Three-Hundred Brothers Gather for Holy Week Retreat: Some 300 Brothers of the Districts of Baltimore, LI-NE, and New York and the Delegation of Toronto gathered in Bushkill, Pennsylvania, from 12 to 16 April 2006 for Holy Week Retreat.

This retreat was a follow-up to a Lasallian Futures Assembly that was held in Catskills, New York, during the summer of 2004 when about 50 Brothers and 50 Lasallian Partners focused on the future of the Lasallian educational mission in the geographical area from Toronto in Ontario, Canada, to Washington, DC, in the USA.

There was a very positive and prayerful atmosphere all throughout the holy days as the Brothers celebrated the Holy Week liturgies, engaged in small group discussion, and listened to conferences by Brother Vicar General William Mann, Brother General Councilor Miguel Campos, Brother Secretary of Education Frederick Mueller, and Passionist Father Robert Joerger, AFSC.

When it came time at the conclusion of the Holy Week Retreat to propose the direction for or against greater union, cooperation and collaboration among the Districts and Delegation, the Brothers were almost unanimous in proposing that work should begin immediately to move toward the creation of one new District-like entity in the Northeast.

While what such re-structuring would look like is not yet clear, a plan has been put in place to keep the momentum of the retreat going. The Brother Visitors and Brother Delegate will have a final draft in June 2006 of a document proposing a Confederation of all of the Lasallian educational ministries of the Northeast. This work has been in-progress since the Lasallian Futures Assembly that was held in the summer of 2004. A joint meeting of the District and Delegation Councils to follow-up on the direction given by the Brothers at the Holy Week Retreat has already been scheduled for August of 2006.
^{(Br. Bill Mann)}

Holy Week in Malta: The Brothers in Malta hold their annual retreat during Holy Week, and as is customary they invite members of the Lasallian family to join them for one day of Retreat on Holy Thursday. This year the day was attended by over a hundred Lasallians. It was a very reflective and prayerful day with Lasallian themes permeating throughout.

The day was attended by parents, teachers, past students, PTA members and especially by Signum Fidei members. The prayer groups formed concentrated on the Holy Founder's meditations and Br. Superior's letter.

Julie Bajada, who was just back from the Signum Fidei symposium in Rome gave an expose' of the work done and the future of Signum Fidei. Many of the audience showed great interest in Signum Fidei and promised that they would reflect on becoming members.
^{(Br. Martin Borg)}

Summary of Association Commission Activities, April 2006: The Association Commission met for 5 days 22-26 April, 2006. The first two days the Association Commission met with the MEL Commission to identify their roles during the upcoming International Assembly. Members of both commissions make up the preparatory committee and each member of the commissions will be extensively involved as leaders in preparation for and during the Assembly.

The Commission meeting itself had two focuses: first, each member presented a report on advances made in the living out and the understanding of association in their respective regions and districts over the last 12 months. The report also included a summary of the partial assemblies that had taken place in preparation for the International Assembly.

In particular, the commission members were asked to focus on the experience of Lasallian identity and spirituality lived by individuals of other faith traditions.

The second part of the meeting was the preparation of a report that the Commission will make to the International Assembly in early November, 2006. The Commission members evaluated how the 43rd General Chapter recommendations and propositions with regard to association had been addressed and areas that needed more attention. Additionally, the Commission will present to the Assembly obstacles or difficulties that exist around association for mission in the world, some critical points or questions and, based on the commissions work and study over the last 5 years, recommendations for the future.
^{(Gery Short)}

Some devotees of Saint Mutien Marie started a project: to create an arboretum for which we dare to call upon all the Brothers “seeded” in many countries. All they would have to do is to send to us seeds of trees from their environment. So these seeds will allow us to restore the green space where Saint Mutien Marie liked to sow his Ave Marias.

I address a warm thank you to those of which will not regard my request as a foolish thing.

Here’s the address :
Arboretum St Mutien (Frère Gilbert THIRY)
129, rue du Fond
B5020 – Malonne (Belgium)

gifrip@swing.be

P.S. You could also send to us seedlings but then please do so by DHL or express mail.
^{(Br. Gilbert Thiry)}

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