|
 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, June 15, 2003 |
 100
Years in Poland: On May 30 the District of Poland celebrated the
100th anniversary of the arrival of the Brothers of the Christian
Schools in Poland. Almost all of the 64 Brothers of the District
gathered at the diocesan seminary in Czestochowa for a Eucharistic
celebration at which the Archbishop of Czestochowa presided. The
elementary school students of La Salle School in Czestochowa formed the
choir. After the Mass, local clergy, religious of other Congregations
and Lasallian educators enjoyed a festive banquet served by the diocesan
seminarians.
Br. William Mann, Vicar General, and Calude Reinhardt, General
councillor, represented the Institute at the celebrations. Some Brothers
fro Austria, Belgium, Holland and Slovakia were also present for the
celebration. Br. William delivered an address of congratulation on
behalf of the Superior General and the General council. He thanked those
many people who, over the years, had made it possible for the Brothers
to be able to celebrate 100 years of service, "during a century that was
particularly difficult in Europe: a century of wars and great political
upheaval and change."
 Speaking
especially to the Brothers he said, "Despite all of the difficulties
that have had to be endured, in living conditions that were challenging
and often difficult, you, Brothers, were faithful witnesses to our
consecrated life and to our mission on behalf of children and
youngsters; and we come here today, Brothers, to thank you from the
bottom of our hearts and to thank those wonderful men and women who are
our Partners for the great service you have been to the People of God in
Poland and for the great example you have given to the rest of us in the
Lasallian family."
Most of the Brothers of the Czestochowa area also gathered at our
novitiate in Kopiec on May 31 for the dedication of a Centennial
memorial marker and for a liturgical celebration of thanksgiving for
these 100 years.
(Br. Donald Johanson)
|
 New Visitors Session: The session, entitled "New
Visitors: Disciples Called to Become Leaders" was held here in Rome
from May 21 through June 2. There were twenty-two Visitors, Auxiliary
Visitors, Delegates and Presidents of Delegations present for the
session which included moments of prayer, reflection and retreat,
presentations and group discussion, film forum and panel discussion of
topics related to the ministry of leadership in the Institute. Besides
days of intensive work there were also moments of relaxation and a
one-day trip to Assisi. The members of the team include Br. Victor
Franco, General Councilor, Br. André Jacq from France, Bros. Constant de
Wenckstern, Alfonso Novillo and Michael French of the CIL Staff. The
participants were particularly grateful for the quality presence and
accompaniment of Br. Alvaro Rodríguez, Superior General, Br. William
Mann, Vicar General as well as Bros. Juan Pablo Martín, Marc Hofer,
Yemanu Jehar, and Claude Reinhardt, members of the General Council.
(Br. Michael French)
|
|
From the District of São Paulo |
 Perpetual
Vows: In the beginning of 2003, in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro, two
young men from the District of São Paulo, made their perpetual
profession. They are Brothers Clóvis Trezzi and Cassiano Freze. The
latter is a former student of Instituto Abel, in Niterói. Cassiano´s
parents participate in a group of reflection at the local Lasallian
Family. Brother Clóvis entered to the congregation through the service
of vocational pastoral developed by the Brothers in schools which are
not lasallians.
On January, 2, together to their friends and families, as well as the
Brothers of the District of São Paulo who had just finished their
retreat, these two young Brothers declared their perpetual vows in a
solemn mass.
 Brother
Miguel Campos, the general Counselor Brother who preached during the
retreat of the brothers, received the vows of the two young men.
Both, Brothers Clóvis and Cassiano, in order to witness their
consecration, will have a religious ceremony for the renewal of their
vows in their original communities in May and June. These local events
are one of the ways to perform vocational ministry and invite other
young people to follow Jesus Christ in our congregation. Besides, as a
real result of recent vocational promotion, 22 young men are at the
Postulate in São Paulo, divided in two groups: 1st and 2nd classes.
(Br. Paulo Petry) |
 EPEL 2003: From May 1st to 3rd, 2003, two hundred and thirty
educators of our schools participated of a meeting which took place in
the District of São Paulo. The meeting aimed at involving our educative
communities in the great project of the Lasallian Institute, assumed at
the 43rd general Chapter, "Associated for the educative service to the
poor, as a Lasallian response to the challenges of the XXI century." The
motto of the meeting was: "La Salle and the clamor of the poor today."
The lecturers were some Brothers, some Lasallian Partners and renowned
Brazilian theologians: Priest Inácio Neutzling, SJ, who made an
"An analysis of our situation from the view of the poor and the excluded.",
and Mr. Jung Mo Sung, who spoke about "The option of the poor
according to the Bible and the Church."
The meeting was prepared and programmed by the Commission of the
Educative Mission, under the coordination of Brother Nery. The Lasallian
educators who participated of the meeting, involved themselves actively
in all the discussions in groups and at the plenary sessions. It was a
time of
integration and for the sharing of experiences. The Eucharistic celebrations and
the other times of prayers were well prepared and carried out.
One of the Eucharistic celebrations was at the Educative Center and
Social Assistance La Salle. There the Lasallian educators were presented
with several artistic presentations by students who had benefited by our
work in the Educative Center. The
fraternization ended with a dinner sponsored by the leadership of the
Educative Center.
To arrive at the local of the meeting, the communities of the District
of São Paulo had to travel for 12, 15 and even 68 hours by bus, both to
and from the event.
At the end of the meeting there was unanimity in asserting that the
sacrifice was worthwhile because we left stimulated and renewed in our
fervor and enthusiasm by the Lasallian mission of educating and
evangelizing.
(Br. Paulo Petry) |
 ISE La Salle
Inaugration: With a great festivity, the Superior
Institute of Education was inaugurated in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, on
May 10, 2003. This was the first step to the formation of the LA SALLE
university - the UNILASALLE, RJ.
There were nearly 500 guests among students, teachers, students'
parents, Benedictine religious, Vicentians nuns, diocesans clegyrmen,
schools and colleges principals, and other authorities. Besides Brothers
Amadeu, Angelo, Hilario and Petry, and all the lasallian communities of
Niterói, Brothers Ignacio and Nery, from the Provincial Direction, and
numerous lasallian collaborators honored the event.
The guest were received by the Musical Company La Salle, a Lasallian
orchestra composed by 30 students from Instituto Abel.
The solemnity began with the Brazilian anthem; after, Brother Amadeu,
the principal of the institution, talked a little about how the dream of
the university came true. He remembered facts since the initial idea
until that important moment.
Soon after, Ignacio Lucio Weschenfelder, the Visitor of São Paulo, and,
Godofredo Pinto, the mayor of Niterói and a former teacher at Instituto
Abel, made their speeches.
All people there were unanimous in stating that the tradition of the La
Salle schools is a credential that guarantee to the institution the
formation of qualified professionals in the education, sciences and
culture fields, and with the politics compromise with the defense of the
human rights and the promotions of the citizenship, the environmental
consciousness and of the social transformation.
Today the Superior Institute of Education La Salle of Niterói offers the
courses of Graduation in Normal Superior and Computation Science
License, postgraduate studies in School Management and Administration,
Physical Education, Arts and Education, and Mathematics Educations. Some
new courses, such as graduation in Religious Science, Law, Accountancy
Science, Administration and International Relations, besides post
graduate studies in Reading and Production of Texts, will be offered
next year.
(Br. Paulo Petry) |
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider
publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
|
