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News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, April 15th, 2008 |
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 COCHABAMBA – BOLIVIA - DEATH OF BROTHER MARTIN CORRAL, FORMER COUNCILOR: Br. Martin Corral died suddenly on the evening of April 14th in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia.
Br. Martin was born in Belorado, Burgos, Spain on November 11th 1942. He made his novitiate in Bujedo. He received the habit of the Brothers of the Christian Schools on December 7, 1958 in the novitiate of Valladolid. He did his scholasticate and teacher training in Bujedo from 1960 – 1963.
Later he studied for his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Philosophy. From 1963 he carried out his ministry in Portugal, mainly at the College of Barcelos and the house in Braga, centers where he was later director. He was appointed Visitor of the District of Valladolid in 1982. At the General Chapter of 1986 he was elected General Councilor, a post he held until the year 2000.
Recently he was helping in the formation of novices in the District of Bolivia.
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 COTTONERA - MALTA - SIGNUM FIDEI: Nine teachers made their consecration as members of the Signum Fidei Fraternity on March 29 at La Salle College in Malta.
One teacher from the same group was not able to attend due to the illness of a family member. Brother Alberto Gómez, the world advisor for the Fraternity, received the consecrations of the new members, and he also shared the greetings of Brother Superior General. Brother Alberto expressed his gratitude for the support of Brother Martin Borg, Sector Coordinator, and he congratulated Brother Louis Camilleri for his extraordinary effort as the leader of the various Signum Fidei groups.
Ms. Charmaine Agius Ferrante expressed the sentiments of the new group of consecrated persons with these words: As we take on this commitment, we humbly promise to live the lifestyle reflected in the teaching of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. What we have expressed this afternoon is a great commitment that will not always be easy for us to fulfill, but we place our trust in God, knowing that his Spirit will help us to live what the Spirit of Faith means. Our group is made up of professors, educators, parents, and administrators. Together we are now part of the Lasallian Family as members of Signum Fidei.
The new consecrated members are: Charmaine, Anna, Claudia, Isabella, Emmanuel, Carmen, Tania, Jossete, and Marthese. Congratulations!
The celebration ended with a festive supper.
(Brother Alberto Gómez General Councilor)
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 ARUCAS - SPAIN - ONE-HUNDRED YEARS OF LASALLIAN PRESENCE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS: Last weekend in ARUCAS (Canary Islands) different events were held to recall the arrival of the first Brothers in the Canary Islands and the opening of the first Lasallian school there. On Friday, March 28 in the morning, in the Cathedral of Las Palmas, a thanksgiving Mass was held, presided over by the Bishop of the Canary Islands. In attendance were students, parents, teachers, former students and a good group of De La Salle Brothers who had traveled to Grand Canary Island for this event.
In the afternoon, in the school‛s theatre, Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General, gave an interesting talk. After Brother spoke, Brother Martiniano Alonso, Director of the school, awarded commemorative souvenirs to the Directors of the other Lasallian schools in the Canary Islands. Later on, a plaque was unveiled honoring the government official who had arranged for the Brothers of the Christian Schools to come to the Canary Islands and to the town of Arucas. The first of the two-day celebrations ended with a moving and symbolic prayer vigil. Saturday, March 29 began with a visit to the old school and to the cemetery where a floral wreath was placed and a prayer was offered for the deceased Brothers of the Arucas community. Then in the Constitution town square there was a tribute paid to the De La Salle Brothers. The first to intervene was Brother Aquilino Bravo, Visitor of the District of Madrid. The municipal chronicler read from the first letter written by the first Brothers to their Superior concerning their arrival in the city of Arucas.
The words of homage on the part of José María Ponce, Mayor of Arucas and former student of the school were responded to by Brother Superior General who spoke eloquently and received several rounds of applause. José Manuel Soria, Vice-President of the Canary Islands government, concluded the ceremony as he recalled his 7 years spent with the Brothers in Madrid. When the first Brothers arrived a century ago they were welcomed by a city band in Arucas. A century later and at the same hour the city band brought a close to the ceremony in front of City Hall.
After sharing a meal a floral wreath was placed at the foot of the beautiful stone monument of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. In the coming years, other schools will be celebrating their own centennials: La Orotava (2009), Santa Cruz (2010), La Laguna (2016), Las Palmas and Agüimes.
(Brother Nestor Ferrera – www.lasalle.es)
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 HOMESTEAD - USA - VOLUNTEERS FROM TULSA, OKLAHOMA ARRIVE AT THE SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE SCHOOL: On Monday, March 24, 2008, after traveling 1,563 miles over the course of 5 hours and after some 5 months of preparation, 15 volunteers from Bishop Kelly High school in Tulsa, Oklahoma arrived at the Saint John Baptist de La Salle School in Homestead, Florida. They were led by Mr. Blake Lawson, the campus minister.
The volunteers were received at the Miami airport by a group of former Lasallian students who brought them to Homestead. There the volunteers (6 girls and 9 boys) spent a week working in different activities. Mornings were spent washing windows, painting the school inside and out, sprucing up the Brother Néstor María playground, and working in the garden. The afternoons were spent helping the children with their homework, school tasks, improving their English-language skills, playing soccer and football.
On Saturday, all the volunteers headed to the beach along with many of the students. A tour of the city was also taken as a kind of reward for a job well done. In the evening there was a Spanish fiesta. A certificate of recognition was awarded to the volunteers, along with UMAEL memorabilia and other gifts for the girls. The party lasted until 2:00 AM. Early Sunday morning the volunteers were taken to the airport by a group of former students and they began their journey back to Oklahoma, tired but happy for the work they had done.
(José M. Dorado - www.celasalleh.org)
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 BARCELONA – SPAIN - 1st CONGRESS OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGERS:
The 1st Congress of Information and Communication Technology Managers took place in Barcelona, from 7 to 9 April 2008, as part of the activities sponsored by the International Association of Lasallian Universities (IALU). The meeting has been proposed and organized by the University School of Engineering and Architecture La Salle in Barcelona.
During the 3-day-long congress, university experts, representatives and suppliers took part in conferences and round tables, explaining proposals on how to solve the needs of the universities to which they offer services, and at the same time, posing technology issues of common interest.
(Brother José Antonio Warletta, Coordinating Secretary of Communications)
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 GENERALATE - THE SERIES ENTITLED “INITIATION TO THE HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS” IS COMPLETE :
This month of April 2008 will see the publication of the English and Spanish translations of the last volume of “Initiation to the History of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools” (Lasallian Studies 12).
With these publications the series begun by Br.Henri Bédel in 1997 comes to an end:
● The Origins 1651 - 1726. Lasallian Studies 5
● 18th Century 1726 – 1804 Lasallian Studies 6
● 19th Century 1805 – 1875 Lasallian Studies 9
● 19th – 20th Century 1875 – 1928 Lasallian Studies 11
● 20th Century 1928 – 1946 Lasallian Studies 12
This series was intended, from the beginning, to be of service in the formation of Brothers and other Lasallians, by seeking to make accessible, first of all for formators, a certain number of events, facts, situations, closely linked to the political, social, cultural, ecclesial, educational life….of France, first of all, and then of the entire world, thus allowing for a better understanding of the development of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Br.Henri Bédel, a well-informed historian and teacher, was successfully able to alternate in the different works, an account of contemporary historical facts, events lived by the Institute and suggestions for the study of documents or situations which concerned more directly the life of the Institute of the Brothers.
300 years of the history of John-Baptist de La Salle, his Brothers, communities, young people, countries around the world…..file past our eyes. A big thanks to Br.Henri Bédel for this Lasallian ‘memory’ which he has put within reach of so many and for this re-reading of the identity of our Institute down through these three centuries.
Thanks also to the translators, Bros. Jerzy Geppert, Aidan Marron, Pedro Maria Gil and José Martínez as well as to all those who helped in producing this “initiation”.
This History does not end in 1946. Another challenge awaits the researchers, historians and formators: to propose some re-readings of the history of the last 60 years, from 1946 to the present day, to serve the movement of the Association of Brothers and Lay Lasallians which is the reality of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools today.
Orders should be sent to the Brother Secretary General of the Institute: lgkipper@lasalle.org(Brother Jean-Louis Schneider, Head of the Research Department )
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 PHILIPPINES - NEWS OF THE GUADALUPANAS SISTERS OF DE LA SALLE: The second week of March we held a Lenten retreat for those who work at the retreat house. A Salesian father (a neighbor of ours) was the principal speaker and the workers participated very well, in spite of the fact that not all of them are Catholics. May God bless them.
A vocation retreat was held on March 15 and 16 in Batulao as we had no other scheduled retreats for that period. Posters were distributed in various places announcing the retreat. Five young people responded and there were also Sisters present from the community in Noveleta and they made their monthly retreat. Sister Helen helped to explain some topics to the participants. Pictured are the Sisters from both communities as well as the young participants: Mela, Shela, Daisy, Diana, and Jennifer. They are accompanied by Father Christopher Kennedy, who is in charge of the community of Salesian Fathers. (Following Mass for Palm Sunday).
We are certain that more time is needed for them to get to know our Institute by visiting various parishes and schools. We ask you to join us in praying that these young vocation prospects will be enthusiastic in responding to Christ who calls them to follow him, especially in our Institute here in the Philippines. Thank you for your prayers.
May the Risen Christ fill and renew our love for Him, so that we can serve Him with an undivided heart and therefore be able to offer a witness that is more convincing, more authentic...
(Sister Mariana Reyes, HGS) |
 PAKISTAN - THE NEW PRIME MINISTER FOR PAKISTAN IS A FORMER LASALLIAN STUDENT: Makhdoom Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani was born in Karachi on June 9, 1952. He is the twenty-sixth Prime Minister of Pakistan. Previously, he served as President of the National Assembly of Pakistan (1993 - 1997) and as Federal Minister (1985 -1986). He took up his new role, replacing Pervez Musharraf, on March 25, 2008.
The new Prime Minister studied at La Salle High School in Multan, Pakistan. Following that, he earned a licentiate in Letters (1970) and a Master‛s Degree in Journalism (1976) at the University of Punjab.
(www.lasalle.es - foto wikipedia.org)
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