Members of the Marist laity from Italy, France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain met in Turin to discuss and share ideas on the European dimension of what it means to be Marist. That the conference was such a success was very much as a result of the hard work and organisation put in by the Italian lay Marists who also hosted the event. Mention must also be made of the innovative and diverse ways in which prayer and the liturgy were presented by the different national groups.

The three days were devoted to talks, discussion in workshops, liturgy, prayer and reflection and the lighter side was also catered for in a party on the Friday evening. Much of the value of such events is in the unscheduled conversations and socialising which take place alongside the main activities.

The main part of the conference began with short presentations given by each of the participating national groups. It was soon apparent that each country viewed ‘Marist laity’ in a different light but at the same time there was the commonalty of Marist vision and spirituality passed down the years from the original founders.

There were five main talks or reports. The first was given by Don Ermis Segatti. His topic was ‘The role of laymen in the Church and in the present world in Europe’. This was a wide-ranging talk in which Don Segatti spoke of Europe as being the fruit of Christianity but today the future is envisaged as being without God. There seems to be tolerance for everything except Christianity. To other parts of the world Europe is a source of money not of faith. It is up to the laity to take responsibility for the re-evangelisation of Europe and this must be rooted in faith and prayer.

The second report was ‘Unknown and hidden in the world: is this possible in the society of today?’ The speaker was Fr Jan Hulshof. This principle is at the heart of Marist spirituality but is often misunderstood. Being hidden and unknown is not a goal in itself but a way of life in which Marists are called ‘to do good’. It is a principle which can be used to test motivation – it precludes praise and fear of disapproval as motives. Fr Hulshof closed his talk by quoting a poem attributed to Oscar Romero and which ends ‘We may never see end results../ We are prophets of a future not our own’.

The third report was ‘Marist spirituality in everyday life (family, work, society) with reference to our Christian communities’. This was given by Laura Dealessi, a member of the Italian Marist laity. There are many ways of being Christian in this world; the Marist way is to be ‘here’ when wanted, ‘where witness is more important than authority’. Marists approach whatever their role in life with a sense of responsibility, valuing people especially for themselves and not for their successes or positions in life. This principle is lived out within our ordinary everyday lives.

The fourth report was "The reality of Marist Laymen and its relationship with the religious branches; towards the realisation of Father Colin’s dream?" The speaker was Marie-Claude Grulier, a member of the French Marist Laity. ‘Everybody a Marist’ – this sums up Fr Colin’s ideas about the laity. He regarded Mary as being the support of the Church from its beginnings to the end of time. It is for the laity, who are far more numerous than the religious, to work to spread the spirit of Mary in the world. Today both religious and laity must work together using their individual talents to achieve Fr Colin’s vision of a Church with a Marian face.

The fifth and final report was ‘Marist Laymen: which perspectives for the future?’ given by Marion Korenromp from the Netherlands. Marion gave an account of her connection with the Marists and her membership of the first Marist lay group in the Netherlands. It was an experience of mixed fortunes resulting from varying perceptions as to what it meant to be a member of the Marist laity. A new initiative is beginning based on the idea of ‘attentive present’. ‘This presence is at the heart of our common Marist life’. To achieve this presence means to become vulnerable in order to understand the needs of others. To fulfil the ideal all branches of the Marist family must work together.

Father Antonio in his address to sum up the Conference spoke of the Church with a Marian face and the hope given by the Conference for the fulfilment of Fr Colin’s dream. He spoke of the talks giving deep insights to help form a spirituality on which to build witness.

There were three workshop sessions held mainly in language groups. The members were asked to address links between Marist Laity at European and worldwide levels and between the Marist Laity and other Marist branches. How could they work in common. What structures were needed for the organisation of Marist Laity in Europe and also for communication and formation.

Discussions were lively and many ideas were aired. At the plenary session various challenges were identified: