RIONEGRO  -  COLOMBIA - THE TENTH RELAL ASSEMBLY: The tenth Regional Assembly was held from October 8 - 12, 2007 in the city of Rionegro - Antioquia, Colombia. Fifty Brothers and twenty-seven lay colleagues participated and they came from Latin America and the Caribbean. Brother Superior Álvaro Rodríguez and General Councillors Jorge Gallardo and Edgar Nicodem took a realistic look at how to make the resolutions from the International Assembly and the 44th General Chapter a reality.

After looking at the results of the 44th General Chapter and the International Assembly, the Fifth Episcopal Conference in Aparecida, as well as the reality of Latin America and the Caribbean and the challenges of the Ninth Relal Assembly and the dynamism of the Region with its PEARL project as a point of reference, three priorities were established:

VIETNAM – TAKING THE HABIT: The date of October 6th this year was a very memorable one, when the District of Vietnam welcomed 6 new Brothers and four Postulants. It was the 114th group and bore the name Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

In the environment of today’s Vietnam, in this society where the average Vietnamese still shows more respect to a priest than to a Brother and where the education charism of the District still encounters many difficulties, this event of 6 new Brothers and 4 Postulants joining the Order this year was an occasion of great joy for the Vietnam District and at the same time a sign of hope for a bright future.

Moreover, through the abnegation of these young men, all the people will see that joining the way of life of La Salle is still very hard and difficult in the society of today. Many of these young and generous men ready to become “humble Brothers” as required by St.John Baptist de La Salle , will follow his Way of the Cross to serve the poor and “with eyes open and hearts burning” will see the essential need for the educational service of the De La Salle Institute for the youth of today in Vietnam.

For whatever reason, the ceremony for the Taking of the Habit and for the start of the Postulancy was organized in a very special way this year. First of all the ceremony of the Taking of the Habit no longer took place in the Tancang Novitiate as was usual in former years but instead in the grandiose yet intimate solemnity of the Lasan Maithon Nursing Home chapel under the blessing of Cardinal Pham Minh Man and the Representative General Priest.
Furthermore, for the first time in the history of the District, to complete the happiness of the occasion, after Mass the parents and guests shared the joy of the occasion with the new Brothers and the new Postulants in a friendly meal, surrounded here and there by the elderly retired Brothers.
^{(Brother Bosco Truong)}

BETHLEHEM - PALESTINE - WHO WILL DEVELOP THE PALESTINIAN STATE? BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY FIRST MASTERS DEGREE GRADUATES: The persons who are primarily responsible for the development and improvement of the economic, social and cultural dimensions of the evolving Palestinian state are found among the Palestinian people.  Bethlehem University, the first university establish in the West Bank, is proud to announce the graduation of the 19 students of the first class for the Masters of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD).  The graduation ceremonies will be held at Bethlehem University on Saturday, 27 October 2007 at 4:00pm. 

The graduates of the MICAD program, the first masters degree offered by Bethlehem University, are highly qualified professional persons who have demonstrated superior skills and knowledge in the areas of sustainable development with specific knowledge and ethical awareness in human development, social and economic issues, project management, political science and international relationships.  With the academic rigor of the MICAD program and their practical professional expertise, the MICAD graduates are prepared to provide NGOs, United Nations agencies as well as public and private institutions throughout Palestine with ethical leadership in international cooperation and development. 

The MICAD graduates are persons of competence, creativity and commitment who will continue with renewed vigor their work in the development of Palestine.  Bethlehem University is proud to participate in this historic moment.  The keynote address will be deliver by H.E. Minister Mohammed-Kamal Hassouneh, Minister of National Economy; Telecommunication and Information Technology; and Public Works and Housing.  In the name of the graduates, Lubna Rif’at Abdel-Hammed Iskandar, will deliver the Valedictory Address.  The graduates will be presented by Dr. Fadi Kattan, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Director of MICAD.  Professor Gianni Vaggi, Director of the Centre for International Cooperation and Development at the University of Pavia, Italy, will deliver the Main University Partner Address.  Professor Antonio Raimondi, former President of VIS (International Volunteering for Development) will deliver the Main NGO Partner address.  Mrs. Claudette Habesh, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Bethlehem University as well as H.E. Archbishop Fouad Twal, President of Bethlehem University, and Brother Daniel Casey, FSC, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, will preside at the graduation ceremony.

The MICAD program at Bethlehem University has been made possible through the generous assistance of more than 21 donors and partner NGOs in collaboration with the University of Pavia, Italy, University College Dublin, Ireland, and Radbound University Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
^{(Brother Jack Curran - Vice President for Development)}

CHICAGO – USA - LASALLIAN VOLUNTEERS RUN THE 30th ANNUAL CHICAGO MARATHON: The 30th annual Chicago Marathon, a 26.2 mile race in the heart of Chicago, Illinois took place Sunday, October 7th, and hosted over 36,000 runners from all over the U.S. and 120 countries, according to LaSalle Bank N.A., the race’s Corporate sponsor.

The Chicago Marathon was also host to over 80 Lasallian Volunteers from coast to coast, past and present, family and friends, with 18 of them running this race of endurance to raise money (through donations) for their program. Lasallian Volunteers, a program of De La Salle Christian Brothers, annually provides 40 to 50 recent college graduates to Lasallian Missions across the country. LVs empower the poor through personalized service primarily through education.

Despite record heat and humid weather, all 18 volunteers braved the race and elements with friends and fellow volunteers cheering them on at different checkpoints throughout the course, including De La Salle Institute, the aid station at the 23rd mile. Here De La Salle student volunteers alongside Lasallian Volunteers provided water, refreshments, and encouragement to all athletes competing in the marathon.

Especially significant the night before the event, LV runners together dedicated their effort to Bro. John Johnston, former Superior General and visionary friend of the LV Program who was in critical condition. They added his name on their shirts and sent him photos which he appreciated, just a few days before his death.

After months of training and soliciting of donations, Lasallian Volunteers successfully completed the Marathon and raised over $26,200, meeting their goal, $1,000 for every mile of the race to insure future volunteers for the children and families they serve. The program’s fundraising success was thanks in large part to LV Marathon Sponsors (Lewis University and the Christian Brothers at Lewis University, Christian Brothers of the Long Island-New England District), LV Marathon Partners (Christian Brothers University and the Lambert Hall Community, Dr. Anne Kolar, Lasallian Community at Bedford Park, Christian Brothers of the Baltimore District), and the donations of countless friends, family, colleagues, and staff.   
^{(Alisa Macksey, Director Lasallian Volunteers)}

LEÓN - SPAIN – THE NEW "SAN JULIÁN AFREDO" PARIS:Saint Julián Alfredo, a martyr from Turón, Spain (1934), is the first Brother of the Christian Schools to have a parish named in his honor in Spain.

Last October 9, the Feast of the Martyrs of Turón, was the day chosen by the Bishop of Turón, Julián López, to erect canonically the new parish in the city of León. At the end of a very well attended Eucharistic celebration where the new parish will be located temporarily, the Vicar General of the Diocese read the Bishop's decree.

Brother Julián Alfredo (Wilfrido Zapico Fernández) was from Cifuentes de Rueda, a small village in the province and Diocese of León. He suffered martyrdom at the age of 31.

In his home town there was a solemn yet festive morning Eucharistic celebration on the same day, October 9, which was presided by the Bishop. The Mass began with a simple procession in which practically the entire town participated as they accompanied an image of the saint which was carried in the procession while they sang a hymn which was composed specifically in his honor.

This event in him home town as well as the erection of the new parish were attended by many of the saint's family, neighbors, and Brothers who came from the various communities of the District of Valladolid.
^{(Brother Francisco F. Cilleruelo, District Secretary for the District of Valladolid)}

BUTARE - RWANDA - INTIGANDA CENTRE, 20 YEARS IN THE SERVICE OF STREET CHILDREN: The Itiganda Centre is happy to invite you for the celebration of the 20th anniversary of its foundation. This will take place on November 23rd 2007.

The ceremonies will begin with a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Parish Cathedral of Butare at 9.00 A.M. At 10.00 A.M. there will be a reception for those invited at the INTIGANDA CENTRE.
Your presence will fill us with joy.
^{(Brother Joël)}

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