News of the Institute and Lasallian Family

Rome, July 31st, 2007

MEMPHIS – USA - CBU PRESIDENT HONORED AT THE VATICAN: Brother Vincent Malham, F.S.C., president of Christian Brothers University, was awarded the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal at the Vatican in Rome on June 23, 2007, by His Eminence Cardinal Moussa Daoud, Prefect of the Congregation of Eastern Churches, in the name of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

The English translation of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice is “For Church and Pope,” and the award is also known as the “Cross of Honor.” The medal was established by Pope Leo XIII in1888 to commemorate his golden sacerdotal jubilee and was originally conferred on those women and men who had aided and promoted the jubilee. It is currently awarded to lay people and clergy for meritorious service to the church. It is the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity by the Papacy.

Brother Vincent was presented the award in recognition of his distinguished service as president and vice chancellor at Bethlehem University in the Palestinian Authority from 1996 to 2005.
^{(Elisa C. Marus – Christian Brothers University)}

ROME – ITALY - INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUNG LASALLIANS: The International Council of Young Lasallians has met in Rome between the 25th and the 30th of July. For this meeting ICYL was being accompanied by Bro. Claude Reinhardt. This task was previously done by Bro. William Mann who we thank for the enormous contribution and dedication with which he has characterised his work on ICYL during the years.

ICYL’s busy agenda for this meeting was mainly taken up by two specific projects. These were the coordination of the implementation phase of the International Lasallian Day of Prayer for Peace (ILDPP) and the launching of a proposal for the establishment of an International Lasallian Formation Programme for Young Lasallian Leaders.

The council has already received very encouraging feedback regarding ILDPP from a number of Districts although it is still very eagerly waiting for news from others. Both projects are a direct result of the calls for stronger networking and accessible formation programmes for Young Lasallians received from the delegates of the International Symposium for Young Lasallians which took place last year.

BATULAO – PHILIPPINES - THE LA SALLE SISTERS OF GUADALUPE: On this past Sunday July 15th, Maricar Voluntate was accepted into the Novitiate Stage of Formation of The La Salle Sisters of Guadalupe in their Formation Community in Batulao, Philippines.

The private ceremony was attended by some relatives of Sr. Maricar, the Sister Delegate, Josephine Sugon, and other members of the now 3 HGS communities in the Philippines.

The Sisters assisting the Formation are Sisters Mariana Reyes and Ma. Teresa Retome. The Sisters at the present collaborate in a Retreat House of De La Salle University Philippines, where a considerable number of students attend their spiritual retreat. Let us continue supporting the growth of the religious vocations.
^{(The La Salle Sisters of Guadalupe)}

VANDU PAARU - INDIA - VANDU PAARU VOLUNTEERS ARE HARD AT WORK: The volunteers have arrived in Boys Village. They were received by me at Madurai Airport and now they are well settled down in the Village.

We had an initial meeting with all four of them and as of now they are involved in refurbishing the living quarters of the domestic staff of Boys Village.

See the attached photos of the volunteers in Boys Village. Thank you for all of your efforts to make this summer program a reality for this year.
^{(Bro. Joseph Fernando)}

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