Letter of thanks from Sri Lanka: Six months have passed since the great Tsunami tragedy struck our country on that fateful day, 26th December 2004. No sooner the news spread around the globe, messages of encouragement, promise of prayers, inquiries for assistance, and financial support started pouring in. The purpose of this letter is to express our heartfelt thanks to you and to share a brief report on our relief activities.

The materials we have received thus far as assistance to various relief efforts have been really inspiring. The Lasallian Family and our friends all around the world responded quickly, generously and compassionately to those in dire need. Individual Brothers, Communities, Districts, Schools, Teachers, Students, Parents and friends have contributed in an unprecedented show of solidarity.

You are among thousands who thought of us and did something tangible to help provide relief to the survivors of Tsunami. On behalf of all the beneficiaries of our Lasallian Tsunami relief projects, and on behalf of numerous Brothers, Lasallian partners and students who took part in providing relief, I send you my heartfelt thanks for your generous contribution.

Most of the aids were channeled through the SECOLI office in Rome, and other District offices. I am sure that school office personnel too played a major role in organizing fund raising. I wish to note a special word of thanks to all those who facilitated the collection and transfer of funds.

I sincerely wish you the very best in your life and services. Please keep us in your prayers.
^{(Br. Henry Dissanayake, FSC, Brother Visitor, District of Colombo)}

Br. Álvaro visits De La Salle Educational Center in Homestead, Florida: The band began and our dreams were realized when 21 nervous and timid, yet full of pride members began to march in their new uniforms during the visit of Br. Álvaro Rodríguez, Superior General, Br. Miguel Campos, Br. Adalberto Aranda and other Brothers from different Districts.

A full year of preparation and practice was helped by so many with donations of instruments, uniforms, etc. (list is very long). We did however especially want to thank Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh and UMAEL (World Union of Lasallian Formen Students) for their support.

For the first time the famous band from Bartolo Longo de Pompei-Italy, played with our Centenario La Salle Band. The Pompei band was on a tour of the United States.
^{(Dr. Jorge Morales Felipe)}

St. Paul's Boys Secondary School, Marsabit, Kenya: We had a terrible "tribal" atrocity here in Marsabit near our St. Paul's school. Over 100 men came into a village and machined-gunned/macheted young school children and other villagers in the early hours of the morning, no doubt in "retribution" for some previous "perceived wrong" by that village's tribe. 79 were killed, mostly children. An Italian priest also nearby was driving a group of his parishioners to a meeting and was stopped and all 5 passengers were massacred right in front of him and he was only spared because he was not one of that tribe.

We also learned of the cold blooded murder of the Missionary Bishop in Isiolo. Bishop Luigi Locati died at the hands of gunmen in his compound on Thursday evening.

Our School, St. Paul's in Marsabit, hasn't had any violent outbreak as of this writing but speaking with Brother Michael Kimotho, this morning by telephone he mentions high level tension on the school compound due to the unrest in the area and major concern among the boys for their parents and families. Brother Michael was in Marsabit town today, to obtain security personnel to remain on the compound for sometime.
^{(Br. Dominic Jordan, Br. Dominic Ehrmantraut, Visitor)}

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