NEWS OF THE INSTITUTE AND LASALLIAN FAMILY
Rome, January 26th, 2010 | Click here if you wish
to be notified when a
new current event is posted. | | | |
CZESTOCHOWA – POLAND- THIRD CONFERENCE OF BROTHERS VISITORS OF RELEM.
 Brothers Visitors of RELEM (Lasallian Region of Europe and the Mediterranean) with Brother Jacques d’Huiteau, General Councillor, in the chair, met for their 3rd Conference from the 11 to the 15 January in Poland.
After the conference, from the 16 to 20 January, its members met Brother Superior General, Alvaro Rodriguez and the General Councillors.
During the conference itself there was a discussion on the minutes of the Jerusalem Conference and reports on the activities of the various services/commissions (Life of the brothers ; Lasallian Educational Mission ; Finance and budgeting). The programme also covered plans for the Novitiate, a discussion on the situation in Romania, relations with ASSEDIL, the Polish situation and European Finances. Proposals concerning Young Lasallians were also discussed
In a general assembly, each districts or country gave an account of how they share their mission with lay colleagues. The Conference ended with Holy Mass at the national shrine of Our Lady in
Jasna Gora, Czestochowa. On Fiiday began meetings with Brother Superior General, Vicar General Thomas Johnson, and the General Councillors.
 This was the third conference of the Visitors of RELEM, the first was in Lliria, Spain and the second in Jerusalem in January 2009.
The RELEM council which meets three times a year under the chairmanship of Brother d’Huiteau has three elected members, Georges Absi (Near East), Donato Petti (Italy), Francis Manning (Ireland) and secretary Brother Lorenzo Tebar (Spain).
RELEM has 5 committees, called « services » which are : Pastoral committee ; Life of the brothers ; Lasallian Educational Mission ; Association - Lasallian Family.and Finance.
(www.lasalle-po.org)
|
CAIRO – EGYPT – FINAL VOWS OF BROTHERS HOSSAM NESSIM AND SAMEH FAROUK.
 Brothers Hossan Nessin and Sameh Farouk made their final vows in de La Salle College, Cairo, on the 27 December. Twenty brothers from all sections of the district were present, as well as the Apostolic Nuncio and the two brothers’ parents.
In his homily Brother Visitor emphasised the generosity of the brothers who had consecrated themselves by the vows of Chastity, Obedience and Poverty which are just the opposite of many human values.
There was a large congregation with the two brothers at the Mass celebrated by Fathers Fadel Sidarous SJ and Gerard de Riemaeker. As well as the parents of the two brothers who had come specially from Bayadeya, about 300 km to the south of Cairo for the occasion, there were many Lasallians from Aleaxandria, heads of Egyptian de La Salle schools and members of the MEL council of the District.
Mass was celebrated according to the Copt rite and lasted two hours. The accompanying music sung by the choir of St Mark’s school, Alexandria, was conducted by Mr. Cherif Atallah. At the end of the Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Michael Fitzgerald, congratulated « the Institute in having two new finally professed brothers ». He also congratulated « the parents for offering their sons to God with joy and confidence ». He expressed the wish that « the brothers would continue the praise-worthy work they do at present in Egypt, in other Middle Eastern countries and throughout the world »
 Afterwards there was a reception for the 400 persons present, followed by lunch in honour of the guests who had come from abroad and for the families of the two brothers. On Saturday evening about fifty Brothers and lay lasallians held a prayer and meditation service for the intentions of the two brothers and for their families. At the moment, two other Brothers, also from Bayadeya, are in the scholasticate (study house) in Abidjan, having completed their novitiate in Burkina Faso.
The brothers began their mission in Bayadeya in 1984. Their work covers several areas, eg literacy programmes and teacher assistance, linked with the Copt-Catholic Association of Upper Egypt. There are now in Egypt six Lasallian establishments; at the beginning of the twentieth century.in fact there had been 34.
(www.lasalle-po.org)
|
RELAF -THE NEW DISTRICT OF THE GULF OF BENIN.
 From the 1 January, what had before been the Subdistrict of the Gulf of Benin (attached to the Central District of Spain), became a new district. The restructuring was approved by Brother Superior General and his Council.
On 28 and 29 December there took place in Togoville (Togo) an “Extraordinary” Chapter of the new district, its main work being the approval of the Statutes of the New District.
Members of the Chapter were divided into groups, which studied a draft of the Statutes of the New District. After changes were made at the suggestion of those work groups, the statutes were presented to the general assembly which approved them unanimously.
Brother Gabriel Some, in the name of the Superior General, handed to Brother Jose Manuel Sauras Villanova, new Visitor of the district of the Gulf of Benin, an “obedience”, which confirmed his appointment for the next four years.
In the meeting following the appointment of the visitor, elections for the new District Council took place, and after those elections, at the same meeting, the first session of the the new council was held. There, the programme for future meetings was planned. The brothers of the District will be consulted next, after which, the council will draw up an Agreement concerning relations of the new District with the District of ARLEP.
 To the “Extraordinary” Chapter, Brother Janvier Dembele, Visitor of the District of West Africa (Burkina Faso) was invited, together with two other brothers of that district. Plans have been made for an exchange of Brothers between the two districts, as a preliminary to the eventual combining of the two districts,.
Throughout the Chapter, prayers of thanksgiving for the life of Brother Alfredo Rojo and for his repose were said. Brother Alfredo who had died on 8 December is buried in Togoville
On the 31 December Brother Pierre Claver made his final profession. The ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of Aneho and attended by many brothers of the New District, as well as by representatives of different religious institutions and of parish communities close by.
The new District comprises the Gulf of Benin, Guinea Conakry, Togo and Ivory Coast. So a new beginning has taken place for our Institute in Africa.
(www.lasalle.es) |
TUCSON – USA - BROTHER NICK GONZALEZ HONORED WITH ELIZABETH ANN SETON AWARD.
 Salpointe Catholic High School has announced that Brother Nick Gonzalez, Principal of San Miguel High School in Tucson, is to be presented with the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award later this month in recognition of his significant contribution to education in the Diocese of Tucson. Br. Nick is one of two recipients this year; also honored is Sr. Leonette Kochan, OSF, principal of Santa Cruz Catholic School.
For the past 17 years, Salpointe Catholic High School has presented the honor to individuals who possess deep faith, courage, initiative and zeal, and who demonstrate leadership qualities and a strong sense of social justice. Past recipients include Ms. Leslie Shultz-Crist, currently president of San Miguel High School, who received the honor while she was serving as principal of St. Ambrose School in Tucson. The awards will be presented on Monday January 25th at Salpointe Catholic High School.
(www.delasalle.org)
|
 USA/TORONTO – NEW VOCATION NEWSLETTER.
The office of Regional Vocation Ministry recently released the first issue of Vocation Update. The one-page newsletter provides information about vocation efforts in the USAT. Brother George Van Grieken is Regional Director for Vocation Ministry and editor of the publication.
The newsletter will be published several times a year and distributed through email as a PDF file. Everyone is encouraged to forward, print and/or post the copy for others at their location as a way to support vocation ministry.
- Vocation Update.
(www.lasallian.info) |
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider publishing,
please email us:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
|
