CIL, May 2006, First Week: There are five instruments for supporting the interactive process of preparation for the General Chapter of 2007. The third, the document “Being Brothers Today”, is one of the basic texts for the work of this CIL.

Brothers Miguel Campos and André-Pierre Gauthier, from the team which produced this document, explained the methodology to be followed. In the phase prior to its preparation they counted on the views of 25 Brothers from each of the continents. What is asked of this CIL is to advance reflection further so as to then involve all the Brothers in the Institute.

Without previously knowing the contents of the said document, we are reflecting in small groups on the different sections of the document. Then we are giving the text to the participants in parts, so that they can compare and contrast their concerns and evaluations and then share these in a plenary session.

The mediator-facilitator for the debates is Br. John D’Cruz of the CIL staff. His performance has been masterly. It is not easy to lead a dialogue between Brothers from such different cultural backgrounds. It is certain that the talents and the high level of thought of those present has been of great help in this environment of active searching which has been created.

The analysis of the context was the point of departure. The social changes within the Church and the Institute itself have been the centre. The global contribution has been very rich. We have stressed the social changes which have most directly affected the life of the Institute, such as: the family, the habits of youth, the changes in values, the eruption of new technologies, globalization, advances in communications…. Special emphasis has been put on the emergence of the new poverties.

In the first part of the document there is a comparison made between the context in which the “Declaration” appeared (the Chapter of 1967) where the Brother was situated
“in the world of today”, and the very different reality, forty years later, in which the Chapter of 2007 will take place.

All this leads us to re-situating ourselves as Brothers in the here and now. This will be the work of the coming days.
^{(Br. Néstor Ferrera Pardillo, Secretary of ARLEP)}

Brother Superior's Visit to the District of France: Brother Superior is currently making the second part of his visit to the District of France. Previously, the Superior had visited the District sectors in Djibouti, on the island of Reunion, and in Greece. About one-hundred young people were gathered there to celebrate Easter and their motto was "We walk in the light of the Risen Lord." Easter itself was energized by the young people and the experience was joyful and deeply spiritual. Brother Álvaro reminded the young people about the three dynamics in which they can embrace the Lasallian charism: faith, fraternity, and service, and he gave some examples of how these values are being lived on the international level.

The visit then continued in the Western sector. In Quimper Brother Álvaro met with student and teacher delegates from the professional training courses in Likés. It was very encouraging to see the interest that the teachers have for mentoring the students in their formative process, and they do this in the hope of having these students fit into society and into the work force. In the same sector, Brother Álvaro also met with groups of Lasallians and with senior Brothers from the communities of Blain and Keroser.

The visit to the Central sector began on April 20. In this sector, Brother Superior visited the centers of Godefroy, Bouillon, and Franc-Rosier (Clermont Ferrand), and Motte Servolex (Chambery). He also met with senior Brothers from the communities of Caluire, Argonay, and Puy-en-Velay, where he stressed the importance of senior Brothers continuing to consider themselves as part of the District's mission by their interest, their welcoming spirit, and above all by their prayer for the District and for the Institute. The visit to this sector concluded with an Assembly of Brothers and Associates in Parmenie, where a lay person made his commitment as an Associate. In his formula of commitment, he said that "by the indwelling of God and by the strength of the Spirit, he wanted to associate himself with the Brothers and with other Lasallians to respond to the spiritual needs of the young..."

On April 24, Brother Álvaro went to Metz to begin the visit to the Eastern sector. He had a meeting with the Brothers from Metz at the house in Borny and he also visited the works in Guénange-Richemont which welcomes young people who are experiencing difficulties in their families and those who have been sent there by the courts due to behavior problems. Also in this sector he visited the AJR (Avenir Jeunes Reims) Center where help is given to unschooled children with social problems in order to prepare them for the workplace. The Center receives less money from the state than it needs, so to make up for that deficit products produced on the premises are sold, mostly carpentry products. Brothers from the Wilson Boulevard community work in this center and the community welcomes a young volunteer yearly.

The visit to this sector concluded in Reims with a meeting of Brothers and Associates and a visit to "l'Hotel de La Salle."
^{(Brother Juan Pablo Martín)}

De La Salle University Bajío, Guanajuato, Mexico: De La Salle University Bajío, located in the city of León Guanajuato, Mexico, achieved listing in the Administrative Simplification Enrollment Register and in the Register of Universities of Academic Excellence. They received this distinction from the hands of Ignacio Villagordoa Meza, who was the representative of the Secretary of Public Education. De La Salle was the first university in the state of Guanajuato to achieve such an honor and the ninth in the nation.

De La Salle University Bajío has five campuses which are attended by 13,600 students who are enrolled in 4 preparatory programs, 2 university professional tracks. The University offers 25 licentiate degrees, 30 postgraduate degrees and more than 50 programs of continuing education. We commit ourselves to work with each student in his integral formation and we offer not only the best facilities but also a well-prepared teaching faculty who are committed to their magisterial vocation and who think of this service as a ministry.

This event is of great benefit to education in our country, since the institution has standards of quality that allows it to offer a quality education on the national and international levels.

A festive atmosphere was the order of the day as the official plaque, signed by Undersecretary of Higher Education Rubio Oca and Dr. Leonel Zuñiga Molina, professor of Planning and Assessment of Educational Policy.

At the end of the ceremony, the Rector of the University, Juan Roberto López González, offered a few words: "This means a lot to us, because it is the result of many years of effort, nearly forty, in fulfilling the mission that has been entrusted to us and which is none other than to bring the highest quality education to those who most need it.

In this way, the fruits of the that seed that was sown over one-hundred years ago, ever since the first Lasallian Brothers arrived in Mexico, was demonstrated. This reaffirms that De La Salle University is at the vanguard in providing continual improvement and assuring quality in education.
^{(Itzel Villanueva M.)}

Lasallian International Children’s Fund to begin disbursements: Brother John Johnston has announced that the Lasallian International Children’s Fund now has a market value of $ 363,000 and will begin disbursements May 15, 2006.

Towards the end of the 43rd General Chapter, the Regions of the Institute announced their decision to create the Brother John Johnston Fund for the Protection and Welfare of Children. Subsequently, Brother John modified the name to Lasallian International Children’s Fund. He and his advisors decided to allow the fund to grow to at least $350,000 before beginning disbursements.

The purpose of the fund is to provide monies from interest and dividends for programs directly in service of needy children and youth, for advocacy projects on behalf of children, and for the training of leaders in the promotion of the rights of children. The fund will provide between $13,000 and $15,000 annually.

Because the fund is intended to provide assistance internationally, and because SECOLI has a highly effective infrastructure already in place, Brother John has asked the Directors of SECOLI to designate recipients from among those seeking assistance.

Each year the Directors of SECOLI will choose three or four projects for funding by the LICF. They will make disbursements annually on May 15, feast of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The 2006 LICF recipients are: Nouna (Burkina Faso), Esperanza (Chile), Dire Dawa (Ethiopia), Boy’s Village (India).

Anyone wishing to contribute to The Lasallian International Children’s Fund can send donations to:

SECOLI-LICF
Via Aurelia 476
00165 Roma, Italia

Lasallian Volunteers in Douala: May 13th was a big day for the District of Douala.
On that day, Brothers and their Lay Lasallian Partners gathered in the chapel of the Collège De La Salle in Douala to accompany 23 young persons who made their commitment as Lasallian Volunteers of Cameroon. Their slogan was: “In the steps of John Baptist DE LA SALLE.”

For more than two years they have followed a long path: periods of recollection, prayer meetings, spiritual retreats, exchanges on the subject of John Baptist DE LA SALLE, going out to encourage deprived young people by means of occasional periods of formation.

On May 13th these young people took a further step: “I consecrate myself to you to procure your glory as far as I am able and as far as you will require of me. And for this purpose, I associate myself with the Lasallian Volunteers of Cameroon with a view to promoting, supporting and defending an integral education of the young especially the poorest, following the example of John Baptist DE LA SALLE.”

The meaning of this commitment: We wish to share an ideal, united by solidarity, together and by association, wherever we may be. We make this gesture without anyone asking us. “I will be and remain a little John Baptist De La Salle all the days of my life. Facing the needs of the poor I will find the face, that of Christ.”

These young people will continue their studies and each one his own life, but from then on something will unite the members, something which cannot be easily explained, a strong bond. Later many of them will do two or three years service in a formation centre or in a work for the poor.

The Mutien-Marie Centre of Mbalmayo is at present run by the Lasallian Volunteers of Cameroon.

An office of the Lasallian Volunteers of Cameroon will be set up in Douala to correspond with the Lasallian world and to make contact with Lasallian Volunteers in the Institute who wish to come to Cameroon.
^{(Vitalis NDIKUM, Coordinator)}

Walk the World to fight hunger: Walk the World is a project organised by the World Food Programme in association with Caritas International and the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Joint Commission of the Unions of Superiors General USG/UISG.

The target is child hunger. The objective is to have hundreds of thousands of walkers on the streets of the principal cities of the world in peaceful protest against the continuing scandal of children dying of hunger. It is especially important that children and young people should be very evident in the marches, wearing the ‘T’ shirt and, by their conspicuous presence, calling on governments to take measures to reduce child hunger. The death of children from hunger is utterly unacceptable. Is your school involved? The Lasallian Educational Mission can add up to a million voices to this statement by young people and concerned adults. We hope that you would form a school group with your own banner. People can just come as individuals and join the walk. Volunteers will be needed to help in distributing fliers and leaflets about the walk and its aims to the people standing by. For information regarding the nearest organised walking group to you, visit the web site www.FightHunger.org or e-mail team@fighthunger.org.

The date fixed for the walks is May 21, 2006. In each time zone the walks will begin at 10.00 hours. With walks arranged in over 100 countries around the world there will be crowds marching somewhere at every moment of the 24 hours.
^{(Br. William Mann, Br. Anton de Roeper, FSC)}

Video of Founder now on the web: I have placed a Photodex video of the life of John Baptist de La Salle on the web. It may be found in the Resources section of the international site. It is a 5 minute presentation that I created for our museum in Rome. I hope you enjoy this brief presentation of our Founder’s life.
^{(Br. Donald Johanson)}

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