Brother Timothy Diener, Living Legend of California Winemaking, Dies at Age 94: Brother Timothy, a beloved Brother of the San Francisco District and recognized for his pioneering efforts in the California wine industry, has died at the Brothers' Mont La Salle Novitiate in Napa, California. He was known by many members of the Lasallian Family throughout the world, and will be missed very much.

At last year's well-attended Jubilee celebrating Brother Timothy's 75th anniversary as a Christian Brother, he was honored as the oldest living brother of the San Francisco District.

As Brother Timothy told the Jubilee dinner attendees, "I had joined the Christian Brothers to serve God and to help in the educational work of the Brothers. So, I was convinced that my work in wine would also help our schools financially. And, indeed, the making of wine turned out to be a great help to our educational mission. For over forty years we had a successful business that grew as the California wine industry grew and as the Napa Valley became known for the quality and dependability of its grapes and its wines."

Brother Timothy worked as cellarmaster of Mont La Salle Vineyards until 1987. The winery business was sold in 1989, and in that same year Brother Tim retired to the Provincialate Community at Mont La Salle in Napa.

As Brother Tim summed it up for his audience of winemakers at the Jubilee dinner, "I believe that winemaking is an art and a science. I enjoyed those winery days and all the activities, as well as the lasting friendships made over a bottle of wine. But the sale of our wine and brandy business freed us from many distractions and allowed us Brothers to concentrate exclusively on our three-century-old role of teaching. I have always been a Brother first and a winemaker second. I thank you for honoring me with your presence here tonight and for your moral and financial support of the educational work of the Christian Brothers."

"When he took on the job of wine chemist, he became (Christian Brother Winery's) heart and soul," Brother David Brennan, former provincial, said of the honoree. "When the winery was sold in 1989 to support educational needs, Brother Tim graciously accepted that decision. He's a master vintner and a friend to all he met along the way."
^{(Br. Donald Johanson, J. A. Gray)}

SECOLI Visit to Eritrea, November 12-17, 2004: In Eritrea, 22 Brothers live and work in the capital city of Asmara, Keren, Shinara Village, Hagaz or Segheneiti.

Three Brothers commute by pick-up truck 9km from Keren to Nativity School in Shinara Village; by the time they arrive at Nativity School the truck is filled with students and teachers picked up along the way. 460 students in grades K-8 are taught by 13 teachers. Tuition is about $5 per student per year; annual operating expenses total $12,842.

These Brothers live with six other Brothers in the St. Joseph’s Keren Community, 91 km northwest of Asmara. St Joseph’s has 1358 boys and girls in its elementary and secondary schools, grades 1-11. Last year the 12th Grade was dropped when it was required to be completed as part of military service. 11 Juniors attend the school and live on the first floor of the Brother’s house. There is a vocational training workshop distinct from the school on the property. Its activities were recently suspended due to a huge jump in the cost of raw materials.

In seven years an oasis has appeared in the desert. Hagaz Agricultural & Technical School is a very impressive project serving 312 young men and women boarding students from throughout the country and groups of adult village farmers. There are programs in farming, animal husbandry and agricultural mechanics. The capital investment of more than 5 million Euro has been made by NGO’s and the Basque government. Money is necessary but not sufficient for the amount of progress that has been made in this dry valley; vision, persistence, strict management and luck have played a part.

Five Brothers live in the Villagio section of Asmara. Four programs exist on the compace Campus. 1. The Institute for Religious Studies (IRS) where there are 90 students in this three year program. It is hoped that the program may grow into a College. 2. The Study Center which occupies one building on the campus and serves as a library and study hall for up to 50 students from the area, grades 6 through university. 3. The Novitiate is here since young men up to age 40 cannot leave the country. A one-time novitiate was opened last year in Eritrea. The Novitiate is located in a rented house a few doors from the Villagio Campus. It is not clear what will be done for a scholasticate if travel restrictions are not relaxed. 4. A Pre-Novitiate with some former Juniors from Keren. The program consists of the IRS classes, additional evening formation sessions, community living, prayer and involvement in weekend sports activities for 700 area students.

Segheniti is located 60km south east of Asmara. Two Brothers work at a diocesan elementary school and with youth of the parish running evening English classes for 20 government school 10th and 11th graders. They hope to start a study center based on the Villagio model. The parish priest is offering additional space as these projects expand. The Bishop would like the Brothers to open a High School in Segheniti but land has not yet been obtained from the government.
^{(Br. Stephen Tuohy)}

SECOLI Visit to Sudan, November 9-11, 2004: Although Br. Michel Fleury has been living and working in Khartoum for ten years, the first Community of Brothers was established in Sudan in July 2004 when he was joined by Brothers Yves Lecocq and Joseph Alk Deng who is the only Sudanese Brother in the Institute. The Brothers hope to add one or two to their community. Sudan is a project of Proche Oriente District, but Brothers from the other African Sectors are welcome. Br. Jerry Cox (Nairobi) has finally gotten a visa to visit Khartoum in December; he has been waiting since March. To work in Sudan, Arabic and English are the preferred languages.

The focus of the work of the Brothers in Sudan is displaced persons, a reality in Sudan that predates the Darfur crisis by 20 years. The Darfur crisis has in fact drawn attention from the long-term problem of the displaced persons in Sudan who build temporary houses on land that has not yet been surveyed. When the government eventually surveys the land it can be purchased. If the people can’t afford to buy the property, the house is leveled and they are forced to move on to new un-surveyed land. The Church provides some relief to these peoples through churches, primary schools and feeding centers in the settlements and a secondary school and a Teacher Training Center in Khartoum. The parish settlement schools also offer religious instruction to Christians who attend the government schools.

Br. Michel spent years developing Vocational Training programs that successfully operate today without his direct involvement. He now teaches pedagogy at the Catholic Teacher Training College housed at Comboni College and publishes a pamphlet for teachers of the Diocese in Arabic three times a year.

Brothers Yves also teaches at the Catholic Teacher Training College and visits diocesan schools with Br. Joseph assessing teacher needs.

Br. Joseph teaches English and Religion in Saint Augustine Secondary School in Khartoum. There are 400 students in the day school which is taught in English and another 200 students in the evening Arabic school. Most of the students travel up to two hours each day from the settlements. On Thursdays Br. Joseph joins Br. Yves assessing teacher needs.

The Brothers live in a section of a pre-seminary in North Khartoum whose campus is shared with a Jesuit Community. Even more than money the Brothers need personnel. They are looking with hope to other African Sectors, especially Eritrea, and volunteers from Cairo for individuals to join them.
^{(Br. Stephen Tuohy)}

A group of 60 missionaries from La Salle University in Bogota: A group of 60 missionaries from La Salle University in Bogota, Colombia, accompanied the rural communities of Yopal Casanaré, Sasaima and Alban Cundinamarca during Holy Week. This group included chaplains from the University, professionals from the office of Promotion and Human Development and student volunteers. There was advance planning and spiritual preparation for these days of joyful sharing with families in these areas.
^{(Br. Edgar Figueroa Abrajim)}

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