Madurai – India - Young Lasallians National Gathering in India: During the month of August, some 95 Young Lasallians representing 14 different Lasallian projects of the Delegation of India participated in a two-day leadership camp that was held near Madurai, India.

There were presentations, group discussions, interactions, and sharing of views. The gathering came to an end with a colourful cultural stage programme fitting to the theme of leadership.

Participating at the gathering were 12 junior novices of the Delegation and a number of the children from the Tsunami affected area in which some Brothers now work. “The most striking thing about the programme,” reported one Brother, “was how wonderfully the Tsunami-victimised children got involved … This was an opportunity for them to come out of fear.”

Brother Jeyakumar, the Lasallian Youth Coordinator for Indian Delegation who because he was refused an Italian Visa unable to be in Rome in July for the International Symposium of Young Lasallians, was happily able to be part of this program.
^{(Adapted from Reports by Brothers Uvari Antony and Doss)}

Chihuahua – Mexico - New Rector for La Salle University: Br. José Cervantes has announced that Br.Visitor and the Council of Governors of La Salle University, Chihuahua, have named Br.Salvador Valle, former Provincial, as the new Rector of this institution. Thus the functions of Br.José Cervantes as Rector come to an end.

Br.José has worked for 18 consecutive years in three different Lasallian universities. He personally lived the beginnings of what is known today as IALU (International Association of Lasallian Universities) and supported this initiative even before this institution came into existence. He tells us that he is not going to break completely with university life because he has been given the task of creating an office which will look after coordinating the six universities of the District. In this position he will be at the service of all and in this way they will be able to continue to see him on the occasion of various meetings. Br.José wishes to thank all the members of IALU for their kindness and friendship throughout his years as Rector.
^{(Br. José Cervantes, FSC)}

Bogota, Colombia – School News: Each semester at Bogota's De La Salle University an honor scholarship is awarded to the student in each school who has the best academic average and who has distinguished himself by his Lasallian spirit. Last August 15 this ceremony was held which was presided by Brother Fabio Gallego Arias, Rector of the University. He awarded these scholarships to students who met these qualifications. Brother Fabio mentioned that is the responsibility of each student to excel academically. The University, for its part, recognizes the very best students. Brother noted the presence of many parents at the ceremony and he mentioned the three loves in life of human beings, according to Pope John XXIII: the love of spouses, the love of parents towards their children, and the love of children towards their parents.

STATE EXAMS

Over the course of the past 16 years, the University's Office of Promotion and Human Development has organized specialized courses for high school students from across the country to help prepare them for the State Exams. During the two-week course, the University's efforts are not limited to the academic component but the University also promotes activities that involve fun, culture, sports, and human formation.

A WEEK OF LASALLIAN FAMILY INDUCTION AND INTEGRATION

Each semester at the beginning of the academic year, there is a week of Lasallian family induction and integration for students who are beginning their professional careers. Included during this week are special activities that show how the University is organized, the transformation from high school to university, and the importance that the parents have of becoming involved in the formative process of their children. One of the important outcomes of the second group in 2006 was in the awareness of the importance of mentoring on the part of parents, deans, teachers, and the role that psychology plays for the new Lasallian who is beginning his university career. Pictured are some of the events during the induction week.
^{(Br. Edgar Figuerosa Abrajím - Bogota's De La Salle University News)}

MORAGA – USA - Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies: After twenty years of operation, the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies was reformatted from a three-week to a two-week session for three summers at St. Mary’s College of California in Moraga. As a consequence of the restructuring, the Institute reached an all time high of sixty new participants for the first-year cohort.

Well over 100 Lasallian Partners and Brothers were in attendance for the three-year program as Brother Gerard Rummery, former General Council and presenter at the Buttimer Institute since 1987, concluded his involvement in this program of Lasallian education and formation. In addition to those from the six Districts of the USA and the Delegation of Toronto in Canada, participants this year also came from Ireland, Mexico, and Singapore.

As Brother Peter Nguyen of Baltimore District summed up his three years at the Buttimer Institute in an article on the web site of his District, “I know that I’ll miss it much – the gathering at socials, the breaking of bread in the Chapel, the Emmaus walk with the newfound best-friends, the horizontal meditations of the young vibrant teachers alongside the swimming pool, the critical analyses the Lasallian texts which nicely bring out the humanity of De La Salle – the heart of a Brother that could transcend time and touch the hearts of the many who were present, including mine. It truly was a rejuvenating and transforming experience. My appreciation toward those who put this program together and the many lay teachers who accompanied me during the days will be what I’ll miss it all for a long time….”
^{(Adapted from www.fscbaltimore.org)}

Madrid – Spain – European Novitiate: Last September 30th, Brothers Javier (Andalusia),Arsenio (Madrid), José Miguel and Jaime,(Valladolid) and Artur and Rafal (Poland) celebrated the feast of Initiation to the Religious Life. With the slogan: “Called to grow together”,they expressed their will to start out on their way as Brothers of the Christian Schools, in the community of the European Novitiate, with Bros. Rafa and Jorge (Novices of 2nd year, District of Valladolid), Br. Jacek, doing his 2nd year of Novitiate in Kopiec (Poland) and the three animators (Bros. Rafael Muñoz, Janusz Robionek and Josep Canal).

Without forgetting all the Brothers and friends who in one way or another participated in their discernment process.

And finally, the desire to grow, to go on defining their itinerary for following Christ and to continue deepening the charism of the Institute.
^{(From the Noviciat)}

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