BROWNING – USA - SERVICE LEARNING AT DE LA SALLE BLACKFEET SCHOOL: Calvert Hall College High School of Baltimore, Maryland sent six student and two chaperones to De La Salle Blackfeet School (DLSB) for a service learning immersion experience from January 27 through February 3, 2007. DLSB according to its website “is a Lasallian San Miguel School, operated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, for boys and girls who live on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana.

The school is open to all faiths and cultures, is not tuition driven, and serves a predominantly at-risk population.” The trip was designed to provide the students an opportunity to learn about a new culture while living in the community, interacting with the DLSB community and serving others.

The five day experience provided a cultural exchange, community building activities, and direct service. While at the school Ben Horn, the Immersion Group Coordinator, introduced the students to the culture of the Blackfeet Nation. The students learned of a people with a rich spirituality and heritage that face issues such as poverty, drugs, abuse, crime and violence on the Blackfeet Reservation. The students resided on campus in the school gym where they cooked their own meals and had to clean up the space everyday in order for the gym to be used during the day. There was some time for enjoyable community activities such as playing chess, dodge ball and music with the young people of DLSB. As the visit was during Catholic Schools Week they were also treated to talent show where they were also able to participate. The group also took some time to snow shoe through the nearby Glacier National Park. The young men of Calvert Hall served the community as the filled in as tutors in classes such as Math and English.

Each day started with a word for reflection. At the end of each day, the group reflected upon one of six words: solidarity, simplicity, compassion, action, discovery and spirit. The reflections sometimes pointed out the signs of despair at times ranging from run down houses with trash all around them to the plight of drugs and violence. Yet, there was much reflection on hope as they observed De La Salle Blackfeet School reach out to the young people at risk and provide an education and vision of salvation. At the direction of Jeb Myers, DLSB Principal, the Calvert Hall students took some time share their dreams of college and beyond with the young scholars of DLSB. The young men gave of themselves and they in turn received the gift of walking with boys and girls who strive against long odds with a joy for life and a strong spirit. The group then returned to Baltimore to share their new found insights and experiences with the whole Calvert Hall community and beyond.

For more information on De La Salle Blackfeet School click here to visit delasalleblackfeet.org.
^{(Doug Heidrick and Mr. Mark Parisi Calvert Hall College High School)}

SYDNEY – AUSTRALIA - INTERNATIONAL LASALLIAN YOUTH GATHERING: The District of Australia, New Zealand and Papua-New Guinea invites Lasallian Youth traveling to Sydney for World Youth Day from 15-20 July 2008 to an international gathering of Lasallian Youth that will be held in Melbourne, Australia from 9-12 July 2008. A program is being prepared that includes keynote speakers, workshops, liturgies, discussions and social activities.

Participants in the International Lasallian Youth Gathering will be accommodated in youth hostels or with families associated with one of the three Lasallian high schools in Melbourne

Lasallian Youth are invited to stay at a Lasallian high school in Sydney during World Youth Day 2008 or at a Sydney youth hostel with other Lasallians. More information will be available in the coming months. Please contact Brother Adrian Watson at adrianwatson@delasalle.org.au to register your interest in attending the International Lasallian Youth Gathering or for any inquiries regarding World Youth Day in Sydney.
^{(Brother Adrian Watson)}

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