Bethlehem University hosts a Christian Muslim Forum on the publication of the cartoons insulting the Prophet: On Thursday 9 February 2006, Christian and Muslim leaders were invited during the students activities hour to Bethlehem University to discuss the issue of the publication of the cartoons insulting the Prophet. Bishop Attallah Hanna from the Greek Orthodox Church, and Sheikh Abdel Majid Ata, Mufti of Bethlehem District, and Mr. Naser Lahham, chief editor at Ma’an News Agency were among the panel who gave their reflections on the issue.

Sheikh Abdel Majid Ata (BU’84) expressed his appreciation to Bethlehem University for hosting the meeting. He emphasized the strong relation that bonds Christians and Muslims in the Middle East and the coexistence they practiced for centuries. He added “we have no problem with the Danish people, we as Palestinians and Muslims have good relations with many European countries and organizations, we should not jeopardize this relationship because of a few irresponsible persons.” Sheikh Abdel Majid mentioned that the Palestinians should not boycott the European products because many European countries support the Palestinian people.

Bishop Atalla Hanna confirmed that regardless of the intentions of the publication of these cartoons we as Christians have been living in harmony with our Muslim brothers in the Arab World since the coming of Islam. In his words “We Christians are part of this land, we share the same culture and traditions and we are not newcomers to the Arab World. We understand the anger of our fellow citizens for insulting their Prophet, we strongly condemn the publication of these cartoons.” Bishop Atalla also added, “Even though a few parties try to plant intolerance among Christians and Muslims to achieve their own goals, we tell them that they will not succeed.” He stated that burning the Danish Flag should not be done because the Flag represents a nation, and the nation should not be held responsible for the acts of few irresponsible persons.

Finally Mr. Naser Lahham (BU’94), Bethlehem TV station anchor spoke on the role and ethics of mass media in fuelling provocative issues like the publication of the cartoons. He insisted that the role of the media should be proactive and not reactive. Mr. Lahham added “As journalists we have moral responsibility to promote peace and justice in this world not hatred and injustice.”

After the panel members presented their reflections, they answered few questions and concerns of the audience, mostly students, faculty and staff of Bethlehem University. The meeting was transmitted live on “Al Jazeera” satellite T.V.
^{(www.bethlehem.edu)}

Brother Superior’s visit to the Bilbao District: The visit began on the 2nd February when Br. Alvaro met the District “animation team.” The two secular members of the team were heartily congratulated on the way they coordinated activities within their two separate areas of the District and helped the persons from the establishments and communities of those two areas who meet at regular intervals. The chief task of the coordinators is to cultivate links between persons and their plans in the two areas, so as to strengthen unity within the District and to use the resources of their respective areas to the best advantage.

Here is an outline of Br. Alvaro’s itinerary in the days which followed that first meeting:

He met the teachers of Santiago Apostol College and the Lasallian Christian Community which was founded there twenty-six years ago. The community now has some eighty members, many of whom are educators and look after the pastoral needs of the students whom they teach. Other members of the community look after youngsters who need special care or in forming a Bank
which is run on ethical lines.

Meeting with Bishop Ricardo Bazquez, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. Br. Alvaro thanked Monsignor Bazquez for the help he gives to the Institute and reminded him that the brothers are committed to the Catholic School. Not a single brothers’ school has closed in recent years. He also pointed out the efforts we are making to help our lay colleagues to live their Christian vocation by a commitment to Christian Education.

Br. Alvaro then met some two hundred brothers and lay people in San Asensio. Under the heading of “The Lasallian Family and Mission” he explained how Lay colleagues can be devoted to their family and at the same time committed to the Lasallian Mission. He also mentioned how the family life of lay colleagues can be an example to the brothers in their community life. The meeting ended with Holy Mass at which three lay members made their commitment as Lasallian Associates.

The visit to the communities of Irturburu (Bilbao) and Tzabarri (Sestao). The staff of the first of these establishments teach immigrants how to read and write and those in the second, in addition to working in the college of Sestao, do extra-curricular work among young people with difficulties in social adaptation or who are in danger of being led astray. Br. Alvaro called these ventures “islands of creativity” which can help the District to envisage new forms of community and mission.

As usual Br. Alvaro spent a lot of time with the brothers commenting on this year's Pastoral Letter. He met them in small groups in Bilbao, Zaragoza and San Sebastian so that the brothers could exchange ideas with him and with one another.

A meeting with the Council for Mission ended the visit. Br.Alvaro emphasised that everyone has noticed how our lay colleagues have taken over the headships of our schools with a desire to serve and not in order to be counted better than the others.
^{(Br. Juan Pablo Martin)}

Br. José A. Warletta received the Cross “Alfonso X el Sabio”: Br. José A. Warletta was awarded the Cross of the Order of “Alfonso X el Sabio”, by the Spanish government, for his activities on formation of scout leaders. The Order of “Alfonso X el Sabio” is an award for people or institutions distinguished in the fields of education, sciences, culture and research, or by outstanding services in any of them, in Spain or worldwide.
^{(Br. José A. Warletta)}

Thousands of books published over time by the Brothers: Any idea about how many school books have been published by the De La Salle Brothers? A project in Canada has set out to describe all of the books published by the Brothers for their pupils from the beginning of the Institute. So far they have listed 2,037 books from Canada and 2,965 books from France. So see a list of these books, check the link to the Canadian site. If you are aware of other books the Brothers have published, send them a note at paubin@upc.qc.ca so they can add them to the list.
^{(Br. Alain Houry)}

Thousands of participants joined in prayer to thank God for the first one-hundred years of Lasallian presence in Mexico: The Universum Nostrum gymnasium on the Lomas del Campestre campus of De La Salle University Bajío, in León Guanajato, Mexico, was filled with more than 2,000 participants who were there for a Eucharistic celebration last February 19.

The purpose of the celebration was so that Lasallians in the city could offer thanks to God for the important effort made by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and to ask for blessings on the continuing mission of our founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

Students from the age of kindergarten, primary, secondary, preparatory, and up to the university level, administrative personnel, teachers and graduates participated with great enthusiasm and pride because of their current or previous training as Lasallians.

In his homily, the Bishop said: "God writes straight with crooked lines."

The institution, owing to its history of persecution and repression, has lived what Jesus said in the Gospel: In the world there will be persecutions, but do not be afraid, have courage for I have conquered the world.

This community has much for which to be thankful to the Lord for what it has received from the educational efforts of the Brothers in Mexico.

Thanks because they have presented to the society of León the conviction that an authentic formation will not happen without ethics, without solidarity, without a concern for overcoming individualism and self-centeredness.

May we have the courage to continue working and spreading Lasallian values and reaching out through the network to continue this educational mission.
^{(Itzel Villanueva M.)}

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