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 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, May 22, 2003 |
 The
Superior General's Visit to the District of Italy: Brother Superior
Álvaro Rodríguez and Brother Juan Pablo Martín, General Councillor, made
the pastoral visit to the District of Italy from April 26 - May 9.
The Superior visited a varied selection of schools and communities.
The residences of the senior Brothers in Turin and Rome.
The University Residence of San Giuseppe in Turin.
The Arch Center which cares for the chemically dependent in Turin.
The House of Charity of the Union of Catechists with their wonderful
professional training center in Turin.
Several volunteer groups and the Lasallian family in Milan.
The Don Gniochi Center for the physically challenged in Parma.
A cooperative school in Parma.
The "Community of Faith" in Massa.
The coordinating team in charge of youth ministry made up of Brothers
and young people in Rome.
A primary school known for its great tradition in the youth movement in
Santa Maria Capovetere.
The Pompeii Center for students with family problems and the high school
in Naples.
The youth center in Regalbuto and the cooperative for ceramics run by
the Brothers there.
The Acireale School which houses a hospitality center for students with
family problems.
The schools in Rome: Pius IX, Pius XII, Colle La Salle with its
different educational cycles and the Leonardo Da Vinci Center in Catania
(Sicily) which takes in students of all ages.
In addition, there were meetings with groups of Brothers who came
together in Turin, Milan, Rome, Naples, Acireale. At these meetings it
was explained to the Superior how the process for unifying the two
former Districts was being followed and perspectives for the future.
There was also a meeting with the District Councils of the two Districts
and with the Directors from the District of Rome.
From Brother Superior's many interventions, some of the most often
repeated ideas were:
We Brothers should be men of hope. Times of trial have presented the
Institute its times of greatest growth and God has always been in our
midst.
All members of the Lasallian community can live the Lasallian charism in
their own, unique way.
We Brothers are not the only ones who are "brothers." We all should live
the fraternity which has been given to us by the fact of our being
children of God.
The Lasallian charism can be summed up in three concepts: faith,
fraternity and service.
Our faith makes us place our trust in God who loves us as very dear
children and who unites us to be in fraternity with others.
Those who feel that they are a brother to others should serve them,
especially the young.
We can all contribute in our own way to put "salvation within reach of
the young, especially the young who are at risk." This was De La Salle's
intention: "to put the means of salvation within reach of children who
are poor."
Rather than worrying about the decrease in the number of Brothers we
should concern ourselves with responding to the needs of the young. It
is this which will attract new vocations.
As an international Institute we have a great service to render for
peace in the world and for inter-religious dialogue.
In my trips throughout Asia I saw heartfelt cooperation among the
students from our schools in spite of their belonging to different
cultures and religions.
(Br. Juan Pablo Martin) |
 Web
Notes: We continue our series of overviews of our Districts with
the Midwest District.
(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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