International Session for Novice Directors, Rionegro, Colombia: From March 19th to April 9th 2006 an international Session for Novice Directors took place in the beautiful setting of the De La Salle Casa de Encuentros, Rionegro, in the District of Medellin, Colombia. This was the first international Session specifically organised for Novitiate formators since 1991. The Session, directed and facilitated by the Institute Formation Secretaries, Brothers Alberto Prada, Michael French and Aidan Kilty, was attended by Novitiate formators from all current functioning Institute Novitiates, with the exception of those in Kenya, Brazil and Central America, along with a number of other formators involved in initial formation who have been identified as potential future Novitiate formators. A total of 16 participants took part in the Session which, among other objectives, offered Novitiate personnel the opportunity to explore the future of consecrated life from the perspective of the ecclesiology of communion, to discuss the integration of association into initial formation programs, and to reflect on other key elements in the formation process such as formation in prayer, affective formation, accompaniment and discernment. It was also an opportunity for participants to share good practice, to exchange experiences, and to relax and reflect in an atmosphere of prayer and fraternal support.

The three-week Session took place within walking distance of the Colombian interdistrict Novitiate in Rionegro and the occasional formal and social interchanges with the Novitiate Staff and a group of almost 20 Novices – youthful, idealistic, exuberant, spontaneous and talented - reminded participants of the context which their theological and formation reflections needed to address.
^{(Br. Aidan Kilty)}

The President of the Republic of Colombia visits La Salle University: On April 17th 2006, Dr.Alvaro Uribe Vélez, President of the Republic of Colombia, visited La Salle University in Bogotà, Colombia, to clear up doubts and engage in dialogue about the Free Trade Treaty which Colombia had negotiated with the United States. 1,700 students from the different faculties participated and they had an opportunity to question the President directly on the economic and social advantages and disadvantages which would arise from the signing of the Free Trade Treaty.

Br. Fabio Gallego Arias, Rector of the University, opened the dialogue with a reference to the 42 years of service provided by the La Salle University in the formation of teachers in the country and the educational tradition of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de la Salle. He mentioned the 13,700 students at present attending the University and its 33,000 graduates.

The President of the Republic thanked the De La Salle Brothers and emphasized the important work in the field of education carried out by the Brothers down through the history of the country.
^{(Br. Edgar Figueroa Abrajím, Provost)}

April 7, feast of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, as patron of educators: On Friday 7 April 2006 there were 800 young people (nearly 40% of the students), of the Educational Centre “Aux Lazaristes” in Lyons, France, gathered in the Primatial Cathedral, Saint John the Baptist’s, for the Mass celebrated in liaison with the Year of Mission proposed by the diocese. They were seeking to give a special note to the Mass so as to celebrate the one who is at the origin of Lasallian Schools.

As you know, Saint John Baptist de La Salle was a missionary in his own time, and today the Brothers of the Christian Schools whom he founded are present in 82 countries. In order to live this Year of Mission we made contact with the 82 Brothers Visitor of the world, asking them if one or two establishments and one or two Brothers or laypeople would undertake to respond to a letter which would be sent to them by a class of the Educational Centre. The answers received were more than encouraging. Each class was therefore asked to write a letter, with each class delegate choosing where the letter would be sent. The choice was sometimes difficult seeing there was question of the five continents. This went from Papua by way of Japan, New Zealand, Egypt, Spain, Chile, the United States of America, and so on.

During the Mass, at the time of the Offertory procession, one student from each class took part in the procession carrying the flag of the country to which the class had written and also the letter. Gathered round the altar during the celebration we were thus holding up in our prayers the young people, the educators, the Brothers and the countries represented. There was a key moment at the end of the celebration with the arrival of a group of 3-5 year old pupils of the establishment, each carrying a flag. During the leaving procession, all the countries to which our letters had gone had their names proclaimed in joy and fraternity, a very powerful moment in this celebration.

We are encouraged to think that this relationship lived together on Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s Day will not cease with just a letter. We wish to live the Mission as Lasallians, not stopping for just one day but daring to break down the borders that shut people in.
^{(Frère Jacques-Vincent Le Dréau)}

International Lasallian Solidarity Day: On the day of the anniversary of the birth of our Holy Founder John Baptist De La Salle, 30th of April, the WORLD UNION OF LASALLIAN FORMER STUDENTS (UMAEL) is launching the second international solidarity day, in favour of the children and young people in need. In order to do so, all the committed Lasallian Former Students worldwide are invited to generously make a donation equivalent to one day’s salary to a Lasallian work or project (NGO, District project, the UMAEL solidarity project, SECOLI, etc…)

This donation can be made by Internet-Credit card, to the UMAEL solidarity project of this year: the Fundacion Hogar Esparanza, in Santiago, Chile:

www.umael-lasalle.org/Eng/Solidarity/h_esperanza_en.htm

We would appreciate to be informed about your donation: amount and beneficiary. Please inform anonymously info@umael-lasalle.org
^{(Brother Claude Reinhardt, FSC, General Councillor, UMAEL Adviser)}

If you have news notes that you would like us to consider publishing, please email us:lasallew@lasalle.org