Lasallian Family News

News of the Institute and Lasallian Family Rome, February 14, 2003
90 years of Lasallian presence in Venezuela: On January 5. 2003, we Brothers from the District of Venezuela were delighted to celebrate the fact that three Venezuelan young people entered the Postulancy: Jalde Pérez, Reinaldo Morales and Luis Félix. This happened as a result of a significant process of vocational discernment and wholehearted family support. Brother Iñaki Seín, Visitor, and Brother Gerardo Castillo began this period of initial formation with a liturgical ceremony which was attended by Brothers, family members and friends of the young postulants. Jalde is a former student from the Brother Juan de Barquisimeto School, Reinaldo is from the La Salle School in Mérida and Luis is from the school run by the Presentation Sisters of Granada in Barinas. This ceremony is all the more significant in that it happened at the beginning of the commemoration of 90 years of Lasallian presence in Venezuela, when the country was embroiled in a political and social crisis which had serious consequences for its future. The first Brothers came to the city of Barquisimeto and began their educational work on February 13, 1913. Today we are a small but hope-filled District who minister to 9,470 students. We are directly involved in ten educational centers, seven of which are subsidized by the Venezuelan government through the Venezuelan Association of Catholic Education. For more information, please go to http://www.lasalle.org.ve/view/index.asp ^{(Br. Diego Muñoz)}
District Day in Valladolid: More than 250 persons, among them Brothers, men and women Associates, members of Lasallian communities and men and women teachers from all over the District, gathered to hear Brother Juan Pablo, General Councillor, read the obedience for Visitor for Brother Jesús Miguel Zamora. January 25 was District Day in Valladolid. Over 250 persons gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes School. The group included all the Visitors from the ARLEP Region and some Auxiliary Visitors. All who spoke had words of gratitude for Brother José Antolínez as he was preparing to leave office, and words of welcome and support for the new Visitor, Brother Jesús Miguel Zamora, in his new assignment. Brother José Antolínez, who began his talk in Portuguese, thanked all the Brothers and lay persons for their work and for their understanding over the course of the past fourteen years while he was in District leadership. He especially remembered the Brothers who were part of the District Leadership team during these years, especially Brother Jesús Miguel Zamora. Then Brother Ismael, Regional Coordinator, took the floor and he was followed by Brother Juan Pablo, General Councillor. Both pledged their support for the new Brother Visitor. Brother Juan Pablo, who was in formation with Brother Jesús Miguel, read the obedience naming him the Brother Visitor of the District. Brother Jesús Miguel Zamora said that he was counting on all the Brothers and lay persons, especially the Associates and members of Lasallian Communities as this exciting time draws near. Mass followed the appointment ceremony and the Holy Spirit was asked to guide and to shed light on the leadership of the District of Valladolid which Brother Jesús Miguel will be called on to undertake in the coming years. At the end of morning, all attendees were invited to lunch, which was held in the various school dining halls. For more information, please go to http://www.lasalle.es/valladolid/ ^{(Br. Ángel Díaz)}
Lou Meyer Affiliation: On January 25, 2002, the Brothers celebrated the affiliation of Mr. Lou Meyer in a ceremony where he was praised for his many years of service at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco and for his fraternal relationship with the Brothers. His association with the Brothers spanned an amazing fifty years. He entered Sacred Heart High School in 1951, graduated from St. Mary's College in 1959 and returned to Sacred Heart High School as a member of the faculty. In 1966 he became the Vice-Principal for Academics and since then has held the position of Vice-Principal with various titles such as Academic Dean and Dean of Studies. It is important to note that his administrative duties coincided with the difficult transitional years of the early 1970s when many teachers were involved in labor disputes within the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He played a key role in reconciling the two sides both during and after the strike. In addition, he hired more than 65% of the current faculty and staff, and worked in partnership with five different principals. He was an influential and devoted member of the faculty for many years. Lou has been described as "being Lasallian" before the word was ever defined. Throughout his life with the Brothers, he manifested a strong sense of faith and zeal, his spirituality rooted in his own sense of his vocation as a Lasallian educator. Thank you for your many years of dedication to the students entrusted to your care and for your faithful support of the Brothers. ^{(Br. Kevin Slate)}
Superior General in Vietnam: Brother Superior General visited the LaSan Family in Vietnam from January 26 to February 1, 2003. On this great occasion of Tet, he had the opportunity to preside over the dedication of the "Loving Memory of VN-FSC Memorial" at Maithon, and the ground-breaking ceremony of the project of "Post-Detoxification" at Tan Cang. Thanks to the "Rain of Roses" for poor people during the last several months, the building project could be started. At the present time, only half of the goal (132,000) has be reached, which includes a "pledge". I strongly believe that you will continue to make it "Rain Roses" for these poor people. For more information please see: http://www.lasan.org/ ^{(Br. François Anh)}
Web Notes: The Superior General's Pastoral Letter has been added to the Publications section along with the most recent editions of Lasallian Reflections. We continue our series of overviews of our Districts with the District of North Belgium. ^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}
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