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 News of the Institute and Lasallian Family
Rome, June 10, 2004
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The Intercapitular meeting which took place in Rome in May 2004 was a
significant event in our Institute. Linked to this Current Event are two
presentations given during the meeting by Br. Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior
General.
 In
 his opening address, Br. Alvaro
reflected on a quote from a book by Gabriel Ringlet,
entitled The
Gospel of a liberal thinker, Could God be a lay person?: "If Christianity has a future, it will be none other than a vagabond
future and the rediscovery of that which some theologians call "the
essence of Exodus" because in the present, even more than in the past,
the central issue is to leave Egypt and to pass through the Red Sea, to
encounter foreign people, to invent, to innovate, and to go forward
without baggage along an unknown road in search of something which is
possible and new."
Using this text, he challenged the members to reflect on the Exodus story as
their
own and not to "be afraid of our vagabond and wandering future and the
rediscovery of the essence of Exodus in our Christian faith and in our Lasallian origins. May we let ourselves be guided by the Spirit along
unknown roads but always open to the unforeseeable and to hope." The Superior's words are an interesting and inspirational challenge for
all of us to reflect on our own Exodus stories as we work for the
educational needs of the young, especially the poor.
 In
his closing address, Br. Alvaro spoke about our religious life,
and specifically about the quality of our religious life. Three words
that he used to describe it were: "passion, radicalness and
meaningfulness." In his address, he looked at a number of "temptations
which lie in wait for us today." He spoke of issues of secularism,
consumerism, individualism and the impact of new technology. Finally, he
left us with two questions: 1. How can we insure that, what in our
beginnings was a new and meaningful gospel experience, can still
maintain its relevance?
2. Are we convinced that, what is more important than administering a
past, is looking ahead in spite of everything and turning towards the
future?
While both of the above presentations are addressed specifically to
Brothers, his thoughts and challenges are well worth note by all of the
Lasallian Family.
(Br. Donald Johanson) |
 Appointment
of Mr Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría as Secretary General of the
Organisation of American States (OEA): We congratulate Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General, on the appointment of his
brother Miguel Ángel as Secretary General of the OEA. Mr Rodríguez
Echeverría, 63, economist, successful businessman, university professor
and ex-president of Costa Rica (1998-2002) has become the first person
from Central America to occupy this post in the OEA. His solid academic
formation and vast experience in positions of political responsibility,
his faith in democracy and freedom, and his continuing efforts in
combating poverty, inequality and social exclusion have made him an
excellent candidate for renewing and strengthening relationships between
the nations of America, and of promoting respect for human rights within
the continent.
The former president of Costa Rica is aware that this new post makes him
feel proud but above all he feels a great responsibility. He affirms
that from his point of view the great problems of Latin America all
revolve around one: the poor. In his new position he believes that will
be able to take action against poverty because it is not enough, he
insisted, to "cry out against it" it requires rather taking effective
action.
The election of the new Secretary General was supported by the majority
of heads of state and took place unanimously.
Mr Rodríguez Echeverría will replace his Colombian colleague César
Gaviria in this position in September 2004.
As Lasallians we rejoice in this appointment and ask God for help and
protection for Miguel Ángel, while to himself we wish yet another
success in his long career of service to his neighbour. |
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publishing, please email us: lasallew@lasalle.org |
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