9 February

Greetings on this the feast of St Miguel and the celebration of 100 years since his death.

VISIT OF BR SUPERIOR TO PARC: On 24th February, Br Alvaro departs Rome for the first phase of his visit to the PARC Region. He will commence in Thailand, followed by the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and finally Hong Kong prior to returning to the Casa Generalizia for Holy Week.

VISIT OF GENERAL COUNCILLORS TO PARC: I have been in contact with Sector heads proposing visits of General Councillors to PARC either prior to or after the November meeting in Penang. All have been in direct contact with you. Thanks for the welcome extended and programmes arranged.

TEMPORARY RELOCATION OF THE DELEGATION OF INDIA NOVITIATE: In order to accommodate Visa difficulties inhibiting the continued presence of the novices of the District of Colombo in the novitiate at Bangalore, Br Superior and Council have approved a temporary relocation of the novices and staff to Mutwal in Colombo for a period of nine months, commencing April, 2010.

BROTHERS FROM PARC ATTENDING MEETINGS IN ROME: Ambrose Payne is currently meeting with a sub-committee of the Phase Two Rule Revision Commission and later in the week Henry Dissanayake will arrive in his capacity as a member of the Commission preparing the Inter-Capitular meeting of Visitors (March 2011). Unfortunately for those of us from warm climates, Rome is experiencing a cold winter!

INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO CAP PLANNING: Ambrose Payne, Visitor of ANZPNG has prepared and sent to all communities a DVD; “Emerging Ideas in the Institute and Church” as a resource to assist communities develop their CAP. Using Institute and Church documents he presents five elements with suggestions for reflection prior to the formulation of the plan. The elements are: Baptismal Vocation and the Vocation of the Brother, Mission and the Church, Lasallian Charism, Communion and Communio, and Association.

A PRAYER RESOURCE FOR MEETINGS: Maureen Cleary has prepared a resource kit of prayers for use at meetings. You may contact her on ngmc@pacific.net.au

PENANG DISTRICT LASALLIAN DIRECTORY 2010: Tom Lavin, Visitor has sent out a very impressive Directory which includes not only current information but also valuable historical information. The Directory is dedicated to Br Superior, marking the occasion of his visit to the District.

BOOKS ON VIETNAM: Brother Valery Nguyen Van An of the District of San Francisco has published two very interesting volumes on Lasallians in Vietnam which I find informative and fascinating reading. Journal 1 is titled; “District of Saigon and La Salle Mossard Thu Duc” and Journal 2, “Threshold of New Hope: La Salle Vietnam Family Overseas After the Events of 1975”.

CMSM DOCUMENT: I circulated the CMSM Forum paper on “Restructuring” recently. It is the best I have read on the process and outcomes of restructuring. I urge you to circulate this widely.

CIL PROGRAMME NOVEMBER/DECEMBER: You are encouraged to send Brothers and other Lasallians to the CIL programme: “Understanding and Living Lasallian Association Today”. Dates are: 8 -26 November for all participants and 27 November – 10 December for Brothers only.

OLDER CANDIDATES POSTULANCY: Recently the General Council had days of recollecton at Casamari,a Cistercian monastery. The Cistercians have three postulants all of whom would be in late 30’s or perhaps early 40’s. They were following a four years’ postulancy programme; not that I am suggesting that but it bears thinking about a propos of recent conversations in PARC!

SCHEDULES: David; 19-21 February, India, Delegation Council; 24 February – 26 March; Visit to PARC with Br Superior. Mark; currently in Myanmar then Singapore and Thailand.

Best wishes to all who are about to celebrate Chinese New Year!

God bless

David Hawke FSC