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News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, February 5th, 2008 |
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 PARMENIE – FRANCE - FAREWELL TO BR. LEO BURKHARD: On Saturday January 12th , Parmenie welcomed with emotion the ashes of Br.Leo Burkhard, the man to whom this Lasallian ‘Mecca’ owes its rebirth.
A double passion: John Baptist de La Salle and Parmenie
Born in Delta, Colorado in 1922, Leo BURKHARD joined the Brothers of the Christian Schools at the age of 25. In 1952 he wrote “A kid in Paris” , his first book, where he passes on his discovery of John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Sent to France in 1956, he teaches at Saint Maurice l’Exil and then discovers Parmenie, an ancient hermitage in ruins, where John Baptist de La Salle stayed. The discovery of this site was to mark an existence dedicated to the material and physical restoration of a place of worship which had fallen into disuse over the decades.
From 1965 onwards, Brothers of the Christian Schools coming from all over the world
reinvested in the hill. At last Parmenie was reborn. Beyond the restoration of the buildings, Br.Leo BURKHARD was, in addition, the initiator of the international centre for conferences, gatherings and retreats in Parmenie.
In recognition of his work, the French government awarded him the National Order of Merit in 1990. Back in the United States, he continued his research, persevering in his writing and in the service of others, especially by means of numerous educational activities.
Br.Leo BURKHARD died on November 1st 2007 in Denver, Colorado, in the USA, at the age of 85, after finishing his last book, “ A Providential Encounter”, on the meeting in Parmenie between John Baptist de La Salle and Louise Hours.
According to his wishes, his ashes now rest in Parmenie. His friends and all those who visit the hill can now pray in front of the little vault where the urn has been placed, in the cemetery near the chapel.
The celebration of a rebirth
In the chapel which he had restored from its ruins, there gathered on this Saturday January 12th at 10.30, a large number of the Friends of Parmenie who had supported and rallied round him in his work of restoration. The Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Fr. Jean de la Croix Robert, a Benedictine who had been chaplain to the Novitiate Community in Parmenie, was animated by the Brothers of the Community and the Associates who joined with them. Br.Francis Le Pironnec, Director of the Community and of the Welcome Centre, reminded us who Br.Leo BURKHARD was. After the reading of the gospel (the merchants being driven out of the Temple), Fr.Jean de la Croix traced out for us a personalized portrait of Br.Leo. At the end of the celebrations, Br.Donald Mouton, who had come specially from Denver with the precious little casket containing the ashes of the deceased, expressed a final homage to the man who had been first his teacher and who later made him his friend and confidant.
(Brother Georges Bruyas)
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 CONAKRY - GUINEA - AN AWARD FOR QUALITY: The La Salle Professional Formation Center, under the leadership of Brother Pedro María Astigarraga, has been chosen to receive the "International Arch of Europe for Quality (IAE)" trophy in the category known as gold.
The B.I.D. (Business Initiative Directions) informed the Administration of the La Salle Professional Center, after meetings with entities from 93 countries and after due consideration of the eventual recipient of the "Arch of Europe for Quality" annual award, that they had been selected as this year's recipient for said prize, in the gold category, having fulfilled all the requirements for Quality QC100.
The prize was awarded in Frankfurt, Germany on February 4.
(www.lasalle.es)
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 BATULAO - PHILIPPINES – GUADALUPANAS SISTERS OF DE LA SALLE: Last December 9 the community celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe who is also the patroness of the Novitiate community in the Philippines. We had the added delight to be visited by a delegation of our Brothers of the Christian Schools in the persons of Brother Victor Franco, Auxiliary Visitor, Brother Peter, and four second-year Brother novices.
We had some presentations on the apparitions of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the hills of Tepeyac and on the life and work of Brother Juanito, so that our Filipino Brothers would be aware of this information. Then we had a Mass and concluded the day with a meal shared by the FSC Brothers and several friends including our religious neighbors, children studying catechism and the house staff at the retreat house where we work.
Pictured are different parts of this special celebration. In one photo the Brothers and Sisters can be seen (including the Noveleta, Cavite community) and in the other photo are the novices and a panorama of Mounte Batulao.
(Sister Mariana Reyes, HGS)
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 BOGOTA – COLOMBIA - INDUCTION WEEK FOR NEW LASALLIANS: At De La Salle University in Bogota, Colombia, some 1,900 students began their university career in one of 21 professional career programs currently offered by the University.
Pictured is the final day in which the new Lasallians completed their induction as new Lasallians.
(Brother Edgar Figueroa Abrajím – La Salle Provincial House)
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