15 May 2011

Institute Feast of St John Baptist de La Salle: Greetings on this 15th May when the international Institute celebrates officially the feast of our Founder , the day which gives the Institute a new Distrit; the Lasallian East Asia District (LEAD).

Lasallian East Asia District: A new District in the Institute and in PARC was inaugurated this morning at St Joseph’s Institution, Singapore, place of our birth in Asia in 1852. Followed by a lone piper the Sector Leaders carrying the national flag and accompanied by the District Leadership Team processed into the auditorium. The Eucharist was celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia and two concelebrants. The occasional homily was given by Fr Gerard Lewis, Redemptorist Old Boy of SJI. The ceremony of inauguration took place at the conclusion of the Mass with Bro Thomas Johnson, Vicar General Guest of Honour. This included a welcome address by the General Councillor for PARC followed by a reading of the Decree of Establishment of the District which included also the dissolution of the current canonical entities. After the occasional address by the Vicar General, Brothers Edmundo Fernandez, Visitor and Thomas Lavin, Auxiliary Visitor were given their Obediences.I am told that at exactly 12.15:15 on 15 May, Bro Edmundo was handed his Obedience and LEAD was born! The Leadership Team and Sector Leaders prayed collectively a “Prayer of Commitment” and the singing of the Salve Regina concluded the ritual. Luncheon followed for the two hundred guests who included several members of Bro Edmundo’s family, Brothers and Lasallian Partners of each Sector and Bro Peter Phat, Visitor of the District of Vietnam.

The District Council of LEAD will tomorrow commence a two day’s strategic planning workshop in Singapore after which the Brother Visitor and his Auxiliary will move to Hong Kong. Special thanks to all the Brothers and Lasallian Partners of Singapore who were involved in the planning and organizing of this historic event in PARC.

The Doyens of LEAD: The new District has two doyens both aged 87; Bro Gregory Lim of the St Patrick’s community, Singapore and Bro Harry Reynolds of the La Salle Novitiate community in Lipa. Bro Harry’s canonical status is unique for when he joined the Institute he belonged to the District of Australia, followed by membership of the Districts of Penang and the Philippines and now LEAD. That must be an Institute record!

Appreciaton: Since his election at the 44th General Chapter, Bro Thomas Johnson, Vicar General has made several visits to PARC beginning with the Lasallian Youth gathering prior to World Youth Day, various retreats and workshops, meetings of PARC and the inauguration of LEAD. He shares so generously his brotherhood with all Lasallians. His visits have been a blessing for the Region.

First Vows and Reception of the Habit District of Colombo: Today during Mass in the chapel of the Provincialate at Mutwal novices Kanistopher Croos and Kanistan professed First Vows and novice Tharshan Peires received the habit.

La Salle Novitiate Lipa:Today 10 first year novices commenced their one canonical year novitiate at the PARC novitiate in Lipa. They are: Michale Bourke (PNG), Saddiique Pervaz and Waseem Shamaoun (Pakistan), Vincent Tang (Malaysia), Timothy (Myanmar),Butch Alcudia, John Bellosillo, Joseph Daluz, Toby De La Cruz and Dan Sanding (Philippines). A second year novice, Tharshan Peires from the District of Colombo joins the five second year novices to make a total of 16 novices and four staff. This is indeed a blessing for the sectors involved and PARC. The Habit Taking and Acceptance ceremony will take place on Sunday 26 June.

Perpetual Professions Thailand: In its final days as a Delegation the Brothers, family and other Lasallians celebrated on 8th May the Perpetual Professions of Brothers Francis and Dominic. The celebrant of the Mass was the Provincial of the Redemptorists whose homily focused on the prophetic nature of the consecrated life.

Felicitation of Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Colombo: The Lasallian Family of the District of Colombo gathered at St Benedict’s College to felicitate His Eminence, a distinguished alumnus of De La Salle College Mutwal. The novitiate community planned and facilitated the opening prayer. The programme included items by students of Lasallian schools, the felicitation address by Bro Denzil Perera, Visitor, a speech by me on behalf of the Institute, a presentation to His Eminence and an address by him. In his address the Cardinal included the following points: “I will never have enough words to thank the Brothers for what they did for me as a youngster from the age of 10 years.” He named ten Brothers who taught him singling out Bro Thomas Philip as a “real formator”. He attributes 80% of his formation as a person to the Brothers. It was the “Brothers who gave us (students) the faith and inspired my vocation to the priesthood.” His speech included quotations from the Founder and he emphasized that brotherhood is a special commitment.

International Assembly 2013: You have received information regarding the programme, themes, number of delegates etc. In due course you will be notified of the costs and availability, if any, of funding. In late June I will meet with the co-chairs to formulate a proposal for PARC 35 on how the Region prepares for the Assembly, selects delegates, etc.

Bro Vincent Keating: Bro Vincent spent time recently in Thailand where he conducted workshops for Directors and Young Brothers. He then went to Pakistan where he worked with the Young Brothers.

Schedules: David; 23 May-18 June, Rome. Mark; 20 May-11 June Myanmar. Bro Edmundo, Visitor of LEAD has appointed Bro Mark as Administrative Assistant in the Sector of Myanmar on a part time basis. Mark’s role in Thailand has ceased as of today.

Prayers and best wishes

David Hawke FSC

General Councillor for PARC