7 July 2012

PARC Lasallian Leadership Institute Cycle 2: The programme conducted at the Retreat and Conference Centre of De La Salle University, Dasamarinas concluded on Friday. There were 27 participants representing eight countries in PARC. Thanks to the Sector of the Philippines for its logistical support (Aimee Patino, Jay Calleja, Dexter Dorio), Bro Gus Boquer host, the presenters ( Ronnie Holmes, Trish Carroll and Brothers John Pill, Ricky Laguda, Michael Valenzuela) and to Bro John Pill and his team for their planning and organisation. Hopefully Visitors, President and Sector Leaders will have an opportunity to engage with participants upon their return home.

Changjiao (China) Visit: Br Thomas Lavin, Auxiliary Visitor (LEAD) and I travelled from Hong Kong to Meixian by bus; a journey of over 6 hours. We were met there by Bro David Liao and arrived in Changjiao by car about 2 hours later.

We attempted to meet the local Bishop. However the cathedral compound was locked securely and no one could be raised upon ringing the entry bell!

The infrastructure represented by four lane highways is very impressive as was the scenery on the route to Changjiao.

Changjiao is the ancestral village of Bro David and is situated not far from the city of Huliao in the District of Dabu in the County of Meizhou in Guangdong Province. In fact the teaching section of the La Salle Study Centre is located in Bro David's grandfather's house.

The China project now has three components: La Salle Study Centre (English), Scholarship Programme and the Land Development Project. During the visit, graduates or students from the Study Centre accompanied us. I was impressed by their fluency in English. I have sent a detailed report to Bro Superior and General Council and will report at PARC 36.

Reception of the Habit, Lipa: During morning Mass on 29 June, the habits were blessed and then the novices received them during a special prayer service later in the morning. The Lipa community provided a festive meal to celebrate the occasion.Bro Ruben circulated photographs of the event. If you did not receive copies, let me know and I will forward to you. Let us keep our twelve novices in the PARC novitiate and the novices in Vietnam in our prayers. Visitors are reminded to keep in contact with their novices and to include in their schedules a visit to the novitiate. Contact Bro Vincent Keating to arrange a visit.

Welcome Secretary for Formation: This month, Bro Joseph Fernando will be visiting several Sectors in the Region and attending the Young Brothers’ Assembly.

Bamboo School Community Thailand: The three Brothers who form the community (Joseph Klong, Stephen Pichit and Victor Gil) are in the process of moving into their new community residence which will be blessed and opened in November. There are rooms available for guests. A priest from Myanmar crosses the border regularly to celebrate Mass with the community. He plans to be involved in the work of the school.

District Chapter ANZPPNG: The Chapter commences tomorrow (Sunday) and concludes on Thursday. Similar to other Districts in PARC, the District has engaged in an extensive pre-Chapter preparatory phase including regional meetings and a Mission Assembly.

Schedules: Bro David: 8-12 July, District Chapter ANZPPNG; 13-14 July, Gathering of New Zealand born Brothers; 17-21 July, Leave; 22-28 July, PARC Young Brothers’ Assembly, Banga, Thailand.Bro John: 8-12 July, District Chapter ANZPPNG; 13-15 July, Adelaide; 22-28 July, PARC Young Brothers’ Assembly, Banga, Thailand. John and David are in the PARC office on dates not specified above.

Fraternally

Bro David Hawke FSC
General Councillor PARC