Dear Brothers and all members of the Lasallian Family,

LIFE was born
and we were revitalized.
FREEDOM was born
and we were liberated.
LIGHT was born
and we were enlightened.
LOVE was born
and we were greatly moved.

St. Basil the Great

Christmas greetings to each of you. May Jesus, the incarnate Word, fill all of us with his Life, Freedom, Light and Love at this time when our world is deeply wounded by terrorist violence, war and uncertainty. It is my hope that each Lasallian be a builder of peace and harmony. At the same time I hope that the New Year might see all your dreams and plans become reality.

The topic for my Pastoral Letter to the Brothers this year is that our Communities be our primary association. Districts, Sub-Districts, or Delegations who think it appropriate may use this reflection as a basis for promoting the year of renewal of our community life that the Chapter asks us to do in its Proposition 18 (Circular 447, page 39). And for all of us there is the effort we need to make in 2002 of living out the invitation to commit ourselves to the defense of the rights of children and young people, that should continue to be one of the distinctive features of our Lasallian Family.

Fraternally in De La Salle,

Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría
Superior General