|
 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, April 20, 2004
|
 OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA (Come and See); "Good News" from the International
Council of Young Lasallians
icyl@lasalle.org: Located ten miles or seventeen kilometers east of
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, where the Rocky Mountains
meet the expansive Plains of middle North America, the Blackfeet
Reservation is home to the Blackfeet American Indians. The Blackfeet,
once the proud and fierce "Lords of the Plains," now suffer from high
rates of unemployment, dropout rates in schools, drug and alcohol abuse,
and domestic violence.
Upon invitation, the De La Salle Christian Brothers opened De La Salle
Blackfeet School in the city of Browning in September of 2001. Besides
educating the youth of the Blackfeet Reservation, the school, with the
help of the Lasallian Collegians of the San Francisco District, has
developed a program OKI-NI-SOO-KA-WA (Blackfeet for Come and See) that
hosts almost twelve High School and University service oriented youth
groups from all over the United States each year.
Each group has five preparation meetings before arriving in Browning.
While in Browning, each group examines the present culture and history
of the Blackfeet American Indians. Faith, Community, Service Learning
and Social Justice are the foundation of the program. Each group tours
cultural sites, discusses related topics with Blackfeet Elders and
leaders, and shares their hopes and dreams with DLSB's students in
addition to offering tutoring.
The youth groups take home with them strong relationships forged while
in Browning, a greater awareness of the needs and issues the larger
community faces each day, and a deeper spirituality found in the
isolation and beauty of the area. The students of the DLSB gain new
friendships and meet people with ambitions of pursuing not only a high
school diploma, but also College and University degrees. These
relationships reinforce our students resolve to also obtain these
degrees which in the future will help to alleviate the problems facing
the people of the Blackfeet Reservation.
If you have any questions or would like to start an immersion group
program at your school, please contact Jeb Myers at De La Salle
Blackfeet School via e-mail:
cjkmyers@yahoo.com
|
 Third
Meeting of Lasallian Former Students Associations from the
Spain-Portugal (Arlep) Region:
The Coordinating Council of Lasallian Former Students Associations
organized a meeting in Seville-Dos Hermanos on February 27, 28 and 29.
The theme was CALLED TO SERVE. Brothers Luis Alvarez and Marcos Febres
(from the Talavera de la Reina community) put forward the six calls to
service that the Brother Superior General asked of all former students
in Mexico during the UMAEL Congress there. In the ARLEP Region there are
more than 40 recognized associations of former students that are
undergoing important changes, in order to be in line with the UMAEL
recommendations, so that truly become units of solidarity, fraternity,
and service.
 Present
at this Third Meeting were the Brother Visitor of the Region, Ismael
Beltrán, Brother Mario Vinumbrales, Visitor of the District of
Andalusia, and José Batiste, President of the Coordinating Council and
of UMAEL.
Over the course of these days there were expositions of various "activities in solidarity" which the former students from ARLEP have
been doing (Cambrils, Cordoba, Jerez, Barcelona, etc.) There was also a
presentation from the various Associations which were quite unique
(Aguimes, Consuegra, San Idelfonso-Tenerife, etc.)
 During
the meeting we were graced with rich presentations by PROYDE (a
Lasallian NGO) and bt CIJL(International Council of Young Lasallians)
under the leadership of Diego Téllez.
Time was devoted to information about the Third UMAEL Congress, held in
Mexico, by those who were there. One of the noteworthy highlights was
the report of the magnificent spirit and sense of fraternity that there
was in ULSA.
For more information, go to:
www.lasalle.es/aaa
(Coordinating Council of Associations of
Former Students of ARLEP) |
 Vietnam: Here
are some photos from the recent reception of the habit in Vietnam.
The photos were sent to us by Br. Gregoire.
|
 Saint
John Baptist de La Salle Educational Center, Homestead, Florida, USA:
Premiere performance of the DLS Centennial Band, named in honor of
the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Brothers to Cuba, Mexico,
Puerto Rico, 1905 -2005. The Centennial Band participated in the
Good Friday procession, April 9, 2004, which began at the Cristo Rey
Chapel of South Dade Camp, Santa Ana Mission.
The Centennial Band had the honor of being the first unit in the parade,
after which the coordinator, Mr. Luis Saulcedo, spoke about the impact
of our school on the community and what it offered to the neighborhood
residents. He offered words of praise and encouragement for these boys
and girls since they were very nervous about performing before a large
audience for the first time. They had begun practicing barely 3 months
prior to this day and none had ever even touched a musical instrument.
They marched to the second station with military precision and they were
greeted with loud applause from those present. In all, there were 15
participants, which corresponds to the number of instruments available.
(J.M. Dorado) |
  Centenario,
Colegio De La Salle, Temuco: Centennial, De La Salle School, Temuco:
Many former students have passed through the classrooms of De La Salle
School, with unforgettable memories, and, at the same time, they pass on
the charism of Saint John Baptist de La Salle in the world today.
The years have gone by quickly and today we are at the point of
celebrating 100 years of educational presence in the region. To that
end, a series of events have been planned so that the various bodies
involved in the school, such as former students, parents and others will
be able to commemorate this milestone in high Lasallian style.
(Christian Espinoza Arias)
|
 Appointment of Brother Alberto Gómez Barruso as Visitor of the
District of Andalusia:
On the morning of Holy Thursday, April 8, the special day of fraternal
love, the appointment of the new Visitor, Alberto Gómez Barruso, took
place.
It was an event filled with prayer, fraternity and festivity and the
majority of the Brothers of the District were on hand, as well as many
members of Signum Fidei, representatives from lay boards and Christian
communities within the District.
The presence of Brother William Mann, the Vicar General of the
Institute, and of the Brothers Visitor of Bilbao, Catalonia, Valencia
and Valladolid, the excused absence of the Brother Regional Coordinator
and the Brother Visitor of Madrid, gave the event a complete symbolic
value of the fraternal relationship that exists among the Districts in
the Region and of their connection to the Institute.
The act of appointment was followed by a festive meal at the Saint Paul
House of Exercises in Dos Hermanas.
(Brother Olimpio)
|
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider
publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
|
