Threefold celebration in La Salle Arpana Nivas, Bangalore, India: On Sunday 19, June 2005, before an assembled gathering of Religious of several orders, relatives and friends, 5 young men were formally admitted into the novitiate, 8 young men received the Religious Habit and 1 young man made his First Vows.

The Eucharistic celebration was an occasion of thanksgiving, joy, and song. The tasks of the master of ceremonies, readers, servers and singers were undertaken by the young men themselves, thereby making the celebration a personal experience for each one of them.

During the mass Br. John Fernando, President of the Delegation of India, reflected on the importance and relevance of the religious life in today’s world to the assembled congregation. “It is a life of commitment and service to all, but especially to the under privileged in society. It is a life centered on Christ himself who was poor, chaste, obedient and mission oriented - the spreading of the good news the religious life because it is a counter-culture sign to the power, greed and selfishness so prevalent in society today.”

Congratulations to all!
^{(Br. John Fernando, FSC, President)}

Carlo Cardinal Martini Honored at Bethlehem University of the Holy Land: On June 26, 2005, Speaking of the importance and complexity of communication and the primary role of Bethlehem University in promoting peace and human rights, Carlo Cardinal Martini, distinguished church leader, scholar and promoter of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, was the recipient of a Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, conferred by Bethlehem University of the Holy Land on Sunday, 26 June 2005. His Excellency, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio and Chancellor of Bethlehem University, presided at the ceremony. “Bethlehem University is proud to acknowledge this eminent man of God as a friend who strengthens and encourages us to continue our important educational mission,” said Brother Vincent Malham, President-Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University.
^{(www.bethlehem.edu)}

BARI, National Eucharistic Congress – “Children + Rights” an interactive journey in our children’s world: For the Lasallian Youth Movement (LYM), the much expected event of the National Eucharistic Congress finally arrived. In Bari the Italian Catholic Church joined together to underline the importance of the day of the Lord. “Without Sunday, we can’t live” was the title of a week-long meeting.

Groups of young people were invited by the CEI (Episcopal Conference of Italy) to organize a special area reserved for Youth Ministry. The LYM presented an interactive show on the theme of the Rights of the Child: “Children + Rights”, our Lasallian vocation’s fruit. The exhibit space was in a space of about twenty feet in which the user was asked to stop four times:

1. LET’S START! Three videos projected non-stop stories of minors who suffered violations of their rights. It was narrated by their contemporaries.

2. LET’S INTERACT! In two computer models, the user, through a method of case studies, interacted with a girl’s story, which in her apparently “normal” life, concealed violations of her rights.

3. LET’S KNOW OURSELVES! A large poster explained how the Lasallian Youth Movement pursued its goals, rooted in John Baptist De La Salle.

4. LET’S GET TOGETHER! Finally, after having educated ones conscience on the subject, the visitor was asked to “get involved” by cutting out an outline drawing of a child on paper. This was done so that the participant could reflect on the violations of the rights of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.

One of the visitors to the exhibition space was Bishop Angelo Comastri, who left on our guestbook a splendid message: “Each child is a ray of light, coming from God’s Heart.”

But Bari is only the first step in the long journey that our exposition “Children plus Rights” is expecting. Indeed, the project from September on will travel to other schools and Lasallian Institutions offering a program of educating people about Children’s Rights, sensitizing the Province of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Italy.

Our hope is to form a common consciousness of our Movement in order to continue following with deliberation the educative work of De La Salle and to impact situations around us wherever we, the young, are the principal actors.
^{(Claudio Mennini)}

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