'He Holds Me Up' by Caroline Mutonga.

	1.He holds me up (4'41") 2. Don't you give up (5'5") 3. Thank you (3'55") 4. Sheperd of my soul (2'52") 5. Searching (2'52") 6. Little town of Bethlehem (3'35") 7. Close to you (4'23") 8. Take me home (4'46") 9. Miracles (4'1") 10. Stick by you (3'24")

Caroline Mutonga is a young student at Strathmore University in Nairobi, Kenya.
She has produced her first album with worldwide reach.
The album with ten songs is about the composer's invitation to humanity
to believe in God as the one caring for our life.
These songs are a prayer of heartfeelings expressing the pain and joys of life.
And above all, God's grace is taking place in our life, 'He holds me up'.

This album was made from the project to develop the talents of young people. Thanks to all who helped to promote young people.

Would you like to participate in our music promotion projects?
- Contribute as sponsor for the projects;
- Buy the Audio-CD.

                                     Price: 5.00 Euros

                                     Contact: csandratana@yahoo.fr

It is of great interest to discuss the above heading in connection with my just concluded apostolic/community experiences in of the Marists schools in Nigeria. This experience is to be shared bearing in mind the apostolic nature of Brother’s ministry in the schools and other places where children and youths can be found. With that said let us begin.
To start with, who is a brother? No sentence gives a comprehensive answer to this question. But never still, ‘a brother is a model and a living gospel for the children and for everyone else’. It is on this answer that my reflection will be based on.
Breaking the spiritual bread of religion; in the circular of 19th January 1836, St Marcelin Champagnat (founder of the Marist brothers of the schools) in attempt to remind the brothers their mission has this to say. ‘We desire and wish that like Jesus Christ our divine model, you may have deep affection for the children. Break for them with holy zeal the spiritual bread of religion. Make every effort to train them in piety and to engrave on their young hearts religious sentiments which will never be erased’. Apart from Eucharistic dimension of brothers’ ministry which the holy founder emphasised, he equally reminds brothers of the young hearts that yearn for gospel models.
I experienced this in the school I was. With the school of over 1000 students, one will imagine the number of hearts that yearn for a model. That is where one comes to break the bread of religion. One does that by living a life that worthy of emulation by the students. The students are interested in the life of the brothers, because they see in them that Christ who said ‘let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heavens belong to such as these’. Matt 19:14. With that they look up to brothers to guide and direct them, help them in their troubles and encourage them to face courageously our demanding world. The presence of a brother constantly trains the young heart towards achieving the Christian virtues which it will use to weaken the vices that characterise our weak nature. Since, ‘brother spends his life studying, meditating and teaching the law; he spends several hours in prayer every day. His example is therefore well suited for overcoming forgetfulness of God and forming children to piety and the duties of a Christian.



Having said this, the call for the breaking of the spiritual bread of religion is paramount important for any good work. The children need it. The youths need it. And our world needs it. Brothers bring down the Eucharistic Jesus from the altar and share it constantly in their daily encounter with the people especially the less privileged. What’s a wonderful vocation? Dear friends let pray for the brothers and their ministry.
BR .ILOABUEKE INNOCENT,
MARIST INTERNATIONAL CENTRE,
NAIROBI.