Ivy League Welcomes San Miguel Students: Three students from San Miguel High School, Tucson Arizona, USA, have been accepted into the prestigious Cornell University CATALYST Program. The CATALYST Program gives twenty-five minority high school students from across the USA an opportunity to experience college life for a week during the summer.

“I was speechless,” said sophomore Edward Sanchez. “My dad said this is the first step in becoming a man.” Sanchez, who plans on becoming an aerospace engineer, said math is his favorite subject and one in which he excels.

When freshman Adonis Trujillo received his letter from Cornell University he expected a gentle let down. “My eyes kept focusing on the word congratulations,” Trujillo said. “I couldn’t believe it!”

As an African-American female, sophomore Je’re Harmon is in a double minority for the male dominated CATALYST Program. Harmon knows she wants to be an engineer, but has not yet determined which specific field she will enter.

“This is phenomenal,” said Principal Brother Nick Gonzalez, FSC. “It is exceptional that any one school would have three students accepted into a nationally recognized program such as this. It is a testament to the math and science programs at San Miguel.”

All three students credit math teacher Robert Smith with helping to nurture their love of math. As a retired Air Force pilot, Smith had numerous second career opportunities open to him, including one as a commercial airline pilot; however, he chose to follow his heart into teaching.

“Mr. Smith is on of the best teachers I have had in my educational career,” said Harmon. “He really cares about each and every one of us. He makes sure that every last student understands the material before he moves on. No one is left behind.”

San Miguel High School opened its doors to its first class of freshmen in 2004, as an option for low income students to obtain a college preparatory education. The tuition is off set by the unique Corporate Internship Program that places teams of students in entry level professional environments. No student is every denied admission based on an inability to pay.

“It is not uncommon” said San Miguel High School President Greg VanderZanden, “for people to make the mistaken assumption that because our students come from low-income families San Miguel must be a second tier school. The reality is quite the opposite. We know what students need to succeed in college; we have a track record of unparalleled success. San Miguel puts the dream of college within reach for families who could not otherwise afford a quality, college preparatory school, but the level of education received here is second to none. “

“Only twenty-five students in the entire United States are accepted the CATALYST Program each year; having three from one high school is remarkable. Having three students from a school that is only in its second year of academics is a defining achievement for our students,” said VanderZanden. “Think about it. There are about 16 million high school students in the United States. Cornell is accepting only twenty-five of them for their CATALYST Program. Three are from San Miguel. This accomplishment speaks volumes about how our students respond to teachers who hold high moral standards and academic expectations.”

San Miguel High School will make sure the funds are available for these deserving students attended the CATALYST Program. If you wish to help in this effort, please send donations to: San Miguel High School, PO Box 22199, Tucson, AZ 85734. Please indicate the donation is for MATH. Donations are tax deductible.
^{(Sheri Ramirez, San Miguel High School)}

International Gathering of Young Lasallians in Rome: The time of the 2nd International Symposium of Young Lasallians rapidly approaches. One hundred ten (110) Young Lasallians from all over the world are already enrolled to arrive at the Casa Generalizia in Rome on 25 July 2006 to participate in a session entitled “Mission: Possible, A Shared Dream.”

Participant data for enrollment can now easily be found on the right hand side of each main language page of the Institute’s web site. Also, the preparatory documents (what is being called “the roadmap” toward the symposium) have been posted so that all in the Lasallian Family can glimpse the preparation underway under the guidance of Young Lasallians from the Regions of Italy and ARLEP (Spain & Portugal). The first three documents concern “Educational Challenges,” “Lasallian Identity,” and “The Lasallian Youth Movement.” One additional preparatory document is yet to be posted.

It is hoped that about one hundred fifty (150) Young Lasallians will participate in the symposium, which will among other things prepare a statement from the perspective of Young Lasallians to be sent to the Preparatory Committee for the International Assembly of 2006. ^{(Br. Bill Mann, Vicar General)}

Easter in Parménie, a step on the walk: On Holy Saturday at noon, some Young Lasallians arrived in Parménie under the rain. They received their stick and bag of necessities for the pilgrimage road to the top of the hill. During the reflection time and meditation the participants prayed and shared their thoughts around four words: me, path, Easter and Christ. Brother Nicolas Capelle (Visitor of France), Brother Alvaro Rodríguez Echevería (Superior General) and Brother Juan Pablo (Councilor General) were present and participated in the groups of reflection.

After that a celebration of reconciliation was held and it was led by Father Dominique Bouzy around five major themes: light, forgiveness, brotherhood, life and love. The night started with the torches march. There were three roads divided according to the three Lasallian words: Faith, Brotherhood and Service. They ended with a big torch that was lit up with fire. Then the Easter celebration started in the small chapel of Parménie with some readings from the Bible and hymns accompanied by guitars, violins and flutes. Sunday for the first time, the celebration of the mass lasted all day long. It started with a small prayer where the story of the Emmaus disciple was a testimony that “Easter is a step on the road”. A Eucharistic moment closed this celebration, a special experience and example of the commitment that each youth must make in the road towards love. Br. Alvaro delivered a speech to end the pilgrimage.
^{(From an article in www.lasalle-fec.org)}

Br. Rodolfo Meoli, Vice-President of the College of Postulators: Congratulations to our Postulator-General, Br. Rodolfo Cosimo Meoli, who was elected Vice-President of the College of Postulators General at their meeting to renew their leadership team for the next three years, held on Thursday May 11th at the Curia Generalizia of the Jesuit Fathers.

129 Postulators General from many Religious and Lay Institutes make up the College of Postulators, an Association founded in 1927 with a view to:
a) collaborating with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for the efficient carrying out of the pontifical directives;
b) supporting and helping the Postulators in coming up to the expectations of the Holy See in regard to the work relating to the Causes of the Saints;
c) coordinating and making as uniform as possible the actions of the Postulators, aimed at
bringing to light the holiness of the Church by means of the example which the Saints offer through their lives and their works.
^{(Br. Rodolfo Meoli)}

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