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Champagnat’s Three Violets as a symbol of Simplicity, Modesty, and Humility

INTERNATIONALIZATION TEAM– DEEB – PROVINCE CENTRO-SUL – BRAZIL/ 2022

In collaboration with the Internationalization and Pastoral Advisors Teams of the Centro-Sul Province in Brazil, our Integral Bilínguestudents have developed a special St. Marcellin Champagnat’s Day elebration project. During the week preceding the celebration on June 6th, 2022, our schools were encouraged to engage in activities centered on the three basic spiritual attitudes symbolized by the little and purple violets of Champagnat. We suggested a 15-minute period of meditation and reflection before the class began. Twelve schools from our Centro-Sul Province took part in this project. They shared some pictures and videos from the event.

The teachers asked the students to bring a small violet vase, which would be used at the start of class. In order to introduce the violets’ overall theme of reflection, the vases were then positioned in the center of a circle. The teachers asked the students to bring a small violet vase, which would be used at the start of class. In order to introduce the violets’ overall theme of reflection, the vases were then positioned in the center of a circle. The next day, as a spiritualization activity, we performed a musical version of the Hail Mary, which is available on the Kids Sing For Jesus channel. For viewing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OxeUAtiuHk.

The date and time of the last use is 6/21/2022. We created a story and gave it the title “A boy called Marcellin” to arouse the students’ interest in the violets theme. In this narrative, the students learned how our founder, at an impressionable age, set out on his remarkable mission. The students were fascinated by Marcellin’s profile and asked numerous meaningful questions about him and how his actions affected those around him. The school’s pastoral advisor introduced the concept of Champagnat’s violets by visiting classrooms to discuss how these flowers symbolize the virtues of modesty, simplicity, and humility.

He explained how we can exhibit these qualities in our attitudes while going about our daily lives. To sum up, Celebration Day’s craft activities were designed according to the schools’ interests and availability.

On June 6th, to honor Saint Marcellin, a beautiful violet garden has taken shape in the school’s courtyard. Students gathered in a circle and sang the Hail Mary hymn.

After the celebration, the students were encouraged to give their violets to a member of the school staff in order to share the knowledge they had gained about Champagnat’s story and mission over the past week. The meaning of the words humility, simplicity and modesty in English was explained as the students presented the flowers. This event was a great opportunity to gather the students and the school in a moment for a reflection upon the inspiration of Champagnat’s educational beliefs.