Lasallian Volunteers of Hong Kong meet for a Lasallian Leadership Camp: Three months of preparation went into the first official Hong Kong Lasallian Volunteers Leadership Camp. On October 15 and 16, 2005, more than 50 enthusiastic Lasallian leaders from all the 5 Hong Kong Lasallian secondary schools joined the Camp.

Guest Speaker, Br. Anthony Cummins, talked to us about the life of our Founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, and about the dream and mission of St. La Salle in serving the needy. Br. Tony also reminded us that though we all are from different schools in Hong Kong, we share a common identity: “We are Lasallians.”

The campers engaged in a series of exciting activities involving crucial elements in effective leadership. Presenters included Mr. Peter Leung, who talked about the essence of leadership and worries about difficulties in practicing leadership raised by the campers such as contingency management and handling conflicts or different opinions between team members. Ms. Priscilla Kwok gave a presentation on the Lasallian Spirit: Faith, Service and Community, highlighting that the 3 elements are closely linked to each other.

Br. Tony spoke to the campers again introducing his Lasallian Thrivivial (not survive but thrive) Kit. There were different items inside this kit representing different leadership qualities. Quotes from St. de La Salle were also used in response to these items. After the session, a few representatives introduced their idea of initiating a Joint Lasallian Schools Exchange Program.

Several other presentations followed. One discussed the purpose and the importance of Action Plans with the participants being asked to draft a proposal on “How to promote Lasallian Spirit in school.” Mr. Lok Ho reminded the campers that students from the Lasallian Family belong to a common community and. cooperate with others to spread the Lasallian Spirit. He also pointed out that although cooperation gives us strength, if we cooperate without proper leadership skills and communication skills the project cannot be accomplished successfully. The campers were deeply touched by the sense of being Lasallians.

The time spent together was such a good opportunity for Lasallians from different schools to exchange their ideas in working for a common goal. The seed of the Lasallian Spirit has been planted in the hearts of the campers and a sense of belonging to the Lasallian Family has also been aroused. As time goes by, they’ll live the Spirit and spread it to their neighbors. We hope that cooperation among Lasallians of different schools will continue in the days to come.
^{(Hong Kong Lasallian Volunteers)}

ICYL Meets in Rome 4-7 January 2006: The International Council of Young Lasallians met in Rome from January 4-7, 2006. Nine of the council’s 13 members were present and spent the week on a variety of tasks. The council met with the Organizing Team of the International Lasallian Youth Symposium, “Mission: Possible, A Shared Dream,” which will take place in July 2006. The council also dedicated itself to the preparation of the presentation it is responsible for during the Symposium. Other work of the council included ongoing attention to the communication of information about Young Lasallians to the rest of the world and the continued updating of the database that is maintained by the council.

The Introduction of the Preparatory Document to the Second International Symposium of Young Lasallians “Mission Possible: a Shared Dream” is now on line. In the next months, the four parts of the document will be on line too. We hope the Document will be a useful instrument to all the young Lasallians to deepen their identity, to go further in their service of the poor and to strengthen their fraternity on international level.

Soon, a forum will be available on the website www.lasallesymposium2006.org so the young Lasallians could be in touch sharing ideas, reflections, texts, experiences: it will be an unique occasion to go beyond barriers and feel their belonging to the Young Lasallians Movement. All Lasallians are invited to look at our website to follow how the work is going on.
^(ICYL)

Inauguration of Centenary Square: As part of the festivities of the first centenary of the educational presence of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Mexico, the inauguration took place of a square which will henceforth be known as Plaza del Centenario. The ceremony took place in the presence of pupils, past-pupils, teachers and other members of the Lasallian Community of León Guanajuato, both from Colegio La Salle and from the five campuses of the University of De La Salle Bajío.

This square, located in the Campus Lomas del Campestre of De La Salle University Bajío, is made up of very significant elements such as the Commemorative Wall on which are commemorated the historical landmarks of those hundred years. In addition the square has a fountain, greens areas, and rest areas and is a beautiful haven of peace tranquility and relaxation. It is surely, for our University Community, an ideal space for better day to day living together.

The Rector welcomed everybody and highlighted the important work that a small group of La Salle Brothers carried out in 1905 when they began their educational work with the opening of two institutions in the town of Puebla. As he himself put it: “In the past it was the story of the future. For this reason the history of De La Salle in Mexico in those first hundred years promises to be more prosperous with each passing day. For this you Lasallians of Mexico have the floor”.
^{(Itzel Villanueva Marcochio)}

Lay Partners Attend Continuing Formation Workshops in the Philippines: Recently, fifty lay partners gathered at the provincialate in Green Hills, Manila, for a workshop on Life Transitions. The workshop was offered by Br. Michael G. French, Director of CIL, and was organized by Evangeline Peralta and Michael Gamo. Together they explored a model for understanding personal transitions in life, shared reflections about work and intimacy and finally explored implications for institutional transitions. The workshop included input, reflection exercises, small and large group sharing and prayer. Since the age range of the participants was from 22 to 82 years, they had a varied and rich experience to draw on for their reflection. The participants, who were mainly administrators from the centers in Luzon as well members of the provincialate staff, participated well and created a lively atmosphere for exchange of ideas and sharing of experience.

Previous to this workshop, Br. Michael also offered a workshop on midlife for the Brothers of the Philippine District.
^{(Br. Michael French)}

UMAEL Support for the Junior Novitiate in the District of Colombo, Sri Lanka: UMAEL (World Union of Lasallian Former Students) has informed us that the 3rd UMAEL Solidarity Project, SECOLI, aimed to help the La Salle Junior Novitiate in Colombo, Sri Lanka, has reached its goal of $5,000. This has been possible thanks to the solidarity and the Lasallian spirit of former students and of Associations of former students from all over the world. They wish us to send their thanks to all.

They are already preparing the next Solidarity Project to help those most in need and will inform us about it as soon as possible.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}

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