SECOLI Tsunami Relief Update: Click here to see a report on money raised to date through SECOLI and where to send money.

Brothers' Schools in Kenya Among the Best: The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results were released in Kenya, at the beginning of March. St. Mary’s School, Nyeri, ranked in the top 50 schools in the nation, ranking number 34, and in the private sector number 9. Rongai A&T School ranked in the top 100 schools in the Nation, ranking number 55, and in the private sector number 13. St. Paul’s too, ranked in the top 100 schools, ranking number 79 in the nation, and in the private sector 19.

Congratulations to the school’s administration, faculty, staff and of course, the students for the outstanding results once again, this past year. Competition includes some 3000 plus schools in the nation and over 1000 private schools.
^{(www.cbconf.org)}

Third Meeting of The Ad Hoc Rule Commission: The ad hoc Commission on the Rule had its third meeting in the Casa Generalizia from 7th-12th March 2005 to present its final working document to Brother Superior and Council. This document consists of a close study of the most important Church documents that have appeared since the Church’s approval of the 1987 Rule and of the Institute’s own documentation coming from the General Chapters of 1986, 1993 and 2000, official documents of Brother Superior and Council and the emphases of the Pastoral Letters of Brothers Superior. The continuing development of Shared Mission, the renewed interest in the concept of association for both Brothers and Lay people, the establishment of Mission Councils and the holding of Mission Assemblies will all need to find a more contemporary expression in any updating of the 1987 Rule. The successive working documents of the Commission provide a valuable resource basis for the further development of this task whenever it appears to be most opportune.
^{(Br. Gerard Rummery)}

Br. James Gaffney Receives De La Salle Award from Bethlehem University: On Friday 11 March, the Bethlehem University community gathered in the University's Chapel of the Divine Child to honor Brother James Gaffney, FSC, President of Lewis University, and to grant him the De La Salle Award in recognition of his distinguished contribution to education and outstanding support of the professional development of Bethlehem University's faculty. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Delegate and Chancellor of Bethlehem University, and members of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, administration and student body members were in attendance.

The De La Salle Award is presented by Bethlehem University to a person who is distinguished in education or to a person who has contributed in an outstanding way to the good of Bethlehem University. Brother James is a person who embodies both of these award criteria.

For more information see http://www.bethlehem.edu/
^{(George Sahhar)}

Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, USA: Brother Daniel Casey, who has been named to succeed Brother Vincent Malham as the Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, the Degree Doctorate of Humanities, honoris causa, from Lewis University on December 19, 2004 at the university’s commencement ceremony. The citation honoring Br. Daniel stated in part, “Highly dedicated throughout his impressive career to Catholic and Lasallian education, Brother Daniel F Casey, FSC, has excelled as a teacher and administrator, combining his multi-cultural sensitivity and respect for the dignity of all people to provide quality Lasallian educational opportunities for students in the United States, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. He will bring 46 years of knowledge and experience to his next assignment at Bethlehem University; where he will succeed Brother Vincent Malham, FSC, as the President and Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University.” He served as Provincial in Africa from 1969-73 and as Auxiliary Provincial and then Provincial from 1996-2004 for the Long Island-New England Province of the De La Salle Christian Schools. In the pictures, Br. Daniel is receiving his degree from Br. James Gaffney, President of Lewis University.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson )}

Chief administrators from Lasallian secondary schools in the USA/Toronto Region convened in Tucson, Arizona, February 28 through March 3 to explore the theme “Preserving and Promoting the Lasallian Heritage of Secondary Schools in the New Century.”

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, of the Diocese of Tucson and Sister Rosa Maria Ruiz, CFMM, Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the diocese, welcomed the group on Monday evening.

Presenters at the conference included Sister Mary Angela Shaughnessy, CSN, Brother Michael McKenery, FSC, Brother Raymond Vercruysse, CFC and Reverend James L.Heft, S.M. They addressed issues of school law, the sustainability of a Catholic and Lasallian vision of education, spirit-centered leadership, and emerging issues for Catholic school leaders.

The conference, designed by presidents and principals of Lasallian schools, included breakout and best practice sessions on topics such as practical issues for governance and administration, the orientation of new teachers, the Lasallian assessment process, drug and alcohol prevention programs, and creative approaches to development.
^{(ww.cbconf.org)}

First Executive Director of the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) Appointed: Brother William Carriere has been selected by the California Catholic Conference (CCC) and the California Catholic School Superintendents (CCSS) as the first Executive Director of the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA).

The WCEA co-accredits all Catholic high schools in California with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). WCEA also accredits all Catholic elementary schools in California. In addition WCEA is now accrediting Catholic high schools and elementary schools in seven other western states. Brother William will have oversight over all commissioners in the eight states, the various Protocols that would be used in the evaluation of schools, the further development of the process of school evaluation, and be on the Board of the WASC. It is an honor for all Lasallians that the first Executive Director of the WCEA is a (De La Salle) Christian Brother.
^{(Br. Stanislaus Campbell, FSC, Visitor, District of San Francisco)}

Lasallian Leadership Institute (LLI), USA: Established in 1997 to expand the partnership between colleagues and the Brothers in the Church’s ministry of education, the LLI is a professional, comprehensive formation program for leadership within Lasallian institutions and ministries throughout the United States/Toronto Region.

The Institute functions on a three-year cycle that includes one week each summer and two weekends. It assists participants in integrating and promoting the Lasallian heritage in their personal and professional lives. As a result they become themselves catalysts for future development of this heritage within their respective communities.
Coming together as a community, participants are introduced to the central features of the Lasallian heritage, to a study of the Lasallian world today and its relationship to contemporary understandings of spirituality, education, management, and community leadership.

Recently, the East Coast's (USA) third cohort of the LLI finished its second year in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania with an examination of the journey of spirituality. It also took some time to be a part of preparing for November's Regional Assembly on Association and Mission. The group came together to focus in on the role of spirituality in one's individual life, one's community and one's role as a Lasallian spiritual leader. Presenters Br. Fred Mueller, Mr. Greg Kopra and Br. James Joost led the assembly with individual reflections, small group discussions and large group processing. The vibrant discussion, as always, was followed with relaxed community time for all the members to bond and continue their conversations beyond the formal sessions. Br. Kevin Dalmasse led the group through the Regional focus questions on mission to build the body of knowledge for the delegates to bring to the November assembly in Utah.

Following the small group work, during the report to the whole gathering, many needs from finances to identity to the increasing our ministry to the poor were cited. One clear message rang out throughout the discussion, we must continue to build this mission together and all of our ministries must be connected within our Lasallian heritage from the colleges to the elementary schools. The LLI cohort provided a strong symbol of what our community can be if we all come together and build our future together.
^{(www.fscbaltimore.org/home.html)}

Museo Lasalle added to the 360º pictures on our web site: "Museo Lasalle" is located just inside the main entrance to the Casa. It opened on April 7, 2004, the anniversary of the death of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The main views of the museum presented here are: the Main Entrance, the Founder's Area, the Early Institute Area, the Development of the Institute Area, and the Institute Today.
^{(Frère Donald Johanson)}

If you have news notes that you would like us to consider publishing, please email us:lasallew@lasalle.org