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 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, March 10, 2003 |
Br. Álvaro Visits PARC: 2003 is the Pacific-Asia Regional
Conference’s (PARC) turn for a visit by the Superior General. There
being fifteen countries in the Region, the visit has been divided into
two phases, the first of which took place in January-February. The seven
countries visited were: China (Hong Kong), Vietnam, the Philippines,
Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia (East and West), and finally, Thailand.
Pakistan was to have been included in the itinerary but due to the
tenuous situation in neighbouring Iraq, it was deemed prudent to
postpone the visit to a later date.
 During
the month-long visit Br. Superior General, accompanied by Br. Victor
Franco, General Councillor, met all the 208 Brothers working in the
seven countries and held personal interviews with about half of them.
The District of Vietnam, with 82 Brothers, has the largest concentration
of Brothers. Br. Álvaro also travelled to the inter-District novitiate
in Lipa City, Philippines to meet the twenty novices and the four staff
members, who together represent nine different PARC countries.
A large number of our lay partners and alumni were also very grateful
for the opportunity to meet the Superior General as he travelled through
the seven countries. These occasions often coincided with the numerous
significant events that took place during the visit, only a few of which
are mentioned here. In Hong Kong a beautiful new primary school building
was inaugurated, while St. Patrick’s School in Singapore held the
blessing of a modern archival room.
 In Vietnam, Br. Superior laid the
cornerstone for a new structure for victims of substance abuse and
presided at the opening of a Mausoleum for the deceased Brothers. (See
February 14, 2003.) In the
Philippines, Br. Álvaro witnessed the first commitment of a new group of
34 aspirants and the first consecration of 22 Signum Fidei members.
Three new affiliated members, one in Vietnam and two in Malaysia (Sabah),
received their Letters of Affiliation directly from Br. Superior
General.
It is worth noting that this is the first time that a Superior General
has made an official visit to Indonesia, which is the latest addition to
the list of countries where the Institute is present. A tertiary-level
institution began there three years ago in the city of Manado, pioneered
by a group of lay partners from the Philippines. A community of Brothers
was established the following year, made up at present of three
Brothers: a Malaysian, a Filipino, and a Vietnamese-American. The
community comes directly under the PARC region, and Br. David Hawke,
PARC Chairman, was present for the occasion. The Bishop of Manado, whose
determination to establish a Lasallian tertiary institution in his
diocese finally bore fruit, graciously hosted Bros. Álvaro, Victor and
David in his residence.
One of the more lasting impressions from the visit is that our schools
in this Region have succeeded in becoming centers where respect,
tolerance and dialogue are possible as a result of the openness that
exists towards diverse cultures and religions. Another lasting
impression is the alumni’s affection for and dedication to the Brothers
which bears eloquent testimony to the number of hearts that have been
touched during the 150 years since the first group of Brothers landed in
Asia.
(Br. Victor Franco) |
 Emigrants:
Brother Alvaro: Europeans Should Be More Tolerant
U.S.G. President reminds "Vidimus Dominum" of Europe's history.
Vietnam: Christian Brothers Work toward Educational Objectives
Brother Alvaro explains how this is being done in Southeast Asia.
Southeast
Asia: For Christian Brothers Experience of Interreligious Dialog and
Tolerance
Superior General underlines the importance of this experience after a
visit to the area.
Lasallians: Import into Europe the
Tolerant Spirit of Southeast Asia
Superior General Brother Alvaro describes his experiences during his
visit to Southeast Asia |
 Two important appointments within the General Services:
Beginning in September Brothers Lorenzo González Kipper and Francisco
López Gil will assume the positions of Secretary General and Bursar
General, respectively.
Brother Lorenzo replaces Brother Valerio López and Brother Francisco
replaces Brother Jordi Oller.
 Brother
Lorenzo González Kipper, from the District of North Mexico, was born in
Monterrey, Mexico. He made his novitiate in Bordighera (Italy) (1956 -
1958) and studied Religious Science at the Jesus Magister Institute in
Rome (1960 - 1964). He has worked in several different apostolates in
his District.
 Brother Francisco López Gil, from the Sub-District of Panama, was born
in El Predegal (Guadalajara), Spain. He made his novitiate in Bordighera
(Italy) and his scholasticate in France. He has worked in several
different places in Central America and currently serves as the
Auxiliary Visitor of the Sub-District of Panama.
We would like to express our gratitude, as an Institute, to Brothers
Valerio (3 years as Secretary General) and Jordi (12 years as Bursar
General). We will, at a later date, thank them more appropriately for
their work and dedication in these two General Services of the
Institute.
We are also thankful to Brothers Lorenzo and Francisco and to their
respective Districts, North Mexico and the Sub-District of Panama, for
making these two Brothers available.
(Br. Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría) |
 The Restructuring of the Districts of Rome and Torino: After
several years of discussion and collaboration, the two Italian Districts
of Rome and Torino will become a single district of Italy on June 15,
2003. When the new District is formed, Br. Donato Petti will assume the
role of Visitor. The merger of the two Districts is another example of
the restructuring within the Institute that was called for by the 43rd
General Chapter.
In their letter to the Brothers of the Districts of Rome and Torino, Br.
Mario Presciuttini, the Visitor of Rome, and Br. Gabriele Dalle Nogare,
the Visitor of Torino, assured Br. Donato of their prayers and support
as he takes on this new role. Br. Donato has been appointed Visitor for
a term of four years.
(Br. Donald Johanson) |
  Fifth
Annual Lasallian Youth Assembly:
The District of San Francisco Office of Education is pleased to announce the fifth
annual Lasallian Youth Assembly, "Un Mundo." The assembly will be held
at the University of San Diego, California, July 27 - August 1, 2003. A
committee of Lasallian Collegians and local Lasallians from the San
Diego/Tijuana area has been meeting to plan an engaging week of prayer,
service, and celebration. The conference is open to all Lasallian high
school students (English speaking). For more information, contact Robert Jordan at
 rjordan@dlsi.org.
For more information see:
http://www.delasalle.org/new/lasallian_youth.shtml
(Mr. Robert Jordan) |
 BULLETINS
on the Lasallian Educational Mission: A new series of BULLETINS on
the Lasallian Educational Mission is being produced by the
Secretariat
for the Educational Mission. The series, in English, Spanish and
French, is intended to help Lasallians discover the variety and vitality
of an educational approach which has spread throughout the world, in
forms that are instructive both in their similarities and in their
differences. Each booklet in the series will be short (50-60 pages),
handy in size and easy to read. The booklets will be published 4 or 5
times a year.
The series will help Lasallians
know the situation of other Lasallians throughout the world,
understand the importance of our Mission and of Association,
commit themselves to the service of young people who are neglected, and
prepare for the International Lasallian Educational Mission Assembly of
2006.
 The
price is € 3 / $3 per Bulletin, postage included. Booklets being
prepared include:
In
view of 2006: The International Lasallian Educational Mission Assembly
(already published)
Statistical
study on our educational work throughout the world
Study
on the mission statements of Districts published in the last ten years
Study
on Lasallian universities and the Lasallian mission statement
Study
on the characteristics of Lasallian innovation
Study
on educational trends, continent by continent
Study
on the proposal and the education of faith in the Lasallian pastoral
ministry
Study
on the situation in our Districts regarding the educational service of
the poor
Study
on the building up of personal identity
Study
on our work for the promotion of the Rights of the Child
Study
on Lasallian identity: Brothers, lay persons
Study
on the new forms of Lasallian association
Study
on the San Miguel schools in the USA
Study
on the educational approach among marginalised populations
Study
on the Lasallian practice of the Presence of God
Study
on the Lasallian Volunteer movement
To order subscriptions to this series, please contact your Provincial
Office or
Br.
Nicolas Capelle.
(Br. Nicolas Capelle) |
 Web
Notes: We continue our series of overviews of our Districts with the
District of Vietnam.
(Br. Donald Johanson) |
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider
publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
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