The ad hoc International Committee on the Rule

In the course of its work, the Committee members were unanimous in reporting to the General Council that minor changes to the present text would not be an adequate response to Proposition 38. Recent Church documents, an emerging appreciation of the vow of association, and the implementation since the 43rd General Chapter of changes in the reality of the Institute and its structures concerning the sharing of Lasallian mission and charism suggest that substantial changes might need to be made.

As a consequence of clarifications given by Brother Superior and his Council, the Committee has now entered a second phase of its work. It is preparing a document that specifies the major areas or lines of thinking found in recent Church and Institute documents that provide the basis for the substantial revision of the Rule that they have proposed.

The Committee will present its ongoing work to Brother Superior and his Council in March 2005, when a decision will be made about what the next step in the process might be.
^{(Br. Gerard Rummery, FSC)}

Plans to celebrate the XX World Youth Day in Cologne in August 2005 are well under way. Events will take place at different times during the month of August, but the central events are tentatively scheduled from August 15-21, 2005, the final day culminating in the celebration of the Eucharist with Pope John Paul II. The official XX World Youth Day site: http://www.wjt2005.de/index.php?id=6&si=1.

To coincide with the event, Dr. Philippe Choquet, President of the Institut Supérieur Agriculture de Beauvais (ISAB), and his students from ISAB are proposing to gather Lasallian tertiary students from around the world to share their experiences and come to know each other, how they live and think, and what they value. They are presently considering two options:

1) Invite Lasallian students to arrive in Frankfort where they will meet. Then they will spend 4 days on a pilgrimage to Cologne, taking a train part of the way and walking the remainder of the journey.
2) Invite Lasallian students to gather one evening in Cologne during the actual summit.

If you and your university are interested in participating in either of these options, please contact Dr. Philippe Choquet directly at philippe.choquet@isab.fr or +33-3-44-06-2530.
^{(Brother Craig J. Franz, FSC, Ph.D., President, IALU)}

Two university presidents appointed: The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Board of Trustees announced Thursday, December 9, 2004, that Br. Craig J. Franz, FSC, Ph.D., has been named the 12th president of the university. Franz will begin his term of office on June 1, 2005.

Br. Craig, 51, will succeed Br. Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Ph.D., who has led Saint Mary's University for 21 years -- more than three times the average national tenure for college presidents. DeThomasis will retire from the university May 31.

On December 14, 2004, the Saint Mary’s College of California Board of Trustees announced that Br. Ronald Gallagher, F.S.C., Ph.D., has been appointed as the 28th President of Saint Mary’s College of California. Br. Ronald will officially assume his new responsibilities on January 1, 2005. He replaces Br. Craig J. Franz, FSC.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}

Two Provincials from Region Visit Bethlehem University: Brothers Frank Byrne, Visitor of the New York District, and Francis Carr, Visitor of the Midwest District recently returned from a one-week visit to the Brothers assigned to Bethlehem University.

In addition to personal interviews with each Brother, the Visitors met with the University Executive Council, enjoyed lunch prepared and served by students of the University’s Hotel and Restaurant Management program, and joined the Brothers for dinner at the home of a former Dean. Tours of Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and Galilee were also highlights of the week.

Photo: Back row, left to right: Brothers Bernard Conroy (Great Britain), Fergus McArdle (Ireland), Jack Curran (New York), Cyril Litecky (Midwest), Joseph Lowenstein (New York), Frank Byrne (Visitor, New York), Vincent Malham (Midwest). Front row, left to right: Brothers David Scarpa (Great Britain), Francis Carr (Visitor, Midwest), Peter Iorlano (LI-NE), Dominic Smith (Baltimore), Juan Manuel (Proche Orient), Neil Kieffe (Midwest).
^{(Br. Jack Curran)}

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