The Lycée Saint-Joseph in Dijon (France) is celebrating the 3rd Centenary of its existence as a Lasallian establishment this year (2005)

According to Canon Blain, it was in 1705 that John Baptist de La Salle sent some Brothers to the capital of Bourgogne, at the request of a prominent person from the city, Monsieur Rigolet, who offered to pay for the board and lodging of two Brothers.
These benefits were continued after his death by his widow and his descendents, which allowed for adding four other Brothers to the first community and running schools in three areas of the city of Dijon.

The French Revolution saw the disappearance of this community along with the rest of the Institute in France.

In 1804, the Lasallian schools started again in Dijon; in 1904, with the laws on
Secularisation, the Brothers had to disperse once again, but the establishment continued thanks to past pupils, friends of the Brothers, benefactors and laicised Brothers.
From before World War II the establishment had begun to orientate itself towards technical and professional education, but this approach increased greatly from 1950 onwards, in the period of reconstruction in France.

At present, the original establishment has become a school complex of more than 2,700 pupils, ranging from primary education (400 pupils) to higher technical classes (130 students), with the whole range of secondary education (a college with 1,100 pupils, a lycée with more than 500 pupils and a professional lycée with more than 600) as well as apprenticeship formation and a boarding-school with 130 boys.

On the occasion of the official celebrations, on March 18th, the Br.Superior General, after briefly recording the history of this foundation, underlined the characteristics of education centre which has remained profoundly Lasallian in spite of the departure of the Brothers’ community several years ago:

From the beginning, there was this will to respond with creativity to the needs of the young, and the families, to accompany them in their growth and in mastering their future, to build, among the young and with them, the persons they would tomorrow.

Later, the Brothers became aware that a young person, in order to live well, had to master a trade and we were able to see the astonishing development of Lasallian technical and professional schools, seeking to respond closely to the conditions of life of working families and poor areas. Things generally began with some technical formation courses after primary school, then more and more complex sections were added, up to classes of higher education.

An education institution has no justification unless it remains in the service of the young, unless it really helps them to build their lives, lets them enter life and helps them make sense of this life.

One of the most fundamental Lasallian convictions is that every young person, whatever his social origins or intellectual capacity, - if he meets along the way adults who show him the path to follow and support him at difficult moments – is capable of everything including the greatest and best.

This is what I wish for Saint-Joseph’s of Dijon, for its teachers and educators, for its young people and the families who confide their children to us.
^{(Br. Jean-Louis Schneider)}

The Spanish District of València-Palma celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation: On March 29, the València-Palma District celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its founding. It was an intense day of memories and celebrations in La Salle Paterna (Valencia), one of the Brothers’ schools.

The day began in the morning with speeches from a number of guests including Br. Juan Pablo Martín, General Councillor, Br. Rafael Matas, Provincial Visitor, Br. Jose Maria Valero, Auxiliary Visitor, and Br. Ismael Beltrán, former Provincial Visitor. They welcomed those present and recalled many of the qualities that exemplify the District of València-Palma. They recalled the evangelization that is characteristic of the District, an evangelizing that takes place in a Christian and human education in all the works that the District has undertaken; the organizational capacity of the District, encouraging all to continue in this great work, praising the members of the entire District for the works that they have undertaken; the fifty years of the District, speaking of its life within the Lasallian Institute and of the District’s evolution during all these years. They also recalled all the celebrations that took place this year within the District: the centenary foundation of the School in Teruel, the centenary of the arrival of the Brothers to the Balearic Islands, and the seventy-fifth anniversary of the foundation of the l'Alcora school.

History is the fruit of the labor of all. On this day especially they recalled all of the people (Brothers, teachers, laymen and laywomen) who have comprised this District and without which this growth would not been the same.

Following the presentations, the 200 plus people attending the celebration enjoyed a Power-Point presentation which gave tribute to all of the Brothers, laymen and laywomen who have given life to these fifty years of the District.

Additionally, the book In Memoriam, by Pascual Gregorio, has been written as a tribute to all of the Brothers who have passed away during these fifty years of the District.
This part of the celebration was followed by a Eucharist presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese, Tortosa Javier Salinas, which celebrated with great happiness these fifty years of Lasallian education.

Following the Eucharist, all the guests proceeded to the dining room of the school for a banquet. The guests were entertained by a choir of the Brothers, directed by Br. Ramon Palacios.

This was indeed a memorable day, a day celebrating many years dedicated to education in the Christian and human values of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.
^{(Juan Agustín Sánchez Serrano)}

Br. Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría visits De La Salle School, Freeport Long Island, USA: On a recent visit to the USA/Toronto District, Br. Álvaro visited De La Salle School. During his visit on April 4, he sat in a chair surrounded by fifth graders who pounded him with question after question.

“How did you become a Christian Brother? What is your favorite country? When you visit schools around the world, is it like a vacation?”

Br. Álvaro laughed nervously at that last question, not exactly sure if the students were suggesting his job was perpetual recreation.

“It is no vacation,” insisted Brother Álvaro. “It is nice to go to school and meet students like you but it is hard too,” he said, adding that he has visited about 50 countries since he was named Superior General in 2000.

“The hardest part is sleeping in a different bed every night and eating different foods. When I visit some regions it is difficult to eat,” he said, patting his stomach with a grimace.

Brother Álvaro will be travelling throughout North America until May 15, touring schools and initiatives run by Christian Brothers, including more than a dozen San Miguel Schools that serve students who could not usually afford a Catholic school education.

The De La Salle School in Freeport is a San Miguel School that educates fifth- through eighth-graders. The last time Brother Álvaro visited the De La Salle School in Freeport was for the school’s official opening in October 2002.

Each time he visits, it helps the students understand “the global perspective of the international family to which we belong,” said Christian Brother Thomas Casey, executive director of the De La Salle School, noting two of the order’s newest education endeavours in Sudan and Cambodia.
^{(From an article by Lena Pennino, Staff Reporter, The Long Island Catholic)}

Planning the First Signum Fidei International Assembly: Encouraged by the 43rd General Chapter’s recognition of the Signum Fidei as a pioneer group of associates within the Lasallian Family, preparations are underway for the First Signum Fidei International Assembly, which is to be held in Rome a year from now. The theme for the Assembly is “Building Our Future.” This historic gathering will mark the first time since their foundation in 1976 that the Signum Fidei themselves will meet in formal assembly to chart their future. None of the members were present twelve years ago when a group of Brothers responsible for Signum Fidei groups were convened to discuss the association’s development, whereas twenty Signum Fidei and five Brother-Advisers are expected to attend the 2006 International Assembly.

A Preparatory Committee composed of Mr. Ernesto Vallejo (Peru), Mrs. Erica Stellini (Italy) and Mr. Simeón Martín (Spain) met together with Br. Victor Franco from April 13-15, 2005 to plan the International Assembly. The main topic programmed for 2006 will be a thorough discussion of the Signum Fidei “Style of Life,” which will touch on many key issues related to the SF vocation such as consecration, formation, governance, and the Signum Fidei’s relationship with the Institute or District.
^{(Br. Victor Franco)}

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