|
 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, October 1, 2003 |
 A
Retreat based on the 4th Vow, Lliria , Valencia: Prepared by ARLEP,
a Retreat based on the 4th Vow and animated by Br. Alvaro , took place
in Lliria, Valencia from July 14th to 18th. Sixty-five Brothers from the
whole Region participated, including two Regional Superiors (ARLEP &
RELAF) and three Bros. Visitors (Bilbao , Madrid , and Valladolid). Each
morning there was a talk on the theme and in the evenings there was work
in groups to formulate questions and provide answers. It was a beautiful
experience of fraternity and an occasion for deepening our sense of our
4th vow of Association for the Educational Service of the poor as an
animating element of our Mission and the heart of our Consecration.
(Br. Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría) |
 The
Delegation of the Antilles, Summer Mission Camp, August 24, 2003:
Each summer since 1987, young people from the Lasallian Mission
Fraternity have devoted two weeks to leading mission camps in the
southern part and in the mountains of the Dominican Republic.
This is an experience of being in solidarity with the children and young
rural workers from one of the Republic's poorest areas.
They share their lives and their own poverty, they bring them joy and
fraternity and from them they receive the Good News of a simple
lifestyle and a sense of being in solidarity.
Photo 1: A group of missionaries with the kids from the mission camp.
Photo 2: Conversing with young people from the area.
Photo 3: Hands-on activities with the younger children.
Photo 4: A time for prayer in the missionary community.
|
 Two
students of Francia De La Salle of Temuco - Chile and their
professor of Science traveled to Moscow, Russia to participate in the
2003 International Science Exposition (ESI 2003). The event was held
from the 12 to the 22nd of July, and they were one of the delegations
from 59 countries that gathered for the exposition.
In the picture are 8 year-old students Manuel Vega Riffo and Patricio
Fernández Garcés next to their professor Juan Carlos Ulloa González. The
topic of their research, Compost: an Option for Agriculture, won
honorable mention in a previous International Exposition of De La Salle
Chile, which occurred in Talca in 2002. This is how these young
scientists were able to win the chance to go to the International
Exposition in Russia.
The two students and their professor were part of a delegation of 25
people that represented Chile. Among these were five students and two
teachers of Colegio De La Salle of Talca and three alumni of Instituto
La Salle of La Florida in Santiago.
(Hno. Renato Riveros Silva, FSC)
|
La Salle College, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico: This year, the academic
year 2003-2004, La Salle College, Oaxaca, Southern Mexico, will open.
This college will offer pre-school and primary school education for
hundreds of children in this city.
With the help of generous benefactors, the college can count on modern
installations in a beautiful estate near a hill with symbolic
associations for the people of the region: the hill of San Felipe del
Agua, where after a long walk uphill for seven hours, a wooden cross
several meters high was put in place by young Lasallians and
administrative and academic staff from the recently established
institution.
During the course of the 2002-2003 school year the College partially
opened and began activities in just six groups with about 200 pupils.
This year it will number more than 600 pupils who will benefit from the
academic and human quality which characterizes Lasallians.
Congratulations.
(by Nimerva Tello Ruiz, mother of three
pupils of the college) |
The
Visit of Br. Álvaro Rodriguez, the Superior General, to the
Sub-continent: The visit of Br. Álvaro took place from August 1 - 7,
2003, and the Delegation of India had prepared itself enthusiastically
to receive the 26th Successor of St. La Salle. It was a historical
moment for every member of the Lasallian Family in India.
The presence of Br. Álvaro united us with the international family of
St. La Salle. The event also encouraged our formees and young Lasallians
in fidelity to the mission and life of the Brothers; it was an occasion
for us to show our love, submission and cooperation to the highest
authority of the Institute; the visit served us as a source of unity,
inspiration and a mutual exchange of ideas and experiences. We are sure
it was a privileged moment for Br. Superior to know us as individuals
and see the Delegation clearly.
He was able to visit all our Communities and apostolates except the
Community in Keesara, which is 1800kms away from the rest of the
Communities in the Delegation. He spoke to all the 43 Brothers
personally. The visit ended with a celebration honoring seven
jubilarians: Brs. James Kimpton (60 years), Patrick Minus (50 years),
Sebastian, Alfred, Thomas Michael, Paulraj and Arockiasamy (25 years).
Numerous significant events took place during the visit, only a few of
which are: The La Salle Deepam community building was inaugurated at
Keezhamudiman; A science laboratory was dedicated for the Children of
St. Peter's at R.T.U, Kallupatty, and St. La Salle statue was unveiled
at St. James, Suranam and Puduvasantham, Murugathranpatty.
Br. Álvaro repeatedly affirmed the commitments that the Delegation ahs
devoted to the poor in its mission in India. The aroma of garlands and
incense, the rhythm of drums and dances, the warmth of shawls and more
importantly, the warmth of the smiles of the youngsters all certainly
remain in our memories as the historical events have just passed in the
Delegation of India.
(Br. John Fernando)
|
 The
Region of Italy, Meeting of the General-Council with the Council of the
District of Italy: On the 12th,13th and 14th of September, the
Superior-General and the General-Council met with the Brs. Visitors and
the Council of the District of Italy in the Mother House, according to
the orientation of Article 117a, of our Rule.
The importance of the meeting stems from the fact that the District of
Italy was constituted in April 2003 from the former Districts of Rome
and Turin.
From this fact the objective of the meeting was well understood: to
support the new, promote vitality, to respond with courage to the new
aims which the last General-Chapter mapped out for us in relation to
Community, Association, Mission.
As a summary of the work carried out in a climate of fraternity, we
present the following points:
a) Priority courses of action which the District Council of the District
of Italy proposes for its work in the future:
 the search for unity by means of building a common feeling as a new
District;
the need to put in place concrete signs of renewal of the consecrated
life, with special
attention to the community dimension;
concrete work in the field of youth and vocational pastoral work, a
sector in which the
Province has invested personnel and resources;
attention to the Lasallian Mission and the planning of its works in
such a way that our
association for the educational service of the poor may be made visible;
a renewed effort in the guided formation of all the members of the
Lasallian Family
at its various levels.
b) Priority courses of action proposed by the General-Council to the
District of
Italy:
the participation of lay persons in the Lasallian Mission;
the accompaniment of the young Brothers according to a plan of
formation which
will help them to grow in their vocation. To involve them actively in
the life of the Province
so that their vision of it may be positive;
a new drive in vocational pastoral work stemming from the youth
pastoral work that is
being carried out;
the complementarity which draws upon the rich tradition of the two
ex-Districts;
collaboration with the other Districts of Europe and the drive of
missionary pastoral
work.
c) Closing words of the meeting from the Br. SuperiorGeneral
The meeting was held at a very opportune moment and offers us
important courses of action to contribute to the vitality of the
District of Italy.
It is important that in the planning of the District you maintain the
diversity of the works which you have now and assure those which are in
the most direct service of the poor. Self-sufficiency is not the only
criteria in planning.
A Volunteer system well-organized and making use of all legal
possibilities can turn itself into a great help for our educational
service of the poor.
Association with Lay Persons requires a resolute will on the part of
the Brothers to invite them, animate them and help them in their
formation.
Community life is an element of our life to which our young Brothers
give special importance.
We ought to exert ourselves to take care of our structures and our
works but the most important thing is to be significant from an
evangelical point of view.
For this reason we ought to look after our spirituality. We are Brothers
who:
recognize and live the presence of God,
let ourselves be guided by God,
carry out the work of God in the Mission
(Br. Juan Pablo Martín Dueñas) |
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider
publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
|
