PORTO ALEGRE - BRAZIL - VIII ENCUENTRO OF LASALLIAN UNIVERSITIES: The VIII Encuentro of Lasallian Universities took place from January 8 to 12 at the Hotel Plaza San Rafael, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

With representatives from 11 countries, the event is held every three years and it gathers together heads of institutions that belong to the International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU) to deal with topics of common interest.

This meeting was held in Brazil to highlight the centennial of Lasallian presence in the country which was celebrated during the month. The main theme was "The Mission of Lasallian Higher Education." In addition to the international participants, there was a special keynote address given by Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General. In Brazil, the Lasallian network has three university campuses: in Canoas, in Rio de Janeiro, and in Manaos.
^{(Brother João Lando, Provincial Secretary)}

CANOAS - BRAZIL - WE CELEBRATE WITH JOY AND IN HOPE: On January 7, 2007, in the São José Chapel in Canoas and in the presence of Brother Superior Álvaro Rodríguez, we celebrated a festive Mass which included the making and renewing of vows. The two Districts of Brazil – Porto Alegre and São Paolo – on the occasion of the centennial of Lasallian presence in Brazil, celebrated this milestone together. Many Brothers, relatives of the Brothers, and Lasallian friends participated in this Mass.

During the Eucharistic celebration 12 novices made their first vows and 36 young Brothers renewed their annual vows. Twelve Brothers celebrated various jubilees in their religious life journey. During the course of 2007, four Brothers will make their final profession which they would prepare for later on in the month by participating in the Final Profession Retreat being offered by the Region of RELAL in Colombia. After the Eucharistic celebration we concluded the day with a festive meal.

On January 20, seven young men began the first year of the Brazil novitiate, one of whom was from Mozambique. The second-year novices are 8 in number, of whom one is from Mozambique and another is from Chile.

January is also the month when the Postulancy program begins. In Brazil, this stage of formation lasts for three years. This year we are expecting to have 26 young men begin the program and it is hoped that 18 will continue on to the second year while another 8 will begin the third year of the Postulancy.

Because of all these signs of fidelity and of hope which God in his goodness has given to us, we give him thanks and we ask him for his blessing so that we can continue to bring education and values of the Kingdom to many young people and children in Brazil and, perhaps, in the future, to other parts of the world as well.
^{(Brother Paulo Petry)}

SAINT-RAYMOND - CANADA - A NICE PRESENT: A NEW ASSOCIATE, YANNICK CHAMBERLAND-RICHER: On the occasion of the annual supper of the De La Salle Philately Club of Saint-Raymond on December 27th 2006, an important event took place: Yannick Chamberland-Richer pronounced his formal commitment as a Lasallian Associate of the District of French-speaking Canada. A group of about 30 persons of all ages, including some children, were gathered together at the invitation of Yannick, in a convivial and fraternal manner.

The excellent meal, prepared free of charge by the members of the Club, allowed for the forming of very interesting links with everyone and for preparing for the main event of the gathering, the commitment being made by Yannick. The ceremony which was simple but very significant for all present, began with a talk by Br.Richard Brochu, the ‘godfather” of the ‘hero’ of the evening. Yannick then explained the meaning of his commitment, which he wanted to take place in the presence of the members of the Club, placing it in the long road towards this event, since this road dated back to 1992, when he was barely 14, and showing how from commitment to commitment he had been led to feel deeply associated with the Lasallian mission and with the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

The District representative, Br. Fernando Lambert, then linked the association being lived at present in French-speaking Canada to the first association of De La Salle and the first Brothers. He underlined the remarkable contribution of Yannick as the person in charge of Lasallian Youth in Canada, his leadership as initiator and coordinator of the first International Colloquium of Young Lasallians and his determining participation on the International Council of Young Lasallians in Rome, in Europe and in America. Yannick was then invited to pronounce his commitment. This took place in an atmosphere of respect and religious silence and was accompanied by remarks of deep esteem on the part of his friends who were present. Everything ended with very sincere congratulations and with a toast to friendship.
^{(Brother Fernando Lambert, Aux.Visitor)}

PARMÉNIE – FRANCE - YOUNG LASALLIANS: THE “WEEKEND FOR COUPLES” AT PARMENIE: A time for better discovering ourselves as couples and taking stock of our commitments (individuals or as couples) and of our prayer life.

Commitments as couples: The method of animation was varied and intended to allow each person to be free to find his or her place. Starting out from the discovery of a work of art (Van Gogh’s “The First Steps of Childhood”), Sophie and Laurent animated a time of sharing on commitment:

• what balance can one find?
• is it important to have commitments as couples?
• what is involved for the couple in supporting each other’s commitments?

Each person was able to take some time alone and then in couples to go over their commitments and their doubts. The exchange owed a lot to the testimony of the married couples and Brothers.

After Mass in the parish church and a convivial “raclette” (cheese dish), Saturday evening was devoted to a vigil animated by the participants, around the theme – very much in keeping with the experience of all – “the place of others, family and friends, in your life as a couple.”

The evening ended with around the second chapter of the First Book of Samuel, told at the fireside by Pascale. Thus the prayer of Anne and Elkana came to life before our eyes and in our hearts…

This story introduced us to the second section of the week-end: prayer. Not an obvious theme to take on as it is often a delicate one in the life of a couple. The morning, therefore, took the form of games; and it was in this way that we were able to face up to the toughest questions and share experiences which were often moving. Games such as “Marais” and “Psalmo” gave the participants a chance to share the intimacy of their respective prayer lives. Some examples of great spiritual figures linked, thorough our questionings, this people in prayer down through the ages.

Finally, each couple took some time to pray as a couple, and the final celebration was a high point of this first step in praying as a couple.
^{(www.lasalle-fec.org)}

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