BROTHER RAPHAÉL-LOUIS RAFIRINGA: A VENERABLE "ACADEMIC":Brother Raphaél-Louis Rafiringa (Madagascar) has been proclaimed Venerable by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Tireless apostle and Academician of his nation, this first native-born of the Great Isle, crossed the line of "Venerability" last 17 December and, in this way, brought nearer the goal of his beatification. On the same day, on the occasion of the Audience that the Pope gave at the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints, our Postulator General had an opportunity to thank personally the Holy Father.
^{(Brother Rodolfo Meoli, Postulador General)}

CÓRDOBA - ARGENTINA – FIRST PROFESSION: Last December 8th, Brothers Ezequiel Montoya, Walter Gómez, and Aníbal Veloto made their first profession in the Institute of the Brothers in the novitiate chapel in the city of Córdoba, Argentina. They are the newest members of the District of Argentina-Paraguay.

The celebration was very simple and many teachers and others who had shared in different stages of initial formation of these young men were in attendance. Brother Jesús Rubio, Institute Secretary for Formation, was also present for the event.
^{(Lasallian Novitiate of Argentina-Paraguay)}

NAPA – USA - VOCATION DISCERNMENT RETREAT: Are you a single Catholic male interested in community life, teaching, and prayer? Are you looking for something more in your life?

The Brothers of the Christian Schools, more popularly known as the De La Salle Christian Brothers, are dedicated to education and to transforming the lives of young people, especially the poor.

Throughout the United States the Brothers sponsor over a hundred schools and educational apostolates, including elementary, middle, and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and special programs for court-adjudicated youth and others with special needs. Founded in 1681 by John Baptist de la Salle, the patron saint of teachers, the De La Salle Christian Brothers are at work in more than 80 countries worldwide, serving nearly a million students.

Vocation discernment retreats are held in Napa, California, at Mont La Salle. A weekend in the peace, quiet, and beauty of the Napa hills is a perfect opportunity to explore the direction of your life, with conversation, common prayer and meals, and plentiful time for personal reflection.

For complete information and to register for a retreat, you may contact Brother George Van Grieken, FSC, at br.george@dlsi.org or 707-252-3861
^{(Brother George Van Grieken)}

SINGAPORE - 8TH ASIA-PACIFIC LASALLIAN YOUTH CONGRESS: From 2nd till 8th December 2007, about 150 youths from around the Asia Pacific region convened at St Patrick’s School in Singapore for the 8th Asia Pacific Lasallian Youth Congress (APLYC8).

This is a gathering of youths – students, young teachers, youth workers and volunteers – who are associated with the Lasallian Mission. They came from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and host country Singapore.

The theme for APLYC8 is “Many Lives, One Mission”. This is in celebration of our Pacific Asia region, which is the most diverse in our international Lasallian world. This does not only refers to socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity but also refers to the diversity of how the Lasallian Mission is expressed and made real in response to the realities of each place.

Delegates spent the week in lively and dynamic discussions, inspiring and moving sharings, as well as meaningful reflections. It is hoped that these will lead to new service projects and renewal of existing ones. They also took part in more lively activities like Dragon Boating and visits to Lasallian Heritage sites.

Notable presence at APLYC8 include Mr George Yeo, Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is a Lasallian himself, who joined in for the opening evening. The Vicar General of the Institute was also present throughout the Congress, in addition to sharing with delegates Lasallian youth involvement around the world.

To find out what happened at APLYC8, please visit www.aplyc8.org

BARCELONA - SPAIN – THE BLESSING OF THE NEW LA SALLE CRAE APPARTMENTS: On Tuesday December 13th the blessing of the reception apartments of the new CRAE LA SALLE took place.

This new work of the District of Cataluña, controlled by the Fundació Comtal, will look after 8 children aged between 4 and 14 who come from abandoned homes.

These apartments are situated in the old quarter of Barcelona and a team of educators will look after these children and adolescents by trying to make the environment as family-like as possible while keeping very much in mind our sense of integral education centred on the child, which is characteristic of the Lasallian Education Mission.
Some of the children in CRAE LA SALLE will also be pupils of La Salle College, Comtal.
^{(Jordi Jover – Communication Team)}

CARACAS - VENEZUELA – AN EVENT HONORING BROTHER JESÚS HOYOS: The November 27, 2007, an event was held which awarded an Honorary Doctorate to Brother Jesús Hoyos.

This event took place in the San Bernardino Auditorium for Cultural Events and the degree was awarded by the National Open University of Venezuela.

This recognition was given to Brother Jesús for his contribution in the field of botanical science in favor of the country. He has made the Venezuelan flora known in his publications and he is also known for his membership in numerous environmental organizations.

There was also mention made of how he promoted the topic of environmental education and the training of students in education for sustainable development.
^{(Brother José Pereda Núñez – District of Venezuela)}

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