Br. Victor Franco encourages the Signum Fidei of Malta: Br. Victor Franco, General Councilor, was warmly welcomed when he visited Malta from the 18th to the 20th of November on the occasion of a Signum Fidei Celebration. The Signum Fidei group in Malta has 62 members. About half of these made their consecration between 10 and 20 years ago. The remaining half is going through a formation program and hopefully will be received as consecrated members next year.

On Saturday all the members met at De la Salle College, Cottonera, to celebrate the feast of Christ the King. Before the celebration of the Eucharist, Br. Victor met the group and shared with them the Institute's wishes for the future. He emphasized the importance of Signum Fidei members participating actively in the Institute's mission of evangelization. He maintained that, no matter what state of life we embrace, we can still be imbued with the charism of St. La Salle.

During the celebration of the Eucharist, 26 members renewed their consecration in the presence of members of the Lasallian family. We heartily thank Br. Victor for coming to Malta and for his encouraging words to all Signum Fidei members. He thanked the Maltese Lasallian family for its warm and generous welcome, and Br. Martin thanked him and presented him with souvenirs of his visit and a donation for the Signum Fidei fund.
^{(Br. Louis)}

The passing of the baton from Br. Jacques d’Huiteau to Br. Nicolas Capelle: Br. Jacques d’Huiteau’s mandate as Visitor of France ended on Tuesday November 15th and Br. Nicolas Capelle took up his new duties. This passing of the baton took place at the Maison de La Salle in Paris during a mass of thanksgiving, celebrated by Fr. Bernard Thomasset, Provincial of the Marist Fathers and Vice-President of the Conference of Major Superiors of France. Br. Alvaro, Superior General, who was passing through Paris on the way back from his visit to Reunion, was able to attend the ceremony. After the readings, Br. Jacques handed over to Br. Nicolas the lamp which had been given to him when he took up his duties eight years ago. This lamp, which had always been in his office, was for him a light to guide the District and a flame to rekindle the hope of the Brothers.

After Communion, Br. Nicolas renewed his vows, before receiving a ring, as a sign of blessing, and his obedience from the hands of the Brother Superior General. The latter also thanked Brother Jacques and the District of France. He emphasized the vitality of the District and its strength of witness and creativity for the Institute.

During the aperitif which followed, presents were given to Br. Jacques d’Huiteau to thank him for the eight years spent in the service of the District and the Lasallian network: gestures of friendship from the Brothers Visitors, from Trusteeship Delegates, from those in charge of Lasallian Association, from Brothers such as Br. Gérard Dervaux who painted the watercolor.

Br. Jacques replied that he had been a “Happy Visitor”, underlining the importance for him of teamwork. As a good native of Bayonne, he compared his eight years as Visitor to a rugby match in the course of which, in spite of bad moments, all involved unite in a scrum and work for the same success.
^{(www.lasalle-fec.org)}

The Brothers of South India continue to make an impact: Following the tsunami that was so devastating following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the Brothers of South India have been working very hard to help those local people that were affected by the tsunami. The following comments have been extracted from a report of J. Eugine David, C.E.T to Br. John Fernando, President of the Delegation. Although the data presented may seem simple, it gives an example of the impact that the Brothers are having in the every day ministry of educating the young people there.

The evening study centre of Kootapuly is going on well. They have conducted the manavar mantram (talent show) for the students. Almost all the students participated. It was very useful for the students, allowing them to increase their talents. Br. John Fernando, has appointed two more teachers to this centre. The Perumanal evening study centre is going well. Students are coming to the study center with interest and the teachers were also very punctual for the evening study. The evening study centre at Idinthkarai has a lot of students. After a visit by donors from Sweden, Br. John Fernando was able to appoint 4 more teachers to the centre. At the moment, there are 7 teachers working in the centre.

The evening study centre at Kuthenkuly is running very well. Already 3 Teachers are working in this centre. In the month of October, 2 more teachers were appointed. In the evening study centre at Lions Town 2 more teachers were appointed which brought the total up to 4. On October 15 a new community hall was blessed and opened by Fr. Oswalt VG.

At St. Lasalle Nagar there are a total of 50 students. The teacher took the effort to teach the children small Rhymns and stories, and the children are able to sing the Rhymns by themselves.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}

Totino Grace High School Students serve at De La Salle Blackfeet: This past October, ten "changers of the world" and I embarked on a journey of service to a San Miguel School on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana. We spent the week tutoring students in fifth through eighth grade at De La Salle Blackfeet School. The importance of vision was reinforced. Without dreams of a changed future, improvement will never occur. The school, with its Lasallian spirit, strives to create a faith in education. Teaching the students to believe in themselves and the potential that each one holds within, the Christian message is being engrained within the hearts of tomorrow's leaders. This message of hope for a more perfected tomorrow is strengthened every day through the work of committed individuals who strive to teach every child that he or she is limitless. What a gift it was for each one of us from our Lasallian Totino Grace High School to contribute in the task of changing the world one student at a time.
^{(Teresa Gloppen, Senior at Totino Grace High School)}

Brother Martyrs of Consuegra (Toledo, Spain): On November 15th 2005, the Commission of Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints examined the cause of our 4 Brother Martyrs of Consuegra (Toledo, Spain). The presentation went well and the last step before their Beatification will be the formal reading of the Decree of their Martyrdom. The actual ceremony of their Beatification involves more than 500 Martyrs. Among them are 44 Brothers from Barcelona, 5 from Ciudad Real, 5 from Cartagena and 4 from Toledo. The Beatification will be held next year in September or October.
^{(Fr. Rodolfo Cosimo Meoli)}

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