ROME – ITALY - 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARTYRDOM OF BROTHER JAMES MILLER : February 13, 2007 marks the 25th anniversary of the martyrdom of Brother James Miller. Brother James, or Hermano Santiago as he was known in Central America, was murdered by a group of armed men while repairing a wall outside of the Lasallian school in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. The De La Salle Brothers in this school had incurred the wrath of local military officials by refusing to cooperate with the conscription of their young male students into the military.

I will be honored to lead a prayer service in Br.Jim's memory at C.I.L. on February 13. I was teaching at Pacelli High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA, at the time of his death. This school is where Jim met the brothers as a student and from where he left his rural home to join the formation community in Glencoe, Missouri.

Being from his District and his home state and having had corresponded with him during the Christmas holiday prior to his death, I feel a real connection with him. May the work of justice for which he gave his life inspire all of us to strive for a more just world today.
^{(Brother Michael Kadow)}

BROTHER SANTIAGO MILLER
On the fourth day of February, 1976, Guatemala awoke to find itself in ruins because of the terrible earthquake that left more than 20,000 dead, thousands of wounded, many families without a home and uncountable material damages.[MORE]
^{(Brother Alvaro Rodríguez Echeverría, Superior General)}

CD - DVD BROTHER JAMES SANTIAGO MILLER, FSC
The Man. The Martyr. The Mission.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the death of Brother James Santiago Miller, the Brothers of the District of the Midwest have produced a CD containing: 80 pages on his life, texts, photos, art work, two prayer services, lesson plans. In the enclosure there is also a DVD on his life.
For information contact Brother Joseph Martin jmartin@cbmidwest.org

AUSTRALIA-NZ-PNG - NEW ON-LINE COURSE : On their way back to Australia from a tour of places of Lasallian interest in France, Trish Carroll (Director of Lasallian Education Services, ANZPNG), and Brothers Gerard Rummery and John Cantwell were able to give a preliminary demonstration of an new on-line course in Lasallian Leadership to Brother Superior, a number of Councillors, and several other members of the Casa Generalizia household, as well as to Mimi (former Director of the Buttimer Institute) and Bruce McCaul, who were travelling with them. Br Ben Foy also came across from London especially to see the demonstration.

The course is being developed with the technical assistance of Fraynework (Sisters of Mercy, Melbourne). With two of the four units already on-line, fourteen students from various parts of Australia were enrolled for the academic year 2006, and will complete the other two units this year. The course is accredited at Masters level with the Australian Catholic University. The demonstration was received with interest, and with much positive comment regarding its innovative pedagogy. It stimulated discussion regarding the potential of the course for Lasallian formation in other Districts.

While the course site is password-protected, general information is available at www.lasallian.org.au.

Further inquiries may be directed to Trish Carroll: trish@delasalle.org.au.
^{(Brother John Cantwell)}

BETHLEHEM - PALESTINE - AMERICAN AND PALESTINIAN STUDENTS BUILDING BRIDGES : From 10am until 9:30pm on the Friday, 5 January 2007, as part of their January-Term course, twelve students from Saint Mary's College of California (SMC) visited with ten students from Bethlehem University in the Holy Land. The bringing together of these students from these two Lasallian universities – one on the West Coast of the USA and one on the West Bank of the Jordan River in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – was coordinated by Brother Donald Mansir of Saint Mary’s and Brother Jack Curran of Bethlehem University.

The Bethlehem University students warmly welcomed, hosted, informed, and engaged in dialogue the Saint Mary’s students. They each shared their insights and their questions about current socio-political as well as religious and cultural happenings. The dialogue among the students evidenced that they are well-informed, well-educated, articulate, considerate, and curious about the other -- real signs of HOPE for better future!

Upon meeting each other early in the morning, the BU and SMC students began the day touring the Bethlehem University campus with the assistance of Brother Joe, President-Emeritus, and Mr. Samer Hanania, Public Relations Officer. The Bethlehem University Student Ambassadors provided a brief orientation to some of the socio-political realities of life on the West Bank and also invited the Saint Mary’s students to a traditional Palestinian dance show that was held on-campus for about 500 young children from a number of the refugee camps around the Bethlehem area. Later in the day, the students visited a number of other sites in the Bethlehem area: the birth place of Jesus at the Nativity Church, the Shepherds Fields, the Israeli-built Separation Wall in and around Rachel's Tomb and Bethlehem town, and Dheisheh Refugee Camp. The group enjoyed a light lunch at one of the local Shawarma shops and ended the day with a relaxing dinner and engaging conversation in Beit Sahour in the Shepherd's Tent.

Even though the weather was a bit cold and rainy on and off during the day, the engagement among and between the students was warm, sincere, stimulating, and tremendously encouraging. There is something "miraculous" about this international Lasallian educational enterprise that brings together and sparks the creative spirit of people in such wonderful ways. Thousands of other Lasallian educators, brothers and other partners, for hundreds of years have been and still are similarly "in the presence of God" while being among students engaged in this learning adventure. Let us always be mindful that we are in God’s presence!
^{(Samer Hanania – PR-Development officers)}

PITTSBURGH – UNITED STATES – REFLEXION UPON THE PLIGHT OF IMMIGRANTS : A number of the young men of Central Catholic High School’s Lasallian Youth, Student Council and CCHRIST proudly hold a thank you banner from the students of Saint John Baptist de La Salle Education Center in Homestead, Florida.

The Central Catholic High School community raised over $12,000 during its 2006 Lenten Mission Drive. The drive, kicked off during our Ash Wednesday liturgy, provided a plethora of opportunities to critically and prayerfully reflect upon the plight of immigrants that are entering the USA. By hearing and meeting some of the men and women who have recently immigrated into the USA, the experience drove home the point that many who are still entering the USA want to work hard and provide their families with a decent existence.

This center provides educational opportunities for the youth and vocational training for the many migrant workers and their families in the Dade County area. The center is sponsored and operated by lay men who are alums of the Brothers schools in Cuba and are committed to the Lasallian charism of educational service to the poor.
^{(Brother Joseph W Juliano – Director Campus Ministry)}

PLASENCIA - SPAIN - LA SALLE AVENUE : To conclude the events marking the 50th anniversary of the La Salle - Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Plasencia (Cáceres Province, Spain), the Mayoress of the city, Elia María Blanco, gave permission for a street to be named La Salle Avenue. The street was inaugurated on December 19 in the presence of many of the citizens of the town, among them students, teachers, former students, and friends.

Brother Gerardo Durán Proenza, the school's Director, address the Mayoress in these words:

"In the name of this institution of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, please accept our most heartfelt thanks which we offer to you and to the City Council, for conferring this honor upon us in naming this Avenue in honor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle.

"For our part, the Lasallian educational community would be remiss in generosity if we did not offer our efforts and pedagogical expertise to the very noble, supportive, and fair city of Plasencia, as far as we are able, to make a society which is more just and in solidarity, as well as to help the Region of Extremadura and its citizens grow by means of education and culture, the bases of all human dignity."
^{(Brother Gerardo Durán Proenza, Director)}

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