Signum Fidei Association meets in Rome in an historic gathering: From March 20 – April 2, twenty-five representatives from around the world met at the Generalate of the Brothers to discuss the Signum Fidei Association in the world today. This was an historic gathering since it was the first time an international gathering of representative members of the Signum Fidei Association had ever met.

Because this was their first international gathering, the Lasallian group had to immediately deal with the multiplicity of blessings and challenges that such a gathering involves. The gathering mirrored many of the issues that exist in any multinational gathering held during this third millennium, post-Vatican II age in which we live. Just as the Roman Catholic Church and our Lasallian Institute has dealt and continues to deal with issues of identity, centralized authority, cultural diversity, religious pluralism and differences in spirituality, these issues provided a dramatic background for the discussions during the gathering.

The Signum Fidei Association emerged in the 1970s when, in several places in the world, Lasallian lay people, hoping to find a way to be more committed in their Christian lives, asked the Institute if it would be possible to create closer links with the Brothers and with their spirit. From these beginnings, the Signum Fidei Movement spread so that today it is in 29 countries. In 2000, the 43rd General Chapter recognized the members of the Association as Associates for the Lasallian Mission.

The members of the Association make an annual commitment and belong to a local Signum Fidei community. The primary task of the meeting in Rome was to revise the “Style of Life” document which is a description of how members of the Signum Fidei members live their lives. The document, in 13 Chapters, describes numerous aspects of the Signum Fidei style of life describing their relationship with God, their relationship to each other in their communities and role in their families, and the various educational activities to which they commit themselves.

Br. Alvaro Rodriguez, Superior General, addressed the assembly, reminding them of their history and challenging them to be part of the Church’s current “Ecclesiology of communion” with its emphasis on the importance of the role of the laity in today’s Church. He emphasized that the Lasallian charism is a gift to the Church, and that the Signum Fidei Association must plot its own course within 1) the parameters of Lasallian Association as set down by the General Chapter, 2) the inspiration of our Founder and 3) the influence of Sacred Scripture. He told them that Signum Fidei is a way of providing spirituality, especially for the laity, in line with John Baptist De la Salle. He said pointedly, “The future of your life is in your hands, not ours.”

Based on the reports from the various countries represented at the meeting, it is obvious that the members of the Association are spiritual people who are committed to making a difference in education, both formal and informal. They strive to be Lasallian models for those with whom they associate, demonstrating in their lives Lasallian values and principles of educational service to the young, especially the poor.

As the Signum Fidei movement continues to plot its course for the future, Br. Victor Franco, General Councilor, pointed out 13 issues that he believed were important to consider as they revised their “Style of Life” document, reflecting feedback from continental meetings and his visits to Signum Fidei communities. His questions dealt with the issues of 1) official Church recognition, 2) the use of the word consecration, 3) the admission of non-Catholics and/or non-Christians to the group, 4) the admission of priests and other religious, 5) Signum Fidei youth, 6) the length of commitment, 7) the minimum length of their formation process, 8) the relationship of Signum Fidei to the Institute and the Districts, 9) linkage with other Lasallian groups, 10) the training of animators, 11) the structures of coordination and communication, 12) stable financial resources for the organization, and 13) the frequency of international assemblies.

With the tasks well defined, the group worked hard for two weeks revising their “Style of Life” document, working in language groups and in general assembly, striving to do their best to orchestrate a future that would make an impact on the world. Given that this was the first time many of the participants had participated in an assembly under a system of parliamentary procedures gleaned from several cultures, it was a learning process for all that managed to move forward and tackle the many theoretical, cultural, linguistic, theological and technological problems thrown at them during the two weeks.

When the document is completed and translated, I will post it on the web for those who wish to know more about this movement within the Lasallian world.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}

Mgr. Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela, named Cardinal: Recently His Holiness Benedict XVI named 15 new Cardinals of the Church. Among them was one Latin American, Mgr. Jorge Liberato Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas, Venezuela. The election of Mgr. Urosa is a great cause of joy for the entire Lasallian Family, since he is a past-pupil of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He studied in Colegio De La Salle, Tienda Honda, Caracas. We send our greetings and congratulations to him and to all our Venezuelan Brothers. It is a great joy for us to know that a member of our Lasallian Family is carrying out a splendid mission of service for the Church and for the world. Let us unite in prayer to ask the Lord and His Blessed Mother to bless, accompany, protect and guide Mgr. Urosa Savino as well as all the Lasallians of the world who are working day after day so that this world may become better and more fraternal. May Christ the Lord be always in your hearts.
^{(Fr. Carlos Letelier Reyes)}

Partial Assembly of "Associated for the Mission" at Sainte Dorothée, Laval, Quebec, March 25th to 26th: About 40 people - Brothers, Associates and our most committed collaborators, including a good number of young people, gathered at the Maison Sainte-Dorothée in Laval, Quebec, to hold a Partial Assembly of ‘Associated for the Mission’ – as is being done by each Lasallian Region - which is the first phase of the International Assembly which will be held in Rome at the end of October 2006.
In a very fraternal atmosphere, bearing witness to the closeness between the Brothers and their lay colleagues, the participants, coming from the diverse educational works of the District, and thanks to the original and efficient way the Assembly was run, were able to exchange views on the strengths, good fortune, obstacles and challenges for the future in the District.
The participants, by their presence, were already showing one of the strengths of the District: the strong cohesion which exists among them and a family spirit which makes one optimistic about the continuation of the Lasallian Education Mission in this part of the Institute.
This was a good meeting which strengthened the convictions of the participants and was a good preparation for the International Assembly in Rome.
^{(Br. Claude Reinhardt)}

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