1 February 2013
Greetings from Rome where the General Council has concluded the first week of its month’s meeting. During the opening session Bro Superior and each of the Councillors briefed the meeting on their activities since the last plenary meeting. This sharing provided informative insights into the international Institute. During this month the Council will work on the Circular of Convocation for the 45th General Chapter and receive and discuss reports on a variety of topics including: the SIEL programme Generalate Study Commission, International Economic Council, International Young Brothers’ Assembly, International Assembly 2013, Schema for Bro Superior’s Report to the General Chapter, CIL on Vocations, Corporate Image of the Institute, Restructuring in PARC and other administrative matters. We are going to the Divine Word Missionaries house at Nemi for our usual period of recollection. A meeting with the General Council of the Teresian Sisters will focus on items of mutual interest in our various ministries.
PARC 36: Thanks to Bro Thomas Lavin, Auxiliary Visitor and all in the Sector of Hong Kong (LEAD) who planned and organized the successful meeting in Hong Kong. See the Institute website for a report and photo.
SIEL Programme: The General Council received the evaluation of the programme and the various research topics that each participant is working on locally. Two Lasallian Partners and one Brother attended from the Philippines (LEAD) and each has chosen a research topic related to the mission of the Institute in the country.
Manado: Five Brothers from the Sector of the Philippines (LEAD) visited De La Salle University, Manado recently where they conducted formation for staff, Signum Fidei and Young Lasallians. Included in the group was Bro Ignaci Heri, our only Indonesian Brother. He was involved in vocations ministry during the visit. Currently there are 1700 students in the university. The former Brothers’ residence houses volunteers from France.
International News: During the Heuther conference held in the USA, two of our Brothers from PARC were keynote speakers; Bro Jorge Gallardo de Alba (LEAD) and Bro Peter Bray (ANZPPNG). Jorge spoke as General Councillor on “Children and Youth at Risk: A Global Lasallian Response” and Peter, Vice Chancellor on “BethlehemUniversity: a Beacon of Hope”
The regional office of RELAF situated in Abidjan is soon to have a fourth staff member when a Brother from the District of Lwanga joins the team.
The Visitors of RELEM recently met in Spain. Bro Superior gave the keynoted address on the Synod for New Evangelisation.
In RELAL fifteen Brothers are following a programme in preparation for Perpetual Vows.
Special greetings to those celebrating Chinese New Year at present.
Bro David Hawke FSC
General Councillor PARC