FERNWOOD - USA - LASALLIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE GATHERS: On the weekend of 15 to 17 March, Lasallians from the Northeast of the United States, as well as participants from the Midwest and California, converged on Fernwood Conference Center in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania for the third gathering of Cohort IV of the LLI (Lasallian Leadership Institute).

Bro. Robert Bimonte, a member of the New York District who works in a leadership position with the NCEA (National Catholic Educational Association), guided the group in its consideration of the topics of how people learn and on multiple intelligences. While presenting the latest research in the field, Brother Robert also helped these Lasallians recognize the amazingly forward thinking of De La Salle some 300 years ago.

Similar sessions were also conducted for Cohort IV of the LLI at Belleville in Illinois on the weekend of 29 to 31 March and at the Russian River in California on the Weekend of 22 to 24 March.

The next gatherings of Cohort IV of the LLI resumes will be in July when Rev. Kenan Osbourne and Brother Robert Berger of the New York District guide the group in its consideration of a spirituality for educators.
^{(Adapted from the Website of the District of LI-NE)}

BETHLEHEM - PALESTINE - “THEY’RE JUST LIKE US!”: Young Palestinians, born and living in Israel visited Bethlehem University Campus on March 13th. Moments after the arrival they mixed with Bethlehem Students welcoming them, producing a lively and rather noisy crowd at the Social-Cultural Center.

There was virtually no hesitation on either side, with Arabic being the common language. “I understand what he is saying - but it sounds just too funny to me” BU Student Ambassador Areej Jafari said after talking to a Palestinian Student from Haifa, who apparently had a heavy accent.

Many of the Israeli Palestinians from Jaffa, Haifa, Nazareth and all over Israel have never been to the Palestinian Authority Areas before. Visiting the Palestinian Heritage Center “Tarathuna” in BU’s Library, students from the West Bank and Israel together explored their common heritage and history.

During the tour of the campus and lunch, the young people had plenty of time to share experiences and details about their daily life in two very different countries. “I am glad my university provides us with the opportunity to meet those guys, especially since we’re not allowed to go there”, BU Student Ayah Bseisy stated. “After all we found out, they’re just like us!”.
^{(Samer Hanania, Development Officer)}

BETHLEHEM - PALESTINE - OPEN LETTER: The person who writes these words believes that all people on this earth must live together and he cries for the time when humanity will reach this point.

I do not remember when my grandparents ever owned a house of their own. However, I still remember that time when my parent owned our first small home and I also remember those terrible moments when we lost it.

I did not expect that I would be directly impacted by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. My story started four years ago. We worked very hard to collect money to build our first house on my mother’s land – land which she inherited from her father – land in the West Bank town of Beit Jala, just adjacent to Bethlehem.

It was a very large step for my family and our life. After two months of living in that house, the Israel government sent a paper to order my father to go to an Israeli court. When my father went to the court, they accused us of having an “illegal house” and ordered us to take permission from the Israeli government to build our house. But we live in the West Bank, in the Palestinian territories, land under the Palestinian Authority. We take all our requirements such as electricity and water from the Palestinian Authority and we have Palestinian IDs.

The Israelis put my father in prison for one month. Three years later they forced us to leave our house and they demolished it. That was in February 2005.

My mother and my little brother lived with my grandmother. My father, my old brother and I lived in a tent. It was the Winter of 2005. I know there are people who will not believe this, but it happened.

After three months the people in my village collected money for us and they rebuilt our house again – right next to the rubble of the first house. We lived eight months in the second house. The Israeli government sent the same papers. This time we went to apply for permission from Israeli government. We were forced to do that because of our desire to keep our land and our house. We discovered that the Israeli government wanted to take our land. They rejected our application.

During these eights months of seeking Israeli government permission to keep our house on our land in the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, we tried to keep our land and our house but we couldn’t. We were alone and the Israeli government used their foolish laws with us. I know they will not use them with the Israeli people.

They came with their foolish bulldozers on 12 December 2006 and demolished our house for the second time.

Now, in April 2007, about one km from our land the Israeli government has started working to build the Separation Wall. I do not know if our land will still be for us. My family and I do not know where we can live, but we believe there are many good people in this world and especially in Palestine and Israel. If we want to search for good people, we will find them from both sides of the Separation Wall.

I hope that all the people outside of this land will listen to the words of the people and not to the two stupid governments. We want peace here and now. We know the peace will not happen by Walls, soldiers or governments. The peace will happen when people live with each other and when we return to humanity laws.
^{(AlMuataz, First Year Student)}

LWANGA DISTRICT – SOUTH AFRICA - BUDDY DAY AND LASALLIAN YOUTH CAMP : Mrs Dena Hanouch, Mrs Marj Crankshaw and 30 learners from De la Salle Holy Cross College took part in the annual Buddy Day hosted by the Lions Club. Learners paired up with individuals who had either a physical or mental disability and assisted them in the various planned activities such as face-painting, sand art, bobbing apples and checkers to name a few.

The day was thoroughly enjoyed by all, particularly when Ronald Macdonald entertained them all. De la Salle were awarded two out of the three prizes handed out for the best 'buddy' for the day - learners who went out of their way to assist their buddy!!! These awards went Diogo Barendse and Luke Jackson as well as Kelsey Raymond. All learners, however, epitomised the school motto - "'Be First in order to be of Service."

Learners from the three Lasallian schools of South Africa - De la Salle Holy Cross College (Victory Park), La Salle College (Roodepoort) and St. Brendan's (Dwars River) - took part in a Lasallian Youth Camp on the weekend of 23-25 March. The learners from all three schools were accompanied by Mrs D. Hanouch of De la Salle Holy Cross College, Br. Thomas and Mrs J. Potgieter of La Salle and Br. Michael from St. Brendan's.

The camp was run by Mrs Hanouch of De la Salle Holy Cross College as well as a team of youth leaders from CFC Youth for Christ. The weekend's activities included games, prayer, praise and worship, talks, personal reflection and meditation time, one-on-ones as well as individual pray-overs by the facilitators. On the Saturday, participants were given the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation with Fr. Bruce David.

A Lasallian Youth workshop was also held between the three schools where each group presented current projects and activities to the rest of the group as well as proposed ideas of how we can Lasallians can spread the mission of St. John Baptist de la Salle "to be of service to the poor and the youth". Parents joined their children for the sharing of letters on the Sunday which was very moving and thereafter celebrated Mass with Fr. Luke.

All participants said that they '...thoroughly enjoyed the weekend' and were already asking when the next one would be!!! In the words of St. John Baptist de la Salle "LIVE JESUS IN OUR HEARTS... FOREVER!"

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