28 January 2010

PARC 33: Thanks once again to Br Denzil Perera, Visitor, the Brothers and their collaborators who planned a very memorable event in the District of Colombo. In an abbreviated PARC meeting, in addition to the business we were able to visit a cross section of the works of the District and meet most of the Brothers. Once the minutes are available they will be circulated.

RELEM MEETING: Immediately after PARC 33, I joined Br Alvaro and the General Council at a meeting of the Brothers Visitors of RELEM in Czestochowa, Poland. This is numerically and geographically an extensive Conference of Visitors. Br Wojciech, Visitor arranged a programme of visits to the works of the District including a very moving visit to the work for the disabled, a very special ministry in the District. During my presentation I was able to express that the Institute in PARC was founded from a number of the European nations present and that the ongoing support of a number of Districts in the RELEM is very much appreciated. The celebration of Sunday Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa was for me a personal highlight. There is one novice in Poland and we met also a Postulant from Slovakia. As you can imagine, heavy snow covered the ground with temperatures daily in the minus, reaching minus 14 on one morning…quite a contrast to Colombo!

PARC AT SIEL: It is good to see sectors of PARC well represented by Brothers and Lasallian Partners at the current SIEL programme with Brothers Michael Valenzuela (Philippines) and John Cantwell (Australia) giving presentations.

GENERAL COUNCIL: The General Council is currently meeting for its first plenary session in 2010. One of the main points of focus is work on the Circular on Association. Two formation days this week on “Evangelical Families” given by Sister Bernadette from France provided more food for thought as the work progresses.

POST PARC 33 ACTIONS: In a recent email I sent reminders about “things to do” post PARC 33. Your early attention will be appreciated.

SCHEDULES: I am in Rome until 18 February followed by a Delegation Council meeting in India. Mark Murphy is in Myanmar until 18 February.

Best wishes and prayers

David Hawke FSC