[email protected] November 2015 vol 3 -Issue 2 FRIENDSHIP A friend is like a tower strong; a friend is like the joyous song that helps us on our way. When golden ties of friendship bind the heart to heart, the mind to mind, how fortunate are we! For friendship is a noble thing; it soars past death on angel's wing into eternity. God blesses friendship's holy bond both here and in the great beyond: a benefit unpriced. Then may we know that wondrous joy, that precious ore without alloy; a friendship based on Christ. 1 Happy Feast day, Brother Martin! St Martin of Tours (Latin: Sanctus Martinus Turonensis; 316 or 336 – 8 November 397) was Bishop of Tours, whose shrine in France became a famous stoppingpoint for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He has become one of the most familiar and recognisable Christian saints. As he was born in what is now Szombathely, Hungary, spent much of his childhood in Pavia, Italy, and lived most of his adult life in France, he is considered a spiritual bridge across Europe. His life was recorded by a contemporary, the hagiographer Sulpicius Severus. Some of the accounts of his travels may have been interpolated into his vita to validate early sites of his cult. He is best known for the account of his using his military sword to cut his cloak in two, to give half to a beggar clad only in rags in the depth of winter. Conscripted as a soldier into the Roman army, he found the duty incompatible with the Christian faith he had adopted and became an early conscientious objector. MAINLY for TEACHERS, PARENTS and STUDENTS of all ages… Discover and Sharpen your Encouraging Powers START BY: “I like the way you…” “I appreciate…” “I enjoy…” “I value…” “I like how you…” “Thank you for…” I admire your…” Next time…” 2 Welcome To Malta, Brother Roy Hno. Royman Racini M., fsc Name: Royman Alfredo Racini Morales Age: 25 years - Nationality: Colombian Joined the Brothers’ Community in 2005. Started Novitiate in 2008. First Vows in 2009. (2010-2015) Teacher of Religion and Ethics and Member of Pastoral Team Responsible of Vocations, Coordinator of Confirmation Catechism Class Member of the Quality Management Team. Stella Maris Community, Malta, to perfect his English 3 REFLECTIONS ON DEATH None of us likes to think about death, and that isn’t necessarily bad. Our every heartbeat blocks out death, pushes it away, and keeps us focused on living. That’s nature and God working. And this denial of death stems too from the fact that, in the end, we don’t die, don’t become extinct, but move on to deeper life. At some level, we already know that, sense it, feel it, and live life in the face of it. To want to think about death can be as much a sign of depression or illness as of depth. Pushing away thoughts of death is normally a sign of health. But how to think about death? Where is that thin line between the mystery and falling into morbidity, of death contemplating anxiety, and false guilt about being alive and healthy? Honest prayer can help us walk that tightrope and honest prayer is what we do when we can bring ourselves naked before God, unprotected by what we do, by what we own, by what we have achieved. In honest prayer we can be deep without being morbid. “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” ST Paul’s Letter to the Philippians 1:21 4 31.01.2011 Br. James Calleja 31.02.1945 Br. George Gardner Scicluna Br. Alfred Spiteri 24.07.1987 Br. Robert Sammut 13.02.2007 Br. Norbert Farrugia 13.02.1984 Br. Philip Cauchi Br. Stanislas Kostka (first Br. to die 28.07.1849 in Malta, was buried in Hamrun tal-Muzew cemetery) 02.08.1987 Br. Francis Muscat 01.03.1974 Br. Aloysius Darmanin 28.08.1967 Br. Augustine Mifsud 05.03.1951 Br. Lambert Newitt Attard 28.09.1930 Br. Alphonsus Leo 08.04.1924 Br. Ephrem Leander 13.10.1972 Br. Wilfred Albert 28.04.2002 Br. Felix Agius 23.10.1915 Br. Emmanuel Giordano 08.05.1970 Br. Roger Mangion 10.11.2011 Br. Dominic Rosso 09.05.1998 Br. Peter Galea 21.11.1998 Br. Hilary A. Clewes 29.05.2011 Br. Louis Camilleri 24.11.1915 Br. Sylvester Borg 10.06.1961 Br. Walter Joseph Borg Coster 03.12.1970 Br. Robert of Mary Pace 16.06.1964 Br. Patrick Gambin 08.12.1967 Br. Joseph Caruana Scicluna 18.06.1949 Br. Bruno Aubert 08.12.1997 Br. Michael Buttigieg Br. Victor Privitera Br. Vincent Farrugia This year ’s Annual Sector Visit to the Mater Addolorata Cemetery to pray for the departed Brothers and all the Lasallian Family will be on Sunday November 8th. 18.07.2008 5 Living Together our Joyful Mission CIRCULAR 470 March 24, 2015 Lasallian Identity and Mission A. Vision Statement Compelled by pressing needs, enlightened by the Gospel, inspired by our living memory, we transform lives through quality education for all. B. Mission Statement The purpose of this Institute is to provide young people, and especially the poor, with a human and Christian education, in accordance with the ministry entrusted to it by the Church (RR, 3). C. Core Values Faith: Acknowledging God’s presence in all that we are and do. Service: Fulfilling all our actions for the love of God. Communion in Mission: Incarnating Jesus through our association in communities and ministries. The Synod of Bishop – closing homily The Synod experience also made us better realize that the true defenders of doctrine are not those who: Uphold its letter, but its spirit; Not ideas but people; Not formulae but the free-giving of God’s love and forgiveness. The Church’s first duty is …to proclaim God’s mercy, to call to conversion, and to lead all men and women to salvation in the Lord (cf. Jn 12:44-50). 6 A great success for the 2015 International Lasallian Days for Peace The 9th edition of the International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP), led by the International Council of Young Lasallians, came to an end this past October 21st. This year’s theme was “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5, 9). This campaign, which takes place between September 21st, the International Day for Peace recognized by the United Nations, and October 21st, aims to invite all members of the Lasallian Family, especially young people, to make concrete actions to build peace around them and in the world, to reflect about some of the issues related to peace and pray for a more peaceful world. All of these initiatives are then shared among the Lasallian Family. This year, more than forty ministries from all five regions of the Institute have shared the outcomes of their initiatives. A new interactive map, which has been viewed almost 900 times, also lets you see those ministries and what they have done. Obviously, there are other ministries which have participated, but do not appear on the map. If it’s the case for your ministry, it’s not too late to send a summary of your initiative along with photos or videos to [email protected] and see your ministry on the map! Fraternally in De-La-Salle, Antoine Béland International Coordinator for Young Lasallians 7 USA –Brothers in Initial Formation “It is gratifying and life-giving experience to be with young men in all stages of formation who are earnestly discerning God’s plan,” said Brother Anthony Baginski, FSC, who serves at Central Catholic High School, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 16 Brothers in various stages of initial formation in the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) gathered for retreat together October 15-18, at Mont La Salle, in Napa California. The gatherings, which happen twice a year, are opportunities for Brothers to connect across the Region to share in formative experiences together, as well as build community together. “It is always a blessing to come together and share our new experiences of ministry and community,” said Brother Johnathon Emanuelson, a novice, living in Chicago where the Regional Novitiate is located. “There are always changes in our lives, and I find it very meaningful when we have the opportunity to share and process them. It is a chance to begin new friendships and rekindle older ones. It gives joy to my experience as a Brother and contributes to my sense of my role in the future of the Institute.” http://www.lasallian.info Photos Brothers James Joost, FSC 8
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