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)}

SAINT-RAYMOND - CANADA - A NICE PRESENT: A NEW ASSOCIATE, YANNICK CHAMBERLAND-RICHER : On the occasion of the annual supper of the De La Salle Philately Club of Saint-Raymond on December 27th 2006, an important event took place: Yannick Chamberland-Richer pronounced his formal commitment as a Lasallian Associate of the District of French-speaking Canada. A group of about 30 persons of all ages, including some children, were gathered together at the invitation of Yannick, in a convivial and fraternal manner.

The excellent meal, prepared free of charge by the members of the Club, allowed for the forming of very interesting links with everyone and for preparing for the main event of the gathering, the commitment being made by Yannick. The ceremony which was simple but very significant for all present, began with a talk by Br.Richard Brochu, the ‘godfather” of the ‘hero’ of the evening. Yannick then explained the meaning of his commitment, which he wanted to take place in the presence of the members of the Club, placing it in the long road towards this event, since this road dated back to 1992, when he was barely 14, and showing how from commitment to commitment he had been led to feel deeply associated with the Lasallian mission and with the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

The District representative, Br.Fernando Lambert, then linked the association being lived at present in French-speaking Canada to the first association of De La Salle and the first Brothers. He underlined the remarkable contribution of Yannick as the person in charge of Lasallian Youth in Canada, his leadership as initiator and coordinator of the first International Colloquium of Young Lasallians and his determining participation on the International Council of Young Lasallians in Rome, in Europe and in America. Yannick was then invited to pronounce his commitment. This took place in an atmosphere of respect and religious silence and was accompanied by remarks of deep esteem on the part of his friends who were present. Everything ended with very sincere congratulations and with a toast to friendship.
^{(Brother Fernando Lambert, Aux.Visitor)}

PARMÉNIE – FRANCE - YOUNG LASALLIANS: THE “WEEKEND FOR COUPLES” AT PARMENIE : A time for better discovering ourselves as couples and taking stock of our commitments (individuals or as couples) and of our prayer life.

Commitments as couples: The method of animation was varied and intended to allow each person to be free to find his or her place. Starting out from the discovery of a work of art (Van Gogh’s “The First Steps of Childhood”), Sophie and Laurent animated a time of sharing on commitment:

• what balance can one find?
• is it important to have commitments as couples?
• what is involved for the couple in supporting each other’s commitments?

Each person was able to take some time alone and then in couples to go over their commitments and their doubts. The exchange owed a lot to the testimony of the married couples and Brothers.

After Mass in the parish church and a convivial “raclette” (cheese dish), Saturday evening was devoted to a vigil animated by the participants, around the theme – very much in keeping with the experience of all – “the place of others, family and friends, in your life as a couple.”

The evening ended with around the second chapter of the First Book of Samuel, told at the fireside by Pascale. Thus the prayer of Anne and Elkana came to life before our eyes and in our hearts…

This story introduced us to the second section of the week-end: prayer. Not an obvious theme to take on as it is often a delicate one in the life of a couple. The morning, therefore, took the form of games; and it was in this way that we were able to face up to the toughest questions and share experiences which were often moving. Games such as “Marais” and “Psalmo” gave the participants a chance to share the intimacy of their respective prayer lives. Some examples of great spiritual figures linked, thorough our questionings, this people in prayer down through the ages.

Finally, each couple took some time to pray as a couple, and the final celebration was a high point of this first step in praying as a couple.
^{(www.lasalle-fec.org)}

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