General Chapter Votes and Notes Will Be Due

May 2006

General Chapter votes and notes will be due

Circular 454, Convocation of the 44th General Chapter (2007) has been posted on the Institute website, and copies of the printed document should arrive in the next few weeks. It gives an overview of the flow of the Chapter. The Midwest District will have two delegates, and the names of the delegates are to be sent to Rome by September 15, 2006. Because summertime responses to participation in voting are reduced, the balloting for the two delegates will be completed by early June. When the Circular arrives, it will be mailed along with the directions and ballot for the Midwest District delegates. That should appear in the next few weeks. Individuals, communities, and other groups can send notes for consideration by the Chapter delegates. These notes need to be in Rome by September 1, 2006.

Ballot results for next Visitor were reported

The first step in the process to elect and nominate the Brother Visitor for the term to begin on July 1, 2007 resulted in 113 ballots sent to the Election Committee. The results of this polling are listed at the end of News Notes. Those who received enough votes to continue in the process were Brothers Francis Carr, Armand Alcazar, Lawrence Humphrey, Michael French, William Clarey, Thomas Hetland, Thomas Johnson, and Larry Schatz. The eight nominees will discern together, meet with the District Council and the Mission and Ministry Council, and most will also be present at District Day on July 29th to speak to and listen to the Brothers of the District. After these nominees have had time for prayerful discernment, the final ballot will be prepared for voting in September 2006.

Offices will be closed

The Provincial Offices in Burr Ridge and in St. Paul will be closed on Monday, May 29, for the celebration of Memorial Day.

District Finance Committee met in May

The Finance Committee of the Midwest District met on May 4th in Burr Ridge.

District Councils will meet in June

The members of the District Council will meet on June 8th in Burr Ridge. On June 12th the Mission and Ministry Council will meet. New members of the Mission and Ministry Council will attend their first meeting in September 2006. They are Barry Lieske (DLS/Minneapolis), Dr. Jeanette Mines (Lewis), and Brother Mark Snodgrass (DLS/BS/Memphis).

District Assembly registration deadline is in May

The registration deadline for those who want to register for the District Assembly is May 15th. All those who expect to register are reminded to mail in the forms as soon as possible. All Brothers are encouraged to participate. Those who expect to attend only the Brothers afternoon and the Jubilee celebration will have a different form to complete. Community Directors are welcome to invite Brothers from other Districts to attend.

May 15th is Founder’s day

John Baptist de La Salle was declared the Patron Saint of educators on this day in 1950. “Touching hearts” is about acknowledging and relating with people as individuals and helping people feel that they are noticed and matter. A personal approach can make all the difference to an individual showing that someone is “bothered enough” to care.

Renewal of Vows set for Trinity Sunday

Brothers of the Midwest District will remember the tradition of the renewal of vows on Trinity Sunday each year. This year Trinity Sunday will be June 11th. The renewal could be easily scheduled during community prayer on that Sunday.

Two Brothers attending a special CIL session

Brother Frank Carr and Brother Armand Alcazar are attending a special CIL session with international formation staff, General Council members and District leaders from all sectors of the Institute to investigate ways to engage the Brothers of the District in preparations for the General Chapter. The program will take place from May 8 to 20 in Rome. The participants will reflect on “The Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on The Rule: Changes in the Church and in the Institute since 1987” and on the document “Being Brother Today.” Brother Joe Saurbier will be in charge of the District in their absence.

The Lasallian Charism was published as a book

The International Council for Lasallian Studies has published the book, The Lasallian Charism, from the Lasallian Studies Collection No. 13. The Introduction was written by Brother Jean-Louis Schneider, Director of Lasallian Studies. The cost of the book is $15 which includes postage. Contact Charlene Hermann at Burr Ridge. A total order will be placed to Rome, and those interested will be billed.

Celebration will be at Helias High School

Helias High School has announced the final event for its jubilee celebration. Anyone who has served at Helias is invited to this final celebration. The Golden Gala will be held June 17, 2006 at Helias High School in Jefferson City, MO. For information or details, contact Kimie Bax by postal mail at 333 Deerfield Pl. Jefferson City, MO 65109, by phone (573) 636-6722, or by email .

A Lasallian Partner sent this interesting reflection

We sometimes speak of the impending moment when we will no longer have Brothers; at the same time, we desire and support any effort to nurture the vowed life, and there are Brothers and colleagues working tirelessly to promote vocations. We do not know the future. I suspect that God is not granting us this desired state, for now, because God is wise enough to know that if God did, we wouldn’t move forward with what we are moving forward with. We might not otherwise do what we are doing if we had the vowed members to do it…and thus, we would end up limiting the hand of God. We would just let it all stay in the hands of the “Brothers.” What started (perhaps) as “default” formation and management because of “declining vocations,” seems to be on the verge of being embraced in more and more hearts and minds (approaching a critical mass, might say) as a new way of living a vocation, a new way that will be accessible to many more people. It seems to be God’s effort at capacity building. Doesn’t the potential of what is happening to us in this moment carry more power, hold capacity to reach further ends of the Earth, transform even more of God’s people, than if it relied solely on the vowed religious life? I hear, feel, sense, more that ever, that a critical mass actually believes this now. Do you feel the same thing? Maybe God is just waiting for us to get our act together, waiting for us to arrive at a point of no return, waiting for us to stop looking back, before we are granted something that we desire. The future may include Brothers…lots of them. Yet, would…should…any of us do something different, even if there were a boatload of new Brothers?

Matthews-Sullivan Foundation awards were granted

The 2006 grants from the Matthews-Sullivan Foundation were approved on April 11th at a committee meeting in Burr Ridge. A total of $42,000 was awarded to fourteen educational projects around the world. They include the following: Transportation for DLS Blackfeet School (Browning, MT); Summer Camp Program for Dunrovin (Marine on St. Croix, MN); Library Renovation at St. Mary's Boys Secondary School (Nyeri, Kenya); ESL Program at St. Charles Borreomeo School (New York, NY); Community Outreach Program at San Miguel School (Chicago, IL); Lasallian Youth Leadership Assembly (Kenya); Equipment for St. La Salle Industrial School (Tamil Nadu, India); Nutrition Education Project for Almost Home (St. Louis, MO); Desks at Besrate Gabriel School (Ethiopia); Deaf Project for Our Lady of Peace Home (Kerala, India); Neighborhood Peace Team at Imani Family Center (St. Louis, MO); Library & Computer at Escuela Catolica De La Salle (Puerto Rico); Furniture for St. La Salle Industrial School (Tamil Nadu, India); San Juan Diego Middle School (Racine, WI); Assistance for new Mothers at St. Gabriel Parish (Mound Bayou, MS); Helping Students Succeed from House of the Good Shepherd (Memphis, TN); Hospitality Program at Central American Martyrs Center (Chicago, IL); Library at Escuela Liceo San Juan Bautista de La Salle (Dominican Republic); Food for children at Asa Nilayam School (Bhadrachalam, India). Committee members include Vanessa White and Brothers Charles Kelly, Joseph Martin and Thomas Hetland.

Larry Bauer will be honored in Omaha

This year Roncalli Catholic H.S. will present an Honorary Diploma to Larry Bauer who has served Catholic education in Omaha for forty years. Currently, he is a math teacher and Department Chair. Roncalli will also establish an endowed scholarship in his name honoring his years of service. Any Brothers or Partners who might have worked with Larry are invited to donate to the scholarship or write a Letter of Thanks that will be presented to him at the May 21st commencement ceremony. Letters or donations to Curt Feilmeier, President, Roncalli Catholic H.S., 6401 Sorensen Parkway, Omaha, NE 68152-2258.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations was held

Sunday, May 7th, was World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Together we pray for one another and the gift of vocation we have each personally received and share with one another. We also pray in thanksgiving for the grace to work in a ministry that allows us to greet each day with hopeful hearts and a desire to share all that we cherish and value. Let us pray together: Waken in the hearts of young people the desire to be witnesses in the world of today to the power of your love. (Pope Benedict XVI - World Day of Prayer Message 2006)

St. Joseph High School became co-educational

Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, Illinois, closed at the end of the 2004-2005 academic year after 45 years of educating young women in the Chicago area. The Board of Trustees recommended the school's closing after extensive efforts to boost enrollment and to collaborate with St. Joseph High School in a co-institutional project proved unsuccessful. St. Joseph High School asked the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Christian Brothers for permission to become a coeducational school since “a comprehensive, Catholic, secondary education no longer exists for young women in Westchester.” Permission was received from Francis Cardinal George and from the Christian Brothers after a vigorous approval process. Following a smooth transition, St. Joseph started the 2005-2006 academic year with an enrollment of 782 students, the highest in thirty years. A Catholic and Lasallian education continues with new vigor in Westchester.

News Notes editor will be on sabbatical

The Midwest District Sabbatical Committee approved a request from Brother Joseph Martin for the summer months of June and July. He will have time off from both Lewis University and the Provincial Office during the months that will be least disruptive to his responsibilities in both positions. During that time he will take several courses in spirituality at Loyola University Chicago, visit family, and continue researching and writing his family history. He returns to both positions on August 1st.

LTIP program starts this fall

Brother Pat Conway reported that as of the beginning of May he has complete applications for eight students who will begin the Lasallian Teacher Immersion Program in the fall semester. He is still interviewing other students to fill the four remaining openings. The following students will be participating: Albert Escanilla (Lewis), Tony Elfering (SMUMN), Drew Knobbe (Lewis), Spencer Macklin (CBU), Matthew Montgomery (SMUMN), James Trebisovsky (SMUMN), Tim Uselman (SMUMN), and Miguel Villarreal (Lewis).

District members will present at summer programs

Several members of the Midwest District will serve as presenters or staff members for different Lasallian programs. The LLI cohort has 59 participants with Brother Armand Alcazar, Brother John Johnston and Karin McClelland-Anderer on staff. The Buttimer Institute has 39 participants with Karin McClelland-Anderer on the staff. The LSJI Global Economic Justice program has Mike Anderer-McClelland and Kristen Ostendorf on staff, and the LSJI Violence and Peacemaking program has Dr. Dorothy Diehl and Mike Anderer-McClelland leading the group. For the Lasallian Spirituality Retreat Mary Hoff, Marianne Stich, Brother Armand Alcazar and David Hotek will be presenters.

New saints will be marching in

Postulator General, Brother Rodolfo Meoli, reported that on April 28th Pope Benedict signed many Decrees of Venerability, Beatification and Canonization. Among them were the following: Decree on the Martyrdom of the Servants of God, Narciso Esténaga, Bishop of Ciudad Real, and ten companions among them five Brothers; Decree on the Martyrdom of the Servants of God Teodosio Rafael, FSC, and three Brothers. This means that the path of these Causes is ended and next will be the date of their beatification. Forty-four Brothers (Cause of Barcelona) received the Decree on June 22, 2004. These Brothers also will be part of a large group that will be beatified in a unique ceremony, the date of which will be fixed when the twenty-five Causes already examined by the theologians will receive the Papal Decree.

Congratulations to

• Brother Michael Quirk, President at De La Salle Institute, who received the Outstanding Educator Award in the Secondary School Department on April 18th at the recent NCEA Convention in Atlanta, GA.

• Brother Ed Siderewicz, President of San Miguel Schools/Chicago, who received an honorary doctorate on April 25th from Saint Mary’s College of California during the college convocation.
• Louie Mitteco, Athletic Director at Totino-Grace H.S. in Fridley, MN, who also received the Outstanding Educator Award at the NCEA Convention in Atlanta.
• De La Salle H.S. in Minneapolis whose boys’ basketball team, the Islanders, won the first-place trophy in the AAA class of the Minnesota State Basketball Tournament.
• Didier Aur, Principal of Holy Names School in Memphis, who has been named the new President of Helias H.S. in Jefferson City, MO.

Rest in Peace

• Elaine R. Colletti, mother of Nicholas Colletti, Assistant Principal of De La Salle Institute, died in Chicago on April 10th. Survivors include nine children, thirty-three grandchildren, two brothers and two sisters. She was the sister of the late Brother John Maze. Her funeral was on April 14th at Mary Seat of Wisdom Church with entombment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

• Marjorie Arnold, 84, mother of Brother Kenneth Arnold, died on April 14th at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, IL. Other survivors include a son, Thomas, and two daughters, Jeanne Walshon and Barbara Bost. Mass of Christian Burial was on April 18th at St. Athanasius Church with interment at All Saints Cemetery.
• Jacob R. Collins, Jr., 91, father of Brother Michael, died on April 18th in Minneapolis. Other survivors include another son Michael Lee and a brother Paul. Mass of Christian Burial was on April 16th at St. Anthony of Padua Church.
• D. Brian Johnson, 25, nephew of Brother Michael Quirk, died on April 17th in an auto accident. Funeral mass was on April 21st at St. Peter Church in Antioch, IL. Other survivors include his parents and two sisters.
• Francis Joseph Kilker, 84, former Brother L. John, died on April 27th in Chicago. He taught at De La Salle, St. Mel and St. George High Schools and was the Director of the retired Brothers community at Lewis University. His funeral was May 1st at Our Lady of Victory with interment at Mount Carmel.
• James Francis McGinnity, father-in-law of Mr. Leo Hirsch, District Development Director, who died on April 30th. Services were held in Edgerton, WI.

Health Updates

• Brother Timothy McCarthy had his second cataract surgery and is doing well.

• Brother Nick Schumer had an excellent reading from a lab test that averages blood glucose from the last three months.
• Brother Joseph Seiler had a new pacemaker implanted in mid April. He is doing well and is back to volunteering at Montini Catholic.
• Brother Peter Dannecker had cataract surgery on May 8th.

New prayer services are now available

The Midwest District has created a new CD with 20 Lasallian prayer services. The two-page services were created by Brother Joseph Martin from among many prayers he has developed in the past several years. Those interested in receiving this new CD may contact Karin McClelland-Anderer for a copy

Lasallian coin is now available

La Salle Manor in Plano, IL, has added a new Lasallian pocket coin to the gifts available from the Gift Shop. They are made in Italy and are a nice quality with a silver coating. The front has a picture of St. John Baptist de la Salle and the back has "Live Jesus in our hearts forever." Cost: $1.50 each. Contact:

Nomination results have been announced

The first step in the process to elect and nominate the Brother Visitor for the term to begin on July 1, 2007, resulted in 113 ballots sent to the Election Committee. The results of this polling are listed below. After the nominees have had time for prayerful discernment, the final ballot will be prepared for voting in September 2006. The District would like to thank Brothers Paul Grass and Charlie Burke for serving as the Election Committee.

62Francis Carr2Vincent Malham

40Armand Alcazar2David Poos

22Lawrence Humphrey2 Michael Quirk

19Michael French2Thomas Sullivan

17William Clarey1Paul Ackerman

15Thomas Hetland1Louis Althaus

15Thomas Johnson1Roger Betzold

12Larry Schatz1Ignatius Brown

10Patrick Conway1Michael Collins

9Edmund Siderewicz1Christopher Englert

8Michael O’Hern1Michael Flaherty

7James Gaffney1 Paul French

7Milton Barker1Dennis Galvin

7Robert Smith1Charles Gregor

6Michael Kadow1James Krause

5Michael Fehrenbach1Bernard LoCoco

4Joseph Saurbier1Jerome Rademacher

4James Zullo1Martin Sellner

3Dominic Ehrmantraut1Stanislaus Sobczyk

3Paul Grass1Martin Spellman

3John Johnston1Damian Steger

3Stephen Markham1Robert Veselsky

2Bede Baldry1Robert Walsh