25 July 2011

Another Perspective: One of the bi-products of spending a month in RELAL is the opportunity to get to know a little more about another part of the Institute. While I have spent the bulk of my time in the District of Bogota, I have spent three days in each of the Districts of Ecuador and Medellin. In Bogota I am living in the community of the Scholasticate where there are 10 Scholastics plus the RELAL team of three Brothers, the accompanying Brothers, two others on studies and one who is a staff member of the adjacent La Salle University. One of the highlights of the week, apart from the Spanish classes of course, is the English classes I take for the Scholastics. I spent a Sunday morning with the pre-novitiate community an hour and a half of which was a very enjoyable meeting with them. In the three Districts I have met candidates at various levels of formation who relish the opportunity to practise their English which they all study. Inter-District formation programmes are the norm. In Quito, Ecuador, I valued visiting the Sanctuario of St Miguel and places associated with his life, including two museums. He is esteemed highly in the country with public monuments in his honour and his image displayed in many churches. I noticed a commercial building named after him. In the past Presidents of Ecuador honoured him with such titles as “Model Teacher”, “Patron of Educators”, “Patron of Catechists”. This past three days I was in Medellin where a Scholastic and a Postulant accompanied me to three high schools. School begins each day at 7.00 am but the staff have to be present at 6.00 am! I met a Brother aged 98 years who is still engaged in school administration. He gave up driving last year! “Parmenie” is the name given to the very impressive house for retired Brothers in the District of Medellin. Each of the 13 Brothers in the community has a hobby such as painting, pottery, tapestry etc.

PARC Lasallian Institute: Mark Murphy has given positive feedback and the formal feedback from the Advisory Board is awaited. Thanks to Mark and his collaborators for planning, once again a programme catering for the needs of various Sectors of the Region. Thanks to Bro Ricky Laguda and all in the Philippines Sector who provided support. And to the Visitors and President who sent or sponsored delegates; much appreciation. Bro John Pill was present as part of the orientation for his future position in the PARC office. John visited also the novitiate and the Philippines’ offices at Greenhills.

Formation of Formators Programme: This programme is underway in Bangkok and serves to respond to one of the top priorities in the Institute. Thanks to Joseph Fernando and his collaborators and to Bro Stephen Kan and the Brothers of Thailand for their support.

PARC Appointment to Being Brothers Today Council: Bro Peter Phat, Visitor of the District of Vietnam has been appointed to the Council by Bro Superior. Trish Carroll (ANZPPNG) and Bro Jose Mari Jiminez (LEAD) have completed their terms. Thanks to Trish and Jayjay for their contribution.

Bro James Kimpton honoured: Our Brother has received “ILLUMINATED DIPLOMA OF HONOUR - 21st Century Award for Achievement in Village Development in India” for his selfless work for thepeople of this area from “International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England”. This

institution has given this same award to our Brother early in 2000. We congratulate him for this award. (From RTU Newsletter 7 July, 2011).

Golden Jubilee India: On the 21 August, the Delegation of India will celebrate 50 years of the second arrival of the Institute in the country and 50 years of St Pius X Boystown. Bro Superior will be attending and an invitation will be sent to all Visitors of PARC.

Diamond Jubilee Thailand: This year marks the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the Brothers in Thailand. At this stage I have no information regarding the celebrations. Watch this space and the “LEAD Story”.

DENA Retreat/Assembly: I am attending next week as part of my own continuing formation this programme in Philadelphia. Bro Sean Sammon, former Superior General of the Marist Brothers is the main speaker.

Best wishes and prayers.

David Hawke FSC
General Councillor for PARC