ROMEOVILLE - USA - News about Christian Brothers Services: The Board of Directors of Christian Brothers Services announced that Brother Michael Quirk has accepted the offer to be the next President of Christian Brothers Services.

As an organization that supports Catholic ministry, Christian Brothers Services administers high quality, cost-effective, cooperative programs for Employee Health & Welfare Programs, Religious Medical Programs, Retirement Programs, and Risk Management Programs. More than 2,000 not-for-profit Catholic Religious institutes, dioceses, and employers participate in these programs.

Brother Michael is currently the President of De La Salle Institute in Chicago, Illinois. His tenure at De La Salle began in 1983, and he was appointed the school’s President in 1989. Brother Michael worked at Christian Brothers Services in its early days with Brother Joel Damian. His undergraduate and graduate degrees in business administration are from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at De Paul University in Chicago. The Board had established a Search Committee when Brother William Walz, the current President since 1987, announced his plans to retire. The transition will occur in the fall of 2007.
^{(Adapted from the “News Notes” of the Midwest District for September 2006)}

HOMESTEAD - USA - First participation of Volunteers in Homestead-Florida: Meeting with Br. Adalberto Aranda FSC (Regional Director of the Antilles Delegation) on Lasallian Education to the Teachers and Tutors of the St. John Baptist de La Salle Educational Center in Homestead-Florida. It also marked first participation of Volunteers, Ms. Maggie Sweeney of the Lasallian Volunteers of USA.

Maggie arrived for her year of commitment with the Center. In the late 1980's, a small group of alumni of the De La Salle Schools in Cuba felt called to serve persons in their community. These alumni residents of Miami, Florida, began searching locally for a community in need of need of help.

Their search took them to South Dade Camp in Homestead, Fl. South Dade Camp is administrated by the Homestead Housing Authority and provides very modest low-income housing to qualifying underprivileged families.

In 1991, the De La Salle alumni officially founded the "SJB De La Salle Vocational Center" with the goal of helping the children of migrant workers.
^{(David Kasievich, Director of the Lasallian Volunteer - dkasievich@cbconf.org)}

ROME - ITALY - Centenarian Brothers: Some Brothers have “crossed” the 100-year line during this year 2006.

– Br. Odina Cyr (Isidore), from the District of Canada Francophone, born in August 1904, is currrently the Doyen of the Institute.(1)
– Br. François Nguyen Van Thien (Jourdain De Saxe), also of 1904, from Vietnam.(2)
– An Italian, Br. Alfredo Santiprosperi(Prospero Di Gesú), celebrated his 100 years last March 2006.

Also celebrating their Centenary during 2006, in order, Brothers:

– Auguste Dalle (Alexandre Marie) from France.
– José Antonio Restrepo Acosta (Bautista Rodrigo, “Rodriguito”), from the District of Medellín, Colombia (4)
– Cosme Santamaría Ibañez (Conrado Julián), from the District of Valladolid, Spain.(3)

We join in thanksgiving to God, Lord of Life, for their fruitful lives, asking Him to go on blessing them, their Districts and the Institute.
^{(Br. José Antonio Warletta)}

CHIHUAHUA – MEXICO - THE MURAL: Br.José David Berbesi, Director of La Salle College, Tienda Honda, is the artist who produced the very beautiful mural which is to be found at the La Salle University of Chihuahua in Mexico. The mural is 8 metres by 3 and is entitled “The Founders”.
To find out more, please send an e-mail to Br.David.
^{(Daniel Pérez)}

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