MaristECHO

Institute of the Marist Brothers Number 45 – Year 16 – September 2003

THE PILGRIM’S FEET

According to an Egyptianproverb,“Only the pilgrim’s feetreally know the road.”TheMarist Institute is on its way torestructuring, creating newadministrative units to organizeour Marist brothers’ presenceand mission to meet the needsof today’s world. It’s a complexand challenging task, but goingforward steadily and onschedule.A sense of theInstitute and an attitude offraternal care are making iteasier for the process to goforward. In the words of the20th General Chapter,“thechallenge of vitality is at theheart of restructuring” in theInstitute. Meaning that the sumof its decisions is not to beinterpreted in mere legal oradministrative terms. Profoundconsiderations come into play:the role of faith in our vocationas brothers – without faiththere would be no rhyme orreason to our calling; acontemporary vision of ourmission with children andyoung people, especially thepoor – without such a vision,being Marist would lose itsmeaning; and our sharedmission with the laity – asharing that finds its essence inthe charism of Marcellin andnot in a mere division oflabor… It’s time to be on ourway.

Mary of Nazareth

Marcellin Champagnat was strong-ly attached to the Mother of Jesus.He named his brothers after her,and called her our Good Mother,and Ordinary Resource.Today, though, what place doesthis remarkable woman of faithhave in your life and mine? Is ourunderstanding and appreciation ofMary any different than that ofbelievers in the 19th century?Some days, has the mother of Je-sus been frozen in time, trapped inthe images of Renaissance artists,placed on a pedestal out of ourreach?Mary’s life was a genuine humanjourney. Hers was a commonplaceand obscure life. Deny that factand you will be unfair to her and toall of us.This Jewish woman of faithobserved the Sabbath and thepractices associated with the fer-vor of the poor of Yahweh, amongwhom she numbered. Like the vastmajority of her contemporaries,she probably was illiterate. She

searched, felt anxious,laughed and cried, andstruggled, as we all do,to find her way fromone stage to anotheron life’s journey.And life did not treather gently. She lived outthe human lot that fallsto us all. Therese ofLisieux reminds us thatwe love Mary not be-cause she received ex-ceptional privileges butrather because shelived and experienced

life just like the rest of us.God graced her from the very firstmoment, and did great thingsthrough her. Mary is our sister infaith, a revered elder among theCommunion of Saints. ◆

Br. Seán D.Sammon,Superior General

MaristECHO

Brother Seán and his Council beside the Virgin inCochabamba, Bolivia

Expressive statue of an Indian mother inSanta Cruz, Bolivia

and thebonds thatbind ust o g e t h e r .We recog-nise thato u rs t u d e n t shave beennegat ive lyaffected bym a n yf o r c e s ,regrettably,most ofthem beyond their control. Despite this we believe inthem and most importantly we hold realistic expecta-tions in their capacity to overcome and succeed. TheBerne strives to bring hope to these young peoplethrough a combination of specialised programmesinvolving nurturing, counselling and positive education.These specialised programmes are about the develop-ment and formation of the whole person. To assiststudents to work on their learning the school offers inaddition to traditional subjects essential programmesin personal and social development. Theseprogrammes provide opportunities for students tocome into direct contact with the less fortunatemembers of our community to engender empathy.They learn skills for independent living and how toutilise their leisure time productively.To develop futurework skills students complete four work placementsper year. To help them work through their emotionaland behavioural issues counsellors are available at alltimes.We, in the new millennium, have the privilege ofappreciating the very reason for the birth of Jean-Baptiste Berne and we experience this continued privi-lege of working, not only within the philosophy ofChampagnat, but also within a very practicalapproach of giving hope to every child within ourMarist family.Since 1998 Berne has given hope to more than twohundred students and the tradition goes on. ◆

The Berne EducationCentre, an IndependentCatholic School ownedand operated by theMarist Brothers, is situ-ated in inner-suburbanSydney, Australia. Berneis a positive option forsome forty studentsbetween the ages 12-16who are experiencing avariety of difficultiesinvolving emotional andbehavioural disorders

and generally not coping academically and/or sociallyin a traditional school system. Consequently, for thesestudents not only is their education at risk but theirfuture prospects also. The school’s philosophy is firmlyembedded in the Christian belief that where there islife there is Hope, Always. This philosophy is theframework that defines our approach as educatorsand mentors to these young people. It teaches that allhuman beings are inherently valuable. MarcellinChampagnat always urged his followers to love theChildren in your care and certainly, as true MaristEducators, we relate with the young people in our care“as if they were our own children”. In adherence withthis, we cannot ignore those most in need, those mostneglected and those left behind by everyone else.Therefore, our school grows out of a tradition thatrespects both the central uniqueness of each person

2 WITNESS FMS Marist Echo

T H E B E R N E E D U C A T I O N C E N T R E - S Y D N E Y

Hope, AlwaysHope, AlwaysElizabeth Jackson

Brother Michael Flanagan,

Director, introduces an award

winner Students participating in

“Surf Awareness Day” on Bondi Beach

9th Grade students at the Ropes Course Camp

Number 45 – Year 16 – September 2003INSTITUTE OF THE MARIST BROTHERS

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Br. Lluís Serra. TRANSLATORS: Bro. Gerard Brereton, English; Bro. Josep Roura, French; Bro. Virgílio Balestro, Portuguese; Bros. Juan Miguel Anaya and JuanArconada, Spanish. PHOTOGRAPHY: Bro. Lluís Serra and archives.

FORMATTING AND PHOTOLITHS: TIPOCROM S.R.L. – Via G.G. Arrivabene, 24Rome ITALY

EDITORIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER: Piazzale Marcellino Champagnat 2,C.P. 10250, 00144 Rome ITALYTel. (39) 06545171; Fax (39)0654517217

E-MAIL: publica@fms.it – WEB SITE: www.champagnat.orgPUBLISHER: Institute of the Marist Brothers. General House – Rome ITALYPRINTING: C.S.C. GRAFICA, s.r.l. – Via G.G. Arrivabene, 40 – Rome ITALY

“IF I WERE A RICH MAN, …”THE SONG GOES. WHAT WOULD

YOU DO IF YOU WERE RICH?If I were rich? Well, Iwouldn’t be a religious.Committing yourself to thereligious life means bringingyour own life into line withthat of Jesus, thus, leavingaside wealth. My will specifiesthat everything I inherit begiven to the Institute and itsmission. That answers thequestion.

THE MARIST INSTITUTE POSSESSES

MATERIAL GOODS. HOW CAN THESE

BE USED IN AN EVANGELICAL WAY? Goods are indispensable forour mission. As we see in theGospel. Jesus helps othersthrough the generosity of thosewho support him. His disciples,organized in community, sharethe goods, with the help of anadministrator, Judas …Concerning the evangelical useof goods in our Institute, itseems to me there are twoessential guidelines for us tofollow: accountability andsolidarity.

IN SPEAKING OF GOODS, DOES THAT

ALSO INCLUDE PERSONNEL? We cannot consider people asgoods. The appeal made bythe General Chapter refers

specifically to“material goods.”Yet it’s true that thewealth of a group isnot limited to thegoods that itpossesses. It alsoincludes what’scalled humanpatrimony.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

ABOUT THE UNEQUAL

DISTRIBUTION OF

WEALTH IN THE WORLD?The international character ofour congregation brings usface to face with thissituation. As I see it, there aretwo possible approaches wecan take as an Institute. Oneis to help developmentprojects – BIS is already doingthis. The other is toparticipate in internationalorganizations whose work isrelated to our charism,teaching and the education ofyoung people, especially thepoorest. In this regard onlynetworking with otheragencies will allow us to bringabout change at the nationaland international level.

COULD YOU CITE PLACES WHERE

MARISTS ARE NOTABLY PRESENT

AMONG THE POOR?

FMS Marist Echo INTERVIEW 3

Using our goods responsibly and in solidarityBrother Maurice Berquet, interviewed by Brother Lluís Serra

Brother Maurice with young trainees at Viamão

(Rio Grande do Sul)

Having already visited threeregions in the Institute I cangive you numerous examples.My most recent experiencewas in a community in PortoAlegre, at “Ilha Grande de losmarinheiros.” There ourbrothers have a community inthe midst of trash pickers,people scavenging for paper,and they run a free socialservice center open to all thechildren… This is genuinetestimony to our solidaritywith the poorest.

WHAT ISSUES WILL YOUR

COMMISSION BE LOOKING INTO?The task of our Commissionis to formulate a discernmentplan regarding the evangelicaluse of our goods and to helpput that plan into practice.The plan would offer criteria to help with decision-making in this field,and encourage Provinces,works, and communities totake concrete initiatives in thisarea… because the evangelicaluse of our goods must be oneof the key elements in anyauthentic transformation oftoday’s religious life.

Maurice Berquet, 55, was born in Ste. Foy les Lyon, France. He studied youth ministry, earned a Doctoratein Electronics from the University of Strasbourg, served as Provincial of Beaucamps-St. Genis, and is now

the General Councilor in charge of the Commission on the evangelical use of our material goods.

With Brothers Raúl Figuera, Antonio

Silva, Francisco Ruzzarin and

Zeferino Zandonadi in Brazil

Brother

Maurice

heads the

Commission

on the

evangelical

use of goods

WE WALK WITH CHAMPAGNAT

When do we lay teachers walk with Champagnat, held byhis hand?� When we feel called to plant the seeds of the Gospel

and peace... and with hearts imbued with the presenceof God, we bring the Good News into the lives of ourstudents, with whom we interact.

� When we trust in Mary’s love... and continually renewour awareness of being her daughters and sons, rec-ognizing her as a speedy way to gain access to her Son.

� When in our daily lives we are faithful witnesses, sin-cere, dependable serving others... loving and givingreasons for our love, feeling we’re entitled to listen, for-give, show dedication, let go, teach, love.

� When we feel we are sisters and brothers for everyone...valuing an expansive vision, nurturing an affectionateand compassionate heart that allows us to inspire,valuing diversity and our close relationship to eachother.

� When we take on life in solidarity... able and qualifiedto bring human dignity to others, shortening distances,overcoming limitations, giving the Lord breathing roomto make our Marist history new and different.

� When we allow ourselves to question things that needto change... strive to become more faithful and not gettired on the job. Our daring in mission inspires many ofour young people eager to find strong role models.

Carolina VargasProvince of Santa María de los Andes

Chile

TODAY YOU WILL BE CHAMPAGNAT

This story that we all love Is not a memory, it’s real, right now;That love of his love that makes us travel onIs alive in you and me.

You are to be brothers and sisters for all Sowers of the gospel and peace,Faithful witnesses, serving others United in standing up for truth.

What he dreamed is living in your hearts.Make new dreams spring from you.Today Marcellin is in your loving response.Sing along with the Lord as he did,And Mary will keep you free from harm.

Marcellin is living in you.Today you will be Champagnat.Don’t worry about where or when.Your response can’t wait.Jesus is also calling you To an all-embracing love.

Only the Lord can break your chains.Only in Him will you find freedom.You will be happy if you give of yourself.He will always strengthen you in times of trial.

The Kairoi musical groupSpain

Everyone is unique and different. Without intending to be, somepeople, by the strength of their personality, become guiding lights for

others. Their generosity affects us deeply, their way of overcomingproblems, responses in solidarity with others, intimacy with God,outlook on the world and commitment to make it a better place.Their lives make us want to bring out the best in ourselves. So,

capitalizing on our own personal qualities, we strive to imitate them.Many of us want to be Champagnat here and now.

• TO BE CHAMPAGNAA C O N T E M P O R A R Y W A Y T O P R

HERE I AM

I used to think saints were people with special qualities, andso I admired them.Their road seemed easier. I saw St.Mar-cellin as one of them.One evening a brother said somethingthat really struck me: Marcellin hadn’t been born with spe-cial talents, he was like me, a human being,who had an Ide-al, who allowed himself to be guided by the Holy Spirit indifficult times, and he was always true to his word.How did he accomplish this? By sticking to his principlesand decisions,with joy and enthusiasm, taking on challenges,confronting all his ups and downs and putting them in thehands of our Mother.All the while he kept on working, trust-ing that the Lord would take care of everything accordingto His own schedule, neither sooner nor later.Being Champagnat here and now shows me how to bebrave, face up to things, listen, and not be ashamed of myhumanness.Being Champagnat here and now teaches me not to giveup, but with strength and confidence to pass this charismon to my children, husband, family, and friends.Being Champagnat here and now means having the sameattitude as Mary, our Ordinary Resource, who kept in herheart all the events she didn’t understand, realizing God wasbehind them all.Being Champagnat here and now involves living my life withits ups and downs, placing my heart and soul in the handsof Jesus and Mary.Therefore: Here I am, guide me, give me strength, courage,and understanding, and let me never forget that I have aFather who loves me here and now for a specific reason allHis own.

Mónica Valverde de DíazColegio San José, Mendoza

Argentina

MAKING A COMMITMENT HERE AND NOW

� Getting your feet dirty with the reddish earth of thestreets in Horqueta: dust in dry spells,mud when it rains.Leaving for the meeting, here and now.

� Getting chalk dust all over your hands and clothesduring class; arranging for an interview with a studenthaving difficulty and sitting down to listen; the 60 in yourclass sometimes make your hair stand on end, or theMitanguéras hide underneath your desk.That takescommitment.

� Throwing candy and flour at a meeting of Navegar.Dis-covering the joy in little everyday things that lubricate thebig dry gears of daily life.Enjoying life, here and now.

Going to that meeting, honoring a commitment and enjoyingit... is being Champagnat, today.I dream and share the dreams of the people I meet eachday.They come into my life and allow me to enter intotheirs.There are close encounters.A meeting that begins at home, and continues outdoors andat school.One that commits me to be a leader in each place,involved in concrete answers to people’s needs.A meetingthat provides an excuse for initiating a project together.I look at the reality of my city and country, I feel a call, awarethat it is inviting me to work and inflame hopes anddreams.And the time comes when I stop to bring my dreams upto date and draw strength from my confidence in God.In all these places and situations, Champagnat becomespresent and a partner in my dreams and commitments,and he reminds me that to be like him today, I must reallywant to be.

Mª Inés Cristaldo AmaroColegio marista de Horqueta

Paraguay

GROUP DISCUSSION:

1. - For me, what is the meaning of “to beChampagnat here and now”? Everyone isencouraged to share his or her personal

experience with the group.2. - After expressing your opinions and feelings,

those who would like to do so are asked to writedown their testimonies and send them to us at

publica@fms.it

AT, HERE AND NOW •R A C T I C E T H E C H R I S T I A N L I F E

VIVEMAR – BRAZILMARIST CELEBRATION

VIVEMAR is a five-day gathering inwhich brothers and lay Maristscome together to concentrate ongetting to know themselves bet-ter, leading them to update theirvalues and attitudes in dealingwith life. Relationships with one’sneighbors come to be seen in anew light, from the Christian per-spective. In sharing life, strongbonds of affection and fraternityare formed, making it possible toexperience love and divine mercy.

What makes vivemaristas differentis that they know what it is to beMarist and, more than that, theyknow what it means to live in aMarist family. The spirituality ofMarcellin Champagnat and thepresence of Mary, our GoodMother, give VIVEMAR a clear un-derstanding of our search for theKingdom of God, which turnsvivemar istas into committed

6 MARIST FRATERNITIES FMS Marist Echo

Marcellin and Fraternities

God has given me, the worth ofongoing education, and the ef-fort as all of us deliver to ourstudents and their families thedivine word, true Love, the loveof our master Jesus, of our moth-er Mary.

Abelardo,Centro Social Hermano Lorenzo

São Paulo/SP

– I was a girl with health prob-lems and from the time I wastwo months old my family con-secrated me to Our Lady ofAparecida do Norte.When I wasseven, completely cured, I re-turned to that shrine to fulfill apromise I had made. And now,after so many years of trial,weariness, and looking for an-swers in other religions, I returnat 36 to consecrate myself toOur Lady of Aparecida. I do sowith great joy and much innerpeace. I commit myself to be apracticing Catholic, and to livemy life intensely in the companyof Jesus, as Mary did, and to makeHim known and loved accordingto the Marist ideal.

Sônia, Colegio de Brasília E. F. – Brasília/DF

THE ST DOMINIC FRATERNITYOF LIKUNI, MALAWI. AFRICA

We are a group of ten men andwomen, and Bro. Adrian is our

Christians, espe-cially in the work-place.

Testimonies– I thank our Lordfor the opportuni-ty that came myway to become avivemarista. In this4th VIVEMAR Iagain became partof a family that Ihave always be-

longed to, part of a group that insowing seeds nurtures the pres-ence of our Good Mother andSt. Marcellin Champagnat. I wantto evangelize wherever I go andespecially where I am at the pre-sent moment. Moments of evan-gelization, prayer, and celebrationenergize me, and have been re-newal experiences for my life.They are indispensable for all ofus, daughters and sons of Godour Father. Based on what I’velearned here I will be taking withme the message St. Marcellin hasleft us: “To make Jesus Christknown and loved.”

Hisabela, Escuela y C. S. M.“Marcelino Champagnat”

Cascavel/PR

– The importance of what wedid during this week of reflec-tion, meetings, and togethernessjumps out at me. I feel certain I’mon my way again, catching aglimpse of the opportunity that

“VIVEMAR”, an experience of prayer and reflection

YEAR OF BROTHER FRANÇOISFive years from now we will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of GabrielRivat, who took the name of Brother François. He was a close friend of St.Marcellin, having become a member of the Marist project at a very young age.The first Superior General, the Church has declared him venerable, the title priorto those of blessed and saint. Now that Champagnat has been canonized, ourattention turns to others who have known how to be dedicated and courageous.For this reason, we are dedicating this year, from June 6, 2003 until June 6, 2004,to Brother François, to learn more about the man who gathered togetherMarcellin’s legacy and knew how to carry it forward and expand it. To becomemore familiar with important figures in our Marist family, and in praying for them,drawing closer to our spiritual roots.

consultant. In thelight of the Gospel,inspired by St Mar-cellin's spirituality,our members havediscovered thepowerful interces-sion of ourFounder. Meetingtwice a month andsharing prayer, wehave come to at-tribute a number of"miracles" throughhis intercession. Our chairmanfound employment and blessingson the members of his family.Two men escaped safely from aroad accident.Two daughters of alady member secured good per-manent jobs. Another memberwas selected exclusively for train-ing as a teacher. The separateddaughter of a member recoveredher children from the husband.Aman who experienced Job's lossfound solace through St Mar-cellin's assistance. A lady couldattend to her clients the wholeday because St Marcellin removedthe pain from her broken legfrom 5 am to 5 pm. In fact, thesimple faith of these peoplespeaks loud to proclaim... Blessedare the poor, God's kingdom istheirs!

Dominic Jeremani (chairperson)

“TO RESEMBLE JESUS ANDMARY MORE AND MORE”

Marist spirituality invites us toknow how to always live andwork effectively within the heartsof Jesus and Mary, and to sharewith them the mission of “saving”the world, not only in a mysticaland spiritual sense, but also in amaterial-physical way, convertingthe grace of our redemption in-to works of mercy and solidarityfor our neighbors.

Marcellin Champagnat knew alltoo well the cost of obedience:we remember his Bishop’s askinghim to resign from his work…and the failure he experienced

FMS Marist Echo MARIST FRATERNITIES 7

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?RESTRUCTURING?

October 1993: the 19th GeneralChapter initiated a far-reachingmovement in the Institute,pointing to the necessity of itsbeing restructured.The delegatesin 2001 confirmed the path beingtaken.2003: ten years on, with theimpulse of Superiors General andtheir Councilors, our Institutehas reduced in half the number ofits administrative units, workingclosely with the brothers from allcountries, languages, and culturesthat have joined together toaddress this new challenge toassure a future filled with vitality.Have we experienced difficulties?Of course we have.Are webound to a once-and-for-allstructure? Not really. Rather thisis a step in the right direction onour continuing journey, that ofour mission.Life engenders mobility,adaptation, creativity, andboldness.The coming of ourMarist future also includes thecapacity to answer theunforeseen, a capacity shared byChampagnat and by our brothersin 1903.With a heart that knowsno bounds.And tomorrow, at theheart of our reconfiguredprovinces, with an invitation toeveryone to find new brotherswho have received the same callto be Marists, we need to mapout new and exciting roads ofgovernment, animation, andcollaboration, those of 21st

Century Marists. May these newroads bring vitality and meaningto the reorganization of ourInstitute, and help it be everresponsive to the calls of theworld, with the grace of God thatlights our way.

in not obtaining official autho-rization for his brothers to teach.One of his biographers writesthat he endured great trialsthroughout his entire life, butovercame them all thanks to hisfaith and trust in God.

Situations similar to those ofMary and Marcellin frequentlypresent themselves in our lives,when we feel opposed to whatGod is asking of us. For example,when an illness comes our way,an accident, an economic setback,a misunderstanding… we forgetthat those trying moments areopportunities to unite ourselvesto our beloved Redeemer andaccept, as He did, humiliation,loss, self-denial, renunciation, thecross… In the words of St. Mar-cellin:“The spirit of faith will leadMarists to love the hidden life,humble employments, depen-dence on Providence, neediness,sufferings, humiliations, theworld’s scorn, in order to re-semble Jesus and Mary moreand more (R.C. 1852: 02, 01,004 Cepam, p. 28)

The spiritual legacy that Marcellinleft his disciples allows us to un-derstand that in the measure weaccept and embrace the cross ofJesus, the greater freedom ofspirit we will enjoy loving andserving God in the person ofthose who need us:“You did it tome.” (Mt. 25, 4)

Prof. Miguel Angel Villalobos Gallardo

MChFM, Irapuato, Gto.Mexico

Exercises aimed at self-awareness

Brother

Joseph de

Meyer, from

Belgium,

West Central

Europe

Province

8 SAINT MARCELLIN FMS Marist Echo

Marcellin – his trust in GodBr. Desmond Howard

Province of Melbourne,Australia

Are some people more predis-posed to holiness and greatnessthan others? When we look at theinfluence of family and environ-ment plus the natural aptitudes ofMarcellin, we recognize someonewho was certainly the recipientof a potency for both holiness andgreatness. We also know of thestruggles, difficulties, pain and an-guish that were part and parcel ofhis life; that which called forthcourage, tenacity and belief to analmost super-human degree. Theold adage: To those who have beengiven much, much will be expectedreiterates the parable of the tal-ents, and the life of Champagnatbears testimony to a life lived tothe full.

The underlying and unshakeablefoundation of all that Marcellin wasand all that he did was his endur-ing trust in God, likened to thepower of the rock-face into whichhe built The Hermitage. The hu-man face of his trust in God wasthe very attractive way of livingout the Gospel values in the way ofMary.

In speaking of the essence of hisspirituality, Article 2 of our Con-stitutions sums up this core of hislife very succinctly:Led by the Spirit, Marcellin was seizedby the love that Jesus and Mary hadfor him and for others. His experience

of this, as well as his openness toevents and to people, is the wellspringof his spirituality and apostolic zeal….There are special attributes thatwere the lived expression of Mar-cellin’s trust in God:

He constantly spoke of the PRES-ENCE OF GOD…. I can be as rec-ollected in the streets of Paris as I canin the woods of the Hermitage. He isspeaking of a total awareness ofGod in life, an Incarnational Godwho is continually loving, inviting,forgiving, sustaining… Champag-nat certainly did not walk aroundthe streets of Paris with his eyesdowncast!

EFFECTIVE LEADERS INSPIREHOPE. Such people as Gandhi,Nel-son Mandela and Dorothy Day aremodern day examples. Champagnatinspired hope in his followers. Hisperspective about and perceptionof life were totally MAGNANI-MOUS. We see this illustrated inhis capacity to live fully in the pre-sent moment with equanimity andpurpose. His big-mindedness is al-so seen in his passion for life, hiswhole-hearted loving, his energy,generosity and compassion. Theaccompanying portrait of Cham-pagnat depicts these qualities.Wealso see here a man with a vision,assessing the realities of his dreamwith faith and an understanding ofhuman nature.

A new

Marist world

is born

NEW PROVINCIALS FOR NEW

PROVINCES

In April Brother EugeneKabanguka began his term asProvincial of West Central Africa(D. R. of Congo, Central AfricanRepublic, Kenya, Rwanda, andTanzania).At the end of June,Brother John Klein becameProvincial of the United Statesof America Province (USA andJapan). In August, BrotherDemetrio Espinosa started histerm as Provincial of theSouthern Cross Province(Argentina, Uruguay, and theDistrict of Paraguay);Also in July,Brother Xavier Barceló becameProvincial of the HermitageProvince (France Catalunya,Greece, Switzerland, Hungary,and Algeria). In September,Brother Manuel Jorques willbecome Provincial of theMediterranean Province (Béticaand Levante in Spain, plus Italy,Syria, Lebanon, and the Districtof West Africa). In November,Brother Samuel Holguín willbecome Provincial of the IberianProvince (Madrid and Norte inSpain, and also Romania).And inDecember, Brother PrimitivoMendoza will become Provincialof Compostela (Castile andLeón in Spain; Portugal, andHonduras).

VISITS OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

Brother Superior General andhis Council, together withseveral delegates, have givenretreats in the Provinces ofEurope, except that of WestCentral Europe. Currently theyare visiting communities, andfrom November 24 to 27 theywill hold an expanded GeneralCouncil session in Madrid.

Marcellin as

pictured by

Goyo