities, and even fair and friendly treatment of opponents, especially when the Marist team has been victorious. It is an amazing example of what can be done when meeting students "where they are" and in the simplest of ways, capitalizing on the opportunity to go a bit deeper to make Jesus known and loved, through basic good sportsmanship!
In Rawalpindi, Pakistan, the boys in Pope John Paul II school recently celebrated the beatification of Blessed John Paul, and what would have been his 91st birthday with a contest including original essays, poems, sketches and songs written and composed by these eager students who love Pope John Paul II as their model and inspiration. The school was founded by the local bishop to encourage boys to pursue education so that they might keep up with girls, who in separate schools far exceed the educational level of boys, so much so, that frustrated in not being able to find an equally educated Catholic young man, they are marrying well educated men of other religions. Who would guess that this ever would be the case? The Marists saw and need and have taken up the challenge.
Bro. Rene