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 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, November 11, 2003 |
 Balgo
Hills, Australia: The Brothers of Balgo Hills in Australia
were delighted to have Br. Álvaro visit them on his recent trip to the
District of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Balgo is a
school which is in a remote part of Australia. With only twelve days in
the District, Br. Álvaro believed it was important to visit this site
which works so well with the poor. His visit made the Brothers and staff
feel pretty "chuffed". Br. Álvaro said that seeing what was being done
in Balgo made him feel prouder to be a De La Salle Brother.
 He
congratulated Br. Bernie Cooper on his leadership and, following an
enjoyable meal, with Br. Ed Becker as the cook, spent time speaking to
the Brothers about Institute activities and added a few welcome words of
encouragement. It was a very pleasant visit during which they celebrated
Br. Victor Franco's birthday.
During Br. Álvaro's visit, he was presented a
painting, which will be
displayed in the Generalate in Rome, done for him by resident artist
Gary Njamme. The Aboriginal painting is the story of the work of the De
La Salle Brothers in Balgo Hills. The other photos are of the Year 6/7
classroom and a shot of some Year 6/7 kids hugging their teacher, Karen
Prevett.
(Br. Edward Becker)
|
  Some
photos of Br.
Superior's Visit to De La Salle College Mangere, New Zealand: |
 Br.
Álvaro visits "Brothers in Action": On his recent visit to
the Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea District, Br. Álvaro was
able to spend some time with members of Brothers in Action (BIA).
Members of the group presented BIA tee shirts to Br. Superior and other
visitors.
Alvaro inspired the group with stories about how he became a brother,
traveling to see the whole Lasallian world and his meetings with the
Pope.
The group is made up of past pupils of De La Salle College Mangere who
have been inspired by the leadership and dedication of the De La Salle
Brothers. BIA's members have been touched by the "Lasallian Spirit" and
aim to carry this spirit outside the gates of De La Salle College.
 BIA
aims to support the whole of the De La Salle College Community and its
mission is "To touch the hearts of the De La Salle family and inspire
them with the Christian Spirit through faith and service, and sharing
the Lasallian Spirit with the community."
The activities of the group grow every year as old boys join and the
community invites BIA to do more.
BIA currently has around 25 members, who have graduated since 1993. BIA
seeks to provide a significant contribution toward carrying the
Lasallian Spirit into this 3rd millennium and beyond!
For more information see:
http://delasalle.org.nz/bia/index.html
(Julian A. Waters)
|
 Br.
Superior's Visit to Papua New Guinea: Br. Álvaro and Br. Victor were
greeted inside the Port Moresby International airport terminal with a
guard of honour of students from Jubilee Catholic Secondary School
dressed in traditional attire representing some of the nineteen
provinces of PNG. Brother Álvaro and Br. Victor greeted these students
warmly. Then they were met by a traditional Rigo dancing group of Hohola
Youth Development Centre students who danced for them outside the
terminal and then danced them to their waiting vehicle.
 They visited Jubilee Catholic Secondary school and spoke to the
Assembled students who recounted what various groups had been doing in
the school relative to the Lasallian Spirit. They also met with students
from Mainohana High school who had travelled from 2.00 that morning to
meet with the Superior. At De La Salle High School Bomana an Assembly of
the students waited for them. They were paraded into the assembly to the
tune of North Solomons pipes, with students dressed in traditional
dress. Br. Álvaro spoke about the Lasallian Ethos of Faith Service and
Community being the hallmarks of the Lasallian Spirit which the High
school was keeping alive, though there had been no brothers teaching
there for three years. This visit was followed by one to Hohola Youth
Development Centre, a permitted school set up to take students who
cannot gain entry into a High School. At the Assembly of the students Br
Álvaro spoke of the need to support each other and Br. Victor spoke of
the joys of being loved by others. After afternoon tea there was then a
meeting with the staff and student leaders and the Superior praised them
for their work at the recent Lasallian congress. This meeting was
followed by a meeting with Univeristy students from the University of
Papua New Guinea, and the Superior encourgaed them to continue to strive
to reach out to others in the various disciplines in which they were
involved.
The following day Br. Superior and Br. Victor flew to Mt. Hagen in the
Highlands, where the Brothers help conduct a Primary Teacher Training
College. Lasallian members came from many parts of the Highlands to be
present on this day, even travelling by bus for six hours to meet with
the Superior. He was able to talk with various groups on the Lasallian
spirit and was heartened to hear of the activities of members of the
Lasallian family who teach in many community schools, and who spread the
light of the Lasallian family to many other teachers and students. He
was also pleased to meet with our only Postulant who is training also in
Mt. Hagen.
On the third day of their visit, back in Port Moresby, Br. Superior
spoke with the Brothers of the Hohola Community and then went to the
neighbouring church to celebrate Mass with a large crowd of Lasallina
teachers, Lasallian members, Lasallian students and many school
students. The beautiful singing of the Mass was typical of PNG people
and this was then followed by the congregation having the opportunity to
meet Brother Superior and his Counsellor and then all reapired to a
combined lunch and chat time, before the Visitors had to repair to the
airport for the next part of their journey. See also:
http://lasalle.org.au/events/alvaro_png.html
(Br. Leo Scollen) |
 Web
Notes: We continue our series of overviews of our Districts with the
districts of Australia,
Argentina-Paraguay,
Colombo,
Medellin,
Penang and
Venezuela.
(Br. Donald Johanson) |
If you have news notes that you would like us to consider
publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
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