MEMPHIS - USA - FUNERAL MASS FOR BR. JOHN JOHNSTON: On October 18, 2007, the funeral Mass for Brother John Johnston was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Memphis, Tennessee and Father Michael Johnston, his brother, was the main celebrant.

Brothers, friends and family members from all over the United States and many parts of the world were present. Brother Vincent Malham, President of Christian Brothers University, gave the eulogy reflecting on Brother John’s spirituality as if in Brother John’s own voice.

Brother Vincent’s words can be found by clicking on the following link: www.cbconf.org
^{(Br. Thomas Johnson, Vicar General - Photos by Br. George Van Grieken)}

SPAIN – THE SLOGAN CHOSEN BY THE DISTRICTS OF ARLEP FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2007-2008: “My school, a place for believing and dreaming together”
This is the Slogan chosen by the Districts of ARLEP for the school year 2007-2008.

A look at those entrusted to us by God, confirms the opportunity they have for dreaming and believing together. To dream is to look for a future with meaning, a future which begins to arise today within each one of us and which day by day goes on being molded.

To dream of the future for any one of our pupils, is different. Without any doubt, from the viewpoint of the Lasallian School, our dream, our future is one of community. The Lasallian School emphasizes educating in values which allows the pupil to keep making decisions which influence his autonomy and freedom. Believing in these values provides them with instruments suitable for making them see the importance of others and the other in their lives.

Faith in the  same God which makes us brothers and sisters, commits us to dreams and to believing together in a different world in which the Lasallian School will always have something to say.

For further information: www.lasallesi.com/pastoral/curso/2007-2008/lema/index.php

MORAGA – USA - THREE DE LA SALLE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS PROFESS FINAL VOWS IN DISTRICT OF SAN FRANCISCO: "… I promise to unite myself and to remain in society with the Brothers of the Christian Schools, who are associated to conduct, together and by association, schools for the service of the poor. I promise to go wherever I may be sent and to do whatever I may be assigned by the body of the Society or its superiors….."

Such was the vow made by three men on September 1, 2007, affirming their vocation as educators in the Lasallian tradition and committing themselves to the Brothers’ life of providing a “human and Christian education for the young, especially the poor.” The three Brothers, all experienced teachers, are now full members of the De La Salle Christian Brothers’ western province.

Celebrating with them in the Chapel at Saint Mary’s College of California were hundreds of Brothers, colleagues, associates, relatives, and friends.

Brother David Caretti, FSC, a native of Vallejo, California, teaches religious studies and is retreat program coordinator at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California. Brother Joseph Kirk, FSC, who grew up in Napa, California, will be teaching religious studies at La Salle High School in Milwaukie, Oregon. Brother Thomas Pham, FSC, who was born in Saigon, Vietnam, is assigned to Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento, California, where he teaches mathematics.

The De La Salle Christian Brothers’ western province, the Distinct of San Francisco, was founded in 1868, with Saint Mary’s College of California as its original school; today it sponsors sixteen other educational works in Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona.
In an interview with the Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory magazine Second Century, Brother David Caretti was asked his hopes for the future of the De La Salle Christian Brothers.

He said, "I have many hopes for the future of the Brothers, and I do believe that we are on the path that God has provided for us. Many people focus on the fact that there are not as many Brothers today as there were fifty years ago; however, it is important to consider that our world is much different from that of fifty years ago.

Some may also find it shocking that I do not want to return to the 1950s either. We Brothers do not need to be the only teachers in an educational institution for it to be Lasallian; the Lasallian charism, the spirituality of the educator, is not something that only a religious Brother can have. There are many strong lay partners inspired by the Lasallian charism, and my life as a Brother is enlivened and enriched by my encounters with them.

With that said, I do think that we need Brothers. We would be naïve to think that we can maintain the character of our Lasallian institutions by having exclusively Brothers or exclusively lay partners involved. We need both. As a Brother, I bring a very different perspective from that of a lay partner, and my lay colleagues bring different perspectives from my own. Again, both are needed by our students."
^{(District of San Francisco – www.delasalle.org - Photos by Br. George Van Grieken)}

MEMPHIS – USA - ARCHBISHOP PIETRO SAMBI TO BE HONORED AT CBU:  Apostolic Nuncio to the United States to Receive the Dozier Peace and Justice Award.

The Most Reverend Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, will be awarded the Bishop Carroll T. Dozier Award for Peace and Justice on Thursday, October 4, 7:00 p.m. in the University Theater at Christian Brothers University with a reception immediately following in the Boshwit Courtyard

Archbishop Pietro Sambi was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Apostolic Nuncio to the United States in December 2005. He previously served as Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus, and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.
                                               
He started his service in the Diplomatic Corps of the Holy See in 1969, in Cameroon. He was transferred to the Apostolic Nunciature in Jerusalem in 1971, and subsequently to the Apostolic Nunciatures in Cuba in 1974, in Algeria in 1978, in Nicaragua in 1979, in Belgium in 1981, and then in India in 1984 with the rank of Counselor.
                             
As Nuncio, Archbishop Sambi represents the Holy Father to both the hierarchy and Church in the United States and its civil government, and is the highest ranking Catholic official in the United States.

Archbishop Sambi was born in 1938 in Sogliano sul Rubicone, Forli, Italy. He was incardinated in the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro and ordained a priest in 1964. He has a Doctorate in Sacred Theology and in Canon Law. He was consecrated as Bishop and made Titular Archbishop of Belcastro in 1985. He was nominated Pro-Apostolic Nuncio in Burundi in 1985, Pro-Apostolic Nuncio in Indonesia in 1991, and Apostolic Nuncio in Israel and Cyprus, and Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine in 1998.

Archbishop Sambi is being honored for his extraordinary life of service promoting social equality and religious freedom for all, as well as, his continual advocacy for Catholic education and priestly formation.

The Dozier Award for Peace and Justice is named for Bishop Carroll T. Dozier, the first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis and a leader in race relations, peace and justice.  Bishop Dozier served as Bishop of Memphis from 1971-1982. 
^{(Elisa C. Marus - Christian Brothers University)}

SÃO PAULO – BRAZIL – 5TH FORUM FOR THE ELDERLY: September 22nd was entirely devoted to the 5th Forum for the Elderly, in the La Salle Education and Social Assistance Centre of São Paulo, Brazil.

350 elderly people participated. The event was coordinated by Br,Raimundo Aguiar and the Board of Directors of the La Salle Education Centre. Other Brothers, Postulants and Lasallian collaborators participated in running the event and helping in the work of the day.

The event was opened by Br.Paulo Petry, Visitor. Then everyone took part in the Eucharist which was presided over by Fray Agostinho. The performance of the choir of the La Salle Education Centre during the Forum was very beautiful. This La Salle choir is made up entirely of elderly singers and it was this choir also which animated the opening Mass.
During the morning, after Mass, there were various talks by specialists in the rights and care of the elderly. Br.Roque Amorim was the moderator of the Thematic groups and of the discussions on various topic during the morning.

After lunch there were artistico-cultural presentations organized by the participants in the Forum. These elderly people demonstrated their talents and were able to show their worth and the knowledge accumulated over many years.

The final activities took place in the evening in the form of workshops on various themes such as: Cuisine, Beauty Care, Self-esteem, Spirituality, Dance, Practicing Sport, Fashion, Crafts etc.

The vast majority of the participants already belong to the Education Centre in some form or other, taking part in physical activities, yoga, craft courses, computer courses or receiving attention from professional masseurs or therapists. There were other elderly persons present from various parishes in the greater São Paulo area and two significant groups, one from the Diocese of São Miguel Paulista and the other made up of Lasallians from La Salle College in the city of São Carlos.

MEXICO - MEXICO CITY - 10 YEARS AFTER THE AWARD OF A DOCTORATE IN PHILOSOPHY HONORIS CAUSA TO CHIARA LUBICH: On June 6th 1997, La Salle University Mexico – one of the most prestigious academies of the capital – awarded to Chiara Lubich a Doctorate in Philosophy Honoris Causa. Ten years later, on the initiative of the Focolari Movement and La Salle University, this event was commemorated by an academic ceremony.

Among the 400 persons present there were numerous personalities from the civil, religious and university worlds. Notable among those present were the Apostolic Nuntio, Mgr. Pierre Christophe, and three Bishops: Mgr. Francisco Pérez of Spain, Mgr. Abélard Alvarado, Auxiliary Bishop of Mexico and Mgr. Carlos Garfias, Bishop of Netzahualcoyotl. There were, besides, some representatives of other Catholic Movements and of different Churches and religions.

After a brief presentation of the Focolari Movement and of its main achievements, qualified persons in the different disciplines highlighted the ecclesial, cultural and social reach of the charism of Chiara Lubich.

The ceremony was not limited to being a commemoration of an event still vivid in the memories of many. It was also the occasion for presenting the achievements of the Focolari Movement in recent years.
^{(Br. Richard Böhi)}

If you have news notes that you would like us to consider publishing, please email us:
lasallew@lasalle.org