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 Some recent news events
June 20, 2001
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United States:  In his letter dated 14 March 2001, our Superior General Br. Álvaro Rodriquez Echeverria invited us to think of ways we could celebrate the 350th anniversary of John Baptist de la Salle's birth. He suggested we do something using the number 350 as a point of reference. I am pleased to share with you the commitment of Saint Mary's Press in this regard.
With the help of the Lasallian Education Fund and a private donor from the Winona community, Saint Mary's Press will donate 350 Catholic Youth Bibles to youth detained in juvenile detention centers in the United States. We hope and pray--through the intercession of St. John Baptist De La Salle--that these young people's hearts and minds will be enlivened by the Good News of the sacred scriptures.
Br. Damian Steger, FSC
President/CEO Saint Mary's Press
 Malta: The Brothers of the Sub-District of Malta gathered for six days during Holy Week to have their annual retreat. Brother William Mann, Vicar General, was with them to give conferences and lead discussions on the topics of Lasallian Prayer and the 43rd General Chapter.
On Holy Thursday, members of the extended Lasallian Family (teachers and administrators from the schools, Sigmun Fidei members , and former students) joined the Brothers of Malta and Brother Vicar General for a day of prayer and reflection on the topic of Lasallian mission.
Rome: Meeting of the International Council for Lasallian Studies
May 5th - 7th 2001
The membership of CIEL was revised following the last General Chapter, with a view to helping the Director of Lasallian Studies in Rome to know the needs of the various sectors of the Lasallian Family, and to draw up a programme of work with clear priorities. The Council is now composed of 9 members, representing most of the Regions of the Institute. Three of its members were unable to attend this first meeting.
The following are some of the recommendations made during the course of the meeting:
* the publication of a 4th volume in the series Lasallian Themes: there are still 50 terms used by the Founder that have not been studied in sufficient detail.
* the production of a CD ROM of the writings of John Baptist de La Salle, accompanied by the many scriptural and patristic references identified by Brother Adrien Roche.
* the launch of a new series called Lasallian Essays, which will include studies which are serious but less detailed than those of the Cahiers lasalliens, and which deserve a better fate than reproduction by photocopy.
* the strengthening of the Lasallian Studies team to promote basic research and the publication of works more directly useful for the Lasallian formation of Brothers and Partners.
The members of CIEL have shared out responsibility for either launching or completing the publication of a Brief History of the Institute (using the valuable work of Brother Henri Bédel, whose 3rd volume will come out this year); of an Introduction to the Oeuvres complètes; of a text on Lasallian discernment; and of some studies on Islam and Lasallian spirituality. CIEL hopes to set a process in motion soon which will involve universities in Lasallian research, and even in the writing of a life of the Founder.
The next meeting of CIEL will take place in Rome from Friday February 22nd to Sunday February 24th 2002.
Brother Alain Houry
Director of Lasallian Studies
Rome: A Report on the Meeting of the Associated for the Educational Service of the Poor Commission
(May 28-June 1, 2001)
The Commission created by Br. Superior General and the General Council to respond to the importance given to association by the 43rd General Chapter met in Rome for the first time from May 28-June 1,2001. Officially known as the "Associated for the Educational Service of the Poor Commission," this international body is tasked with strengthening the growing bonds of association among partners, associates, and Brothers in order to further the Institute's mission of educational service of the poor.
 The 12-member Commission is composed of: Dominic Njeru (Lwanga District); Luis Pena (Antilles); Maria Clara Loza (Argentina/Paraguay); Br. Lorenzo Gonzalez Kipper (North Mexico); Gery Short (San Francisco); Eric Bryan Amaladas (Penang); Carmelita Quebengco (Philippines); Eveline Geoffroy (France); Br. Andre Jacq (France); Br. Antonio Botana (Spain), the new Secretary for Association; Br. Victor Franco, co-chairman; and Br. Miguel Campos, chairman.
Br. Alvaro Rodriguez, Superior General, opened the five-day meeting by recalling how Vatican ll restored the rightful role of the laity in the Church. He then traced the steady evolution of association between Brothers and partners over the past 40 years, which led to 43rd General Chapter's emphasis on this key theme. The members spent the first day responding to the question, "How do we live association today?" by sharing their personal journeys towards association and by describing the ways in which association is experienced today in their respective Districts and Regions.
Having listened to each other's stories, the second day was spent listening to the voices of Scripture, theology and the Institute's tradition in response to the question, "How can the light of the past illumine the reality of the present?" Br. Antonio spoke on the first two topics while Br. Miguel addressed the third. Lively exchanges followed all the talks.
Still in the context of the past illumining present reality, the members devoted the third day to a short pilgrimage to Assisi, the site of St. Francis' groundbreaking lay movement in the Church. Alone or in small groups, the members visited the significant shrines of Sts. Francis and Clare, the key figures of that movement, asking for guidance and strength to carry out the challenge before them as members of this new Commission.
After spending the first three days looking at the past and the present, the members asked themselves, "How do we hope to live in association tomorrow?" and "How do we make that hope a reality?" The exchanges led to a consensus on these key assumptions:
1. The raison d'etre of association is the educational service of the poor. Any discussion about the processes leading to association should always keep this in view.
2. The task of this Commission is to identify and intensify the processes that promote association.
3. Association is primarily a spirit and a movement. It presupposes a process that involves the strengthening of relationships, the deepening of commitment, and ongoing formation.
4. Whatever may be perceived as elitism, or has the potential for creating divisions, should be avoided.
5. When structures or forms of belonging help to promote. association, they should be welcomed and encouraged.
The Commission then proceeded to finalize its plan of action by enriching the working document with the insights of the previous days.
Br. William Mann, Vicar General, brought the meeting to an encouraging close with thoughts inspired by the Founder's meditation for the feast of Pentecost. He ended by urging the participants to "go back to your respective Districts and Regions, and spread the good news of our association". |
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