Being Brothers Today Committee completes its work: In November, the Being Brothers Today (BBT) Committee met in Rome for the second time to discuss the reflection document that will assist the Institute in bringing about an “interactive process” before the General Chapter in 2007. The value of the BBT document lies in its invitation for Brothers to reflect, pray, and discern on what it means to be Brothers today. As a consequence, the BBT document is meant to be a “working document” that will enable Brothers to promote personal and communal discernment in all levels of the Institute, i.e., from personal to community, community to District, District to Regions, inter-districts, inter-regional, etc. We hope that the Brothers will fully participate in this “interactive process” in view of the future of the Institute. The committee is composed of Brothers Miguel Campos, Timothy Coldwell (USA-Toronto), Andre-Pierre Gauthier (Europe and Proche-Orient), Edouard Luzolo (Africa), Patricio Bolton (Latin America) and Ricky Laguda (Pacific-Asia).
^{(Br. Ricky Laguda)}

Regional Assembly Is “A Graced Moment”: The first-ever Assembly of the U.S./Toronto Region took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, November 15-20. Some 120 delegates from all the Districts of the United States and Toronto came together for an intensive five-day meeting to assess how members of the Region are responding to present educational needs and how they are developing new structures of association in support of the Lasallian educational mission.

Regional Assemblies such as this one have been happening all over the Institute and will continue until the last one is held in July 2006. Following each of these “Partial Assemblies,” the International Assembly will be held in Rome in October 2006.

Greg Kopra, District of San Francisco, said of the recent assembly in Salt Lake City, “The Regional Assembly was fantastic – we spent a week visioning about the future of our Lasallian educational mission and about our Association for that mission. I was moved by the dedication and the spirit and the energy of the group. There were approximately 120 of us present, and it’s nice to know that we are only the tip of the iceberg in the Region – our ministries are filled with dedicated, spirited, energetic Lasallians. The future of the mission in our Region, and in the Institute, is bright indeed.”

“We spoke often of formation and its power to strengthen the education we provide and to strengthen our Association. We spoke often, too, of sharing resources across Districts to provide the best programs for all Lasallians in the Region. Already, various groups (such as the Regional Education Board and our District Mission Council) are reviewing the draft document from the Assembly and beginning to set in motion plans to respond to the many initiatives related to the future of the Region. Certainly we will move ahead carefully and, at the same time, boldly to assure that Lasallian education will continue to thrive in this Region and around the world.”
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}

India has a New Delegate and a New President: Br. Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General, has appointed Br. David Hawke as the New Delegate for India. He will hold office for a period of three years, effective January 15, 2006.

With his vast experience, Br. David will be able to lead India in its “Vitality and Viability towards self-governance.” Br. John Fernando, outgoing President, announced that on February 27, 2006, a fitting farewell for Br. Mark Murphy, the outgoing Delegate, and a welcome to Br. David Hawke, the incoming Delegate, will take place at Boys’ Town, Madurai.

Br. Alvaro also appointed Br. Arockiadoss as the New President. He will begin his mandate on April 2, 2006 and his appointment is for three years.

With his youthfulness and experience, Br. Arockiadoss will be able to lead the Delegation towards continued progress. The Official inauguration of his Presidency will take place on April 5, 2006 at Boys’ Town, Madurai.

Congratulations and thanks to Br. David and Br. Arockiadoss for their generous responses in accepting these responsibilities.
^{(Br. John Fernando, President)}

Palestinians from the Brothers’ school in Bethlehem visit Brittany, France: We are implementing a scheme to unify people and it has one and the same motive: Young people with young people. We are looking forward to a visit by Palestinians from the Brothers’ school in Bethlehem, the “House of Bread”, from 7th to 19th December 2005. Eight Lasallian establishments in Morbihan (Brittany, France) have prepared a package of visits and pedagogical experiences for their stay.

In the Brothers’ school in Bethlehem, enthusiasm has been at its peak since Tuesday, 15th November. A map of Morbihan as well as the Internet sites of our senior school students enable them to find out what their stay is going to be like.

Christmas, a little before the calendar date, will be for us an opportunity to experience, with young people from the place of the Nativity, a little warm-heartedness and calm.

A big ‘thank you’, from the bottom of our hearts to all those who are helping to draw our peoples together.
^{(Jean-Luc Guezello)}

Saint Marcellin Champagnat and Saint John-Baptist de La Salle meet on a street corner in Miami: On Tuesday Nov.29th the Honorable Mayor of Miami, Mr. Carlos Alvarez; the Honorable Commissioner, Mr.Javier Souto; and Mr.Roberto Torricella (all three past-pupils of the Brothers in Cuba), declared 32nd SW Street, from 87th Street (which is Champagnat) to 97th Avenue, as “Saint John Baptist De La Salle Boulevard”. The letter confirming this was handed over to Br. Enrique (Pablo) Pizarro in the church of St. Brendan, which will now be on the corner of “Champagnat and De La Salle”. The Brother was visiting Miami for a well-merited tribute in his honour by his past-pupils. Some days earlier, the city had presented him with a scroll recognizing his educational work in Cuba and had proclaimed November 27th as “Br. Pablo Day” (he is known in Cuba by his religious name).
^{(José M. Dorado)}

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