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(July – September 2011)

Greetings from Rome.

I am happy to send you the Information sheet for the last months, referring to the activities carried

out by some of the SIGNUM FIDEI communities of the Lasallian world. My thanks to those who

sent in the information .May knowledge of these realities help us to strengthen our links of fraternity

and solidarity and may we remember each other in our prayers.

Br. Alberto Gomez Barruso

CARACAS - Venezuela

In the first two weeks of July, Br. Al-bert visited the Fraterni-ties of Vene-zuela. In Ca-racas the first meeting con-

centrated on presenting the Fraternity at world level and sharing ideas on how to strengthen the life of the community at a the internal level and in relation with the local Brothers’ community and with the District. Following this there were meetings with representatives of teachers, past pupils, parents and young people. A strong desire can be seen on the part of all to strengthen the links of association. The atmosphere was very fraternal. Br. Visitor Gerardo Castillo, the Advisor, Br. Garcia Martinez and the Coordinator, Ms Marfel Lopez made these meetings an unforgettable experience.

GUAYAQUIL - Equador

In the District of Equador there is only one Fraterni-ty, in the city of Guayaquil. Accom-panied by the young Br. Alberto Cobo I went to the city of Playas where we were

able to spend a morning of living together, reflection and rest. It was very nice to hear each one tell his/her personal story of association, the difficulties met along the way and the challenges of the present time. What stood out for me was the naturalness and sincerity of the dialogue and the desire to strengthen and increase the size of the community. For some years Br. Pablo Armijos has been the Advisor of the Fraternity. The Signum Fidei appreciate him with true fraternal affection. The Coordina-tor is Miss Margarita Espinosa Luque de los Monteros, an enthusiastic and profoundly Lasallian per-son. The welcome from the Brothers and from the Signum Fidei Fraternity was truly marvelous.

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BARQUISIMETO - Venezuela

Accompanied again by Br. Gerardo Castillo, Br. Alberto vi-sited the Signum Fidei Fraternity and the Brothers’ commu-nity which looks after the two colleges of Barquisimeto. The number of members has been reduced but I see them as very animated and committed. The Brothers invited the Signum Fidei to lunch. About 15 persons connected to vari-ous establishments in the college and interested in the theme of Association came to the meeting.Br. Rafael Marti-nez carries out the function of Advisor and Mr. Asdrubal Loyo is the Coordinator. We feel sure that this community will strengthen in the coming years.

ANDALUCIA - Spain

At the end of the school year the members of the Signum Fidei Fraternity met to hold the quarterly meeting. After morning prayer we evaluated the objectives of the year just ended and drew up those for the coming year. We highlighted the achievement of our commitment to ‘twin’ with the Sigmun Fidei of Guinea by sending them some financial help. We received a letter of thanks from Br. Santiago Carro, who is leaving Guinea next year to return to Spain. Thanks Br. Santiago. We dealt with the theme “Travelling the road together”,(preparation for the 1st MEL Assembly of the new ARLEP District). We were thankful for the presence during the entire meeting, of the Delegate for Formation and Association, Br. Agustin Ranchal. On July 2nd “Mission Day”, we renewed our Conse-cration

Luis Lacida

MALTA

During a celebration on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, the Brothers and the Signum Fidei renewed our consecration one after the other. It was a very meaningful moment, especially after recently losing our Brother Advisor, Louis Camilleri, who died on May 29th Although physically absent, Br. Louis was present in all our hearts. His memory will remain engraved in the minds and hearts of all those who had the good fortune of having known him and worked by his side. We continue united to the Frater-nity of Trujillo (Peru). Our government has granted us an aid of 15,000 euro for the construction of the Kinder of Signos de Fe College in that city.

Marlene Camilleri

BARCELONA - Spain

The Fraternity of Barcelona, through its Co-ordinator, Mr. Vicenç Fortunato, regularly sends news about the life of the community. “The members of the Fraternity do a continuous reading of the Medi-tations of De La Salle and each month a copy of the texts is sent to all the members. At the end of the school year we had collected 1,180 euro which will be sent to the Fraternity of Madagascar, with which we are, in some way, twinned. On August 24th we participated in the Brothers’ Retreat and

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shared the Eucharist and meals. On the 28th we were present at the feast of the Cataluña Sector. In the prayers each day we remember the Superior General and the Brothers of the General Council.”

Vicente y Carmen

HOMESTEAD – FLORIDA (USA)

The St. John Baptist De La Salle Education Centre of Homestead has celebrated its 20th anniversary. The amount of humanita-rian and social work in favour of very nee-dy children and immi-

grant families that is carried on is admirable. Best wished to all those who make possible the life of this Centre, a pioneer in so far as it is run by former pupils and among them some Signum Fidei such as Mr. José Manuel Dorado, known to many of you. God made use of the initial commitment of various Signum Fidei to make this work bear fruit. To them and to all those who made possible this ‘miracle’ of solidarity over 20 years we send our most cordial congratulations. And to think that it all began with a contribution of 250 dollars!

PERU - Lima

The 5th Extraordinary National Congress of the Signum Fidei Fraternity of Peru took place in Lima. Nu-merous delegations from all over the country participated. Mr. Cesar Guerrero was appointed Presi-dent of the Fraternities of Peru, replacing Mr. Jorge Rojas Carrranza. We thank Jorge for his generous and enthusiastic dedication to the Fraternities of Peru and we wish much success to the new Presi-dent. Mr. Guerrero and the new national leadership of our Fraternities promise to animate the life and mission of all the Fraternities. Mr. Gilberto Cieza de Leon, a founding member, reminded us of the 26 year history of the Fraternity. At the city cemetery, a well deserved homage was paid to Br. Manuel Olivé, the initiator of the Fraternity in Peru. During the Eucharist in the large chapel of Colegio La Salle, Lima, many Signum Fidei renewed their Consecration. We are happy to know that there was a young person, Cecilio, representing a new Signum Fidei group from Iquitos.

ROMA – MASSA - Italy

In the Basilica of Santa Prisca the following members of the Fraternity of Rome renewed their Conse-cration and personal commitment: Luciana Carlesso, Carlo Leggeri, Paolo Pantanetti, Armando Piagge-si, Gaspare Rossi, Mariella Trucchi. Present also were the new Visitor of Italy, Br. Achile Buccella, Br. Gian Piero Salvai, Advisor, Br. Alberto and other Lasallians, family members and friends. The day

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ended with a fraternal meal. Mrs. Myra Patambang, National Co- ordinator of the Philippines was also present, availing of her presence in Rome for the meeting of Lasallian universities. Within a few weeks the communities of Italy will see their numbers increase with new consecrations: six in Massa, four in Rome and one in Paderno del Grappa. On August 9th the Signum Fidei community with the help of family and friends, organized an evening party in the grounds of Collegio La Salle – St. Filippo Neri for children from the Chernobyl area of Rus-sia who had spent the summer in this city. The evening involved games, pizzas and good humour in the Lasallian spirit.

(De Bellis R.M. y SF. Massa)

PERU - Trujillo

At present we are receiving weekly news from the community of Trujillo. As mentioned earlier, the Signum Fidei of Malta presented to their government the project for the construction of the college Kindergarten and received 15,000 euro. Thanks to this help the first phase of this construction is being carried out. Recently, we have been promised a further 15,000 Euros aid by the Spanish Lasallian NGO "EDIFICANDO". And a former student, who last year helped build a school in Madagascar, will donate 30,000 Euros more in order to complete the construction project. Thanks to such generous donors. Providence always opens us paths when one is looking for the good of the needy. It would be good if twinning and help would extend more between the Signum Fidei Fraternities. PERU – Arequipa y Manos de Dios

The junior community of San Juan de Arequipa held its community life meet-ing with the agreeable presence of new members who filled with the Lasallian spirit wish to live the style of life of the Fraternity. We had a farewell celebra-tion for Julian who will travel to Lima to help in the Lasallian Wayra Formation Centre. The young people of the Pastoral Mission of Manos de Dios organized in the month of August the “Confraternity Camp 2011”. They were two days of integration, sport, healthy recreation and evalua-tion of the community plan. MEXICO D.F.

The SF Fraternity of Mexico met in the La Salle House of Formation in Tlalpan with a view to making a pre-paratory retreat for renewing our consecration. Br. Adalberto Aranda was present, animating us with the strong spirituality which characterizes him. We gan with a very interesting talk on the spiritual di-

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mension of our Lasallian commitment. We had times of reflection, prayer and sharing. Fourteen members of the Fraternity renewed their consecration during the Mass celebrated by Fr. Felipe de Jesús Leyva, OFM. To end we shared an evening meal. We give thanks to God who allows us to live such pleasant moments in the company of people we appreciate so much and whom we share the same ideals with. Br. Adalberto has been sent to another community in the District. We sincerely thank him for his work in animating the Fraternity in Mexico City.

Maria Antonieta Guzman Vega TALCA – SANTIAGO - VALPARAISO : Chile

Mrs. Linka Espinoza tells us that the community of Talca is made up of five persons, accompanied by Bros. Gabriel González and Juan Báez. They meet once every two weeks in the Brothers’ Community, with the word of God at the centre. The aim is to improve their formation and to fulfill their commit-ments as Signum Fidei in works of solidarity and charity. They collaborate in family catechesis and the pastoral mission to parents. In Rome we welcomed the couple Kemel Allende Yábery and Teresa Torres Fuentes from Talca with whom we can be seen accompanied by Br. Superior General. From Colegio La Florida of Santiago they tell us that for the first time they joined the Brothers on Tri-nity Sunday at the moment when they renewed their consecration. Although no Signum Fidei from this Centre made their consecration, they expressed the desire to be able to take this step next year in order to live the Lasallian Mission more united and committed. Mr. Claudio Báez Leiva sent us a very interesting Project in which he thinks of involving past pupils who would offer part of their time and knowledge to the most needy. Mrs. Ximena del Pilar sent us greetings from Valparaiso and photos of a visit that they made to Curepto.

H. Juan Báez – Sra. Linka Espinoza - Hugo Vergaca Contreras

MADAGASCAR

We continue to be in contact with all the Fraternities in Madagascar. Br. Juan Sala tells us that they have already begun the alteration work at the Centre for the Advancement of Women of ANOSIBE, which is run by the Fraternity. Let us remember that this work is being carried out thanks to the great generosity of a Lasallian couple. Along with two technicians from La Salle College – Holy Family, Theo and Jeronimo, both Signum Fidei and Philippe, Coordinator of the Fraternity, visited the town council of Mahavelona with the idea of opening a new professional centre. This would allow for the training of many pupils who have had to suspend their studies because of a lack of education Centres. On District Day, 4 new Signum Fidei from Ambositra made their consecration and 13 existing members renewed their consecration. Br. Visitor had some words of encouragement for all.

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H. Juan Sala MADRID - Spain

In the month of August I had the honour of getting to know perso-nally Mr. José Antonio de Lózar and his wife. Don José was one of the pioneers of Lasal-lian Association in the world and one of the first lay persons to

make his consecration as a Signum Fidei in Rome in 1976. Don José recalls with emotion the years during which he was one of the main collaborators of Br. Manuel Olivé. He was world president of the Lasallian Association of Past Pupils and organized the first congresses in Malta, Mexico…The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools gave him the title of Affiliated Member. This diploma occupies a place of honour in his house, which is full of Lasallian souvenirs. Don José has made a gift to the In-stitute of his personal archive of Lasallian documents, among which are letters from Brothers Charles Henry and José Pablo Basterrechea, Superiors General, and from Br. Manuel. Thanks Don José for your witness of life and for having opened the doors to so many lay persons who still today consecrate their lives to God for the Lasallian Mission. ROTORUA – New Zealand

The community in New Zealand is made up of 17 persons. All of us are connected with education and exercise different positions of responsibility in John Paul II School. Two members work outside the school but have their children here. We meet monthly on Tuesdays between 4 and 6. Br. Colin Griffin, who lives in Auckland, has been appointed our spiritual director. There is no community of Brothers in our town. We begin the meeting with a prayer and reflection and then talk about our experiences. We end by sharing a meal. We all value very much the opportu-nity to relax and share this time together. Our commitment consists in supporting students from nee-dy Maori families and other young people from the Pacific islands. We have decided to have an annual retreat for all the members of the community. Br. Ambrose Payne, Visitor received our consecration during the Eucharist. We welcomed a new member to our community, Mrs. Secilia Pelesasa.

Sra. Bernadette Fredricksen

COCHABAMBA – BOLIVIA

“A greeting of appreciation and gratitude from the Signum Fidei of Bolivia, especially from Cochabam-ba. I would like to thank you heartily and tell you that we regularly receive all the mail that you send to us. They are of great use to us. In Cochabamba 8 teachers renewed their Signum Fidei commitment for

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another year during the Eucharist on the Feast of our Founder, St. J.B. de la Salle. Thanks for your prayers”.

Rodney Muñoz

PANAMA

From Colegio La Salle in Panama we are sending some photos taken on the occasion of the Feast of Saint john Baptist De La Salle. During the Euchar-ist, we members of

the Signum Fidei Fraternity renewed our consecration: Amparo de Gutierrez, Dolores de Gonzalez, Gladys de Ruiz, Alfredo Rabat, Luis Wong, Carlos Gordon, Nelson Da Fonte, Rosa Maria Elias, Italo Cas-tillo, Miriam Medina. Some days later at the Mass shared with the Brothers, the following renewed their consecration: Juan Palacios, Andres Ayu Prado, José Luis Matute. Br. Cecilio, Visitor, has appointed a new Coordinating Team for Association for the whole District, made up of Br. Abdon Camacho, Mrs. Ritha Gonzalez and Br. José Morales. They have already begun work by sending out a questionnaire.

Amparo Medina

JERUSALÉN – BELÉN - LIBANO

The community of Holy Land organized in late August a two-day retreat in Taybé, near Ramallah, un-der the theme "Making the Word of God bear fruit in our lives as educators." Participants, caming from Bethlehem and Jerusalem were accompanied by Br. Daoud and Father Khalil. Ghanem Siren, a participant in World Youth Day in Madrid shared her experience with the community. In Lebanon, the communities of Saint Vincent de Paul, CSC, Deddeh and Kfaryachit schools held a three-day retreat for 35 members, accompanied by Br. Fadi Sfeir, Ildefonse Sarkis and Miguel Quecas. The coordinator, Mr. Mario Mannah, welcomed everyone with kind words of greeting. The theme was: "My Word is light and life." Reflection sessions were also animated by Mme. Mirella Mannah, M. Antoine Medawar and P. El-Haibeh. At the end of the retreat, the leaders of these communities, met to elect a new co-ordinator who will succeed Mr. M. Mannah, who has already served for nine years as coordinator. Mr. Fouad Safi from Sacred Heart School has been elected new co-ordinator.

Fr. Daoud

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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia

Our community in Kuala Lumpur is an elderly community. The majority of us are in our sixties or seventies. In the last six months we have lost two founding members and our Brother Advisor, Michael Jacques. Since we are not a community based in a college, the majority of us are involved with the parish, the diocese and with base communities. We

work in education with the young in Sunday schools. Our new Advisor is Br. Ambrose Loke, who parti-cipated in the last CIL Session in Rome. Br. Thomas Lavin, new Auxiliary Visitor of DENA animated our last retreat under the theme “Associated for the Lasallian Mission”. We have difficulty in attracting new members to the Fraternity. We pray that the Signum Fidei Fraternity will be more numerous in the future.

L.A. Alexander

More information: www.lasalle.org