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 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, February 15, 2005 |
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 SECOLI Visit to Myanmar, January 7-18, 2005: Myanmar is a Sub-District of the Philippines. The first Brothers arrived in Burma (now Myanmar) in 1860 from Ireland, France and Germany by way of Panang. Local vocations began in 1910. St. Peter’s Mandalay and St. Paul’s Rangoon were among the most prestigious schools in Southeast Asia. The rubber plantation of LaSalle Orphanage supported the communities and schools. Seven of the 20 Brothers of Myanmar came from this Orphanage. Most vocations today come from the boarding programs run by the Brothers.
 In 1965 the schools and plantation were nationalized. The Brothers were allowed to keep residences and vacation properties where the communities are located today but they were not permitted to conduct schools. At times the military inspects communities at night to make sure foreigners are not staying with the Brothers. Internet access is monitored and sometimes blocked; e-mail is censored. There are military guards around the provincilate property guarding a neighbor who is under house arrest.
 Students attend free government schools through the 10th standard but as a rule they also attend tuition classes before and after school and on weekends. The Brothers are permitted to offer these tuition classes and catechetical instruction to their boarders. They also offer classes in English, Spanish, Italian and Computer to young adults. Three Brothers teach at the Catechetical Center and Minor Seminary at Lashio.
 The Brothers live simply. There is one 26-year-old pick-up truck serving the three communities in Yangon Yangon (Rangoon); the communities of Kalaw, Maymyo and Lashio make do with one motorcycle each and bicycles. The communities have no heat or hot water though it is surprisingly cold this time of year in the mountain communities outside of Yangon where you can see your breath in the morning.
 In the capital, there are 9 Brothers, 1 Scholastic, 1 Novice and 2 Postulants living in 3 Communities. There are two college age boarding facilities and three adult education projects. The Brothers run a joint project with the Jesuits teaching English to 75 post secondary students; the Provincilate dinning room is converted into a classroom each morning. This program may move to a larger location after the present session ends in March 2005. LaSalle Computer Center began in 1996 with support from the Delegation of Japan; the District of Ireland gave additional support in 2000. They have 18 computers on which 20 students learn: Basic Computer, Desk Top Publishing, Computer Programming or Hardware Repair and Maintenance. This program has served as a model for similar projects at Hope Center and Maymyo. New Humanity of the Italian Episcopal Conference has funded Hope Center for three years.  Two Brothers teach English and Computer to 60-80 adult students each three-month term with five other teachers; another 66 students study Spanish and Italian.
One Brother and four Aspirants live in Kalaw. The Aspirants are required to spend one year before the Postulancy here after they have passed their 10th standard college matriculation exam.  The Brother also teaches English to 20 Little Way Seminarians. The Brothers hope to open a secondary boarding/tuition center on the first floor of the Aspirancy next year. Five Brothers live in Maymyo, the location of LaSalle Juniorate, a boarding facility and tuition center for 39 5th to 10th standard students. One of the Brothers teaches computers to adults from the town. Three Brothers work with 8 catechists at the Lashio Catechetical Center. This is a two-year residential program supported by Parishes and the Bishop. The Community and Boarding/Tuition Center in Leiktho has been temporarily closed. There plans to reopen this community and apostolate by 2007.
(Br. Stephen Tuohy) |
 Casa La Salle has a new web site (www.casalasalle.com): Casa La Salle, our Generalate's "hotel," has a new look for its web site. Completely redesigned by Br. Donald Johanson, the site offers a new look and feel that we hope will aid our Lasallian travellers and others. There is an "on line" form for requesting room reservations at the "Casa per ferie" of the Brothers' Rome Generalate.
We welcome visitors to Rome to consider staying with us. "Casa La Salle" offers very reasonably priced rooms and services to the public who are visiting Rome. All of the services are listed on the new site. Take a look at the site and tell your friends to check it out if they are thinking of coming to Rome.
We receive a number of surprised looks when people visit our beautiful Casa Generalizia and we tell them that the public is most welcome to stay in our "casa per ferie." The newly renovated rooms have internet access and our new reception area is open 24 hours.
If you are one of our Lasallian colleagues, please indicate your connection to us on the reservation form and we will see if we can accommodate you in the Brothers' portion of the Generalate while you visit Rome.
(Br. Donald Johanson)
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 International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU) Collaborations with Rome: In preparation for the International Assembly for Lasallian Educational Mission which will take place in Rome during 2006,  the International Association of Lasallian Universities has been collaborating with Brother Nicolas Capelle to prepare working documents for informational use by that group. During the past year we have provided the Generalate with considerable information summarizing the extensive and positive work which is being conducted by higher educational Lasallian institutions around the world. This information will be essential for the International Assembly. Additionally, a bibliography of contemporary pedagogies from around the world has been formulated for use by the Generalate. Thank you to all of the institutions who provided tracking information so that we could better represent the state of Lasallian higher education around the world.
(Brother Craig J. Franz, FSC, IALU President)
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