Latin American Newsletter
Monthly Newsletter
of the Christian Brothers
Latin American Region
N°.
42 – Year 5 – March/April
2008
Dear Brothers and Friends,
Wishing you a very Happy Easter! And may the joy and
vitality of the Risen Lord fill our lives and mission
in all five countries of the region. The recent
Congregation Chapter has asked us to analyze our
discipleship and mission, let’s hope we can rise
to the challenge. John, Hugo and Eddie
Congregation Chapter – Munnar (India):
The
election of the new international Leadership Team was
the big moment in the Chapter. It is a pleasure for us
to offer our full support and prayers.
Our own Regional Team
was officially named
during the Chapter by Phillip Pinto. For the next six
years the Leadership Team in the region will be:--
Brother John Casey,
(Bolivia): Regional Leader
Brother Paul Keohane, (Argentina): Vicar
Brother Kevin Bernard, (Paraguay): Counsellor
Congratulations to Paul and Kevin
whose human and spiritual qualities will enhance our
region along with John Casey.
Stella Maris College:
Really it
was a pleasure to have 28 children from the orphanage
Los Cedros with us in our seaside house from
11th
to 16th February (see photo). We were all
fortified by the event not only by working with the
children but also by the interchange of adults from
various houses throughout the region, who like
ourselves are committed to the charism of Edmund Rice.
The primary teachers gathered in La Floresta also from
25th February to reflect on “The Price of
Liberty” by Denis McLaughlin which deals with the
characteristics of Edmund’s education system. It
was a time to be together and to tease out the
pedagogical implications of the values which form the
basis of Edmund’s project.
Family catechetics continues and all the families are
invited to partake in what can be an experience in
spiritual growth. After many years in our community of
teachers Florence, Mabel, María del Carmen and María
José (Pepa), have left us to take up a new role in
their lives. We wish you the best and have you present
in our prayers. Thank you for your commitment. Many
thanks and may God continue to bless you. (Mariela
Blust)
Leaders of the Educational Centres of the CBs in Peru
meet in Lima:-
The administrative staff form our three educational
centres met in Casa Santa Luisa Marillac (Lima) from
the 4th to the 6th April. The task was to work on the
essential elements in the Brothers education system
within a Peruvian context. Among those present were:-
Sean DiFiglia, Fernando Chu, Eduardo Hurtado, Segundo
Racchumí, from Mundo Mejor College; Fabián Torres
(Ocupational Centre, Mundo Mejor), Miguel Córdova,
Lourdes Sánchez and Gaby Bravo ( Fe y Alegría College).
Brothers Richard Glatz, Hugo Cáceres and John Casey,
joined them. John by the way had not returned to his
base in Cochabamba after the Chapter in India and his
experience working with our colleges in Montevideo and
Buenos Aires was invaluable. A lot of work was involved
and another get together during the year should
finalize the project.
Moyobamba:
On March the
15th we celebrated the Feast of St. Joseph, Patron of
Peru. Then the aspirants started to arrive, Josè
Antonio from Juanjui, had an eight hour bus journey as
the bus broke down twice. Amaximandro arrived the next
day and finally Leuder. St.Patrick`s Day was celebrated
at lunch time and some invited quests came for supper.
Alter taking part in the ceremonies of Holy Week on
Easter Sunday the aspirants visited their families,
Josè Antonio went with Leuder to Pasamayo; Jack had a
Para liturgy in a rural chapel and Paddy stayed at home
to cook. Hugo led the aspirants in their 3 day retreat
and the comments afterwards were very favourable and it
proved to be an enriching experience. Thanks Hugo for
your time and the generous human and spiritual help you
gave the young men. Classes in Maths and Spanish are
under way and José Antonio has English classes with
Jack. Twice a week they join Paddy giving tuition in a
home for orphans.
For the past few weeks we have had torrential rain. On
April first the roadway was swept away between Bagua
and Pedro Ruìz. Transport is affected and no fruit or
vegetables from the coast or hills are getting through.
Needless to say prices have gone up!
Leuder visited his family on April
6th
and found them in a bad
way economically since his sister left home to study.
He decided to return home and work in order to support
the family. He wishes to visit with us at weekends. We
wish him the best in these circumstances. (Patrick)
Cardinal Newman College – Buenos Aires:
March has been a bit of a surprise, very pleasant
weather with a few days rain. Nicky and Eamonn went to
the reception in the Irish Embassy on St.
Patrick’s Day. Dr. María Inés Dias Luna, the
dentist in San Blas de los Sauces and a friend of
Eamonn spent Holy Week with us. Fr. Liam Hayes SVD also
visited. Liam has two homes for handicapped people in
Oberà, Misiones in the north of Argentina. He was on
his way to Ireland to raise funds. Once the Chapter was
over in India John Casey and Paul Keohane arrived back.
John stayed a short while and Paul got back into his
usual workload. (Hubert)
Novitiate
- Asunción:
Holy Week
was well celebrated in the Bañado; . We had special
ceremonies for the children and young people and we had
the washing of the feet in our house. Adelfo Arévalo
and Isacio Gonzáles visited their families. Williams
Cunyas is having his apostolic experience in Holy
Rosary parish this year. Studies continue in CONFERPAR
everybody is quite happy with them; Adelfo and Isacio
are learning the guitar, Luis Enrique plays the organ
and Williams is learning English.
Check Fitzsimmons and Renato Llerena visit the ex
prisoners in the Bañado and run a follow up programme
for the children who were on summer camp. Almost all
the Brothers help out in the programme for delinquents
where they can finish their studies with Luís Enrique,
Rafael, Alberto and Kevin. Adelfo and Isacio visit the
families of these young men helping them acquire their
IDs. Michael O Loingsigh is the one behind the scenes.
Williams and Luís Enrique are teaching children to read
and write in the Bañado.
Palm Sunday in the Bañado
We joined some 2.000 people in the
Cathedral to pray for the country we dream of, prior to
the elections. (Adelfo)
Las
Flores – Lima:
St Patrick’s Day was marked by ice cream here
thanks to Richard and that night we telephoned all the
Irish Brothers here in Peru to wish them well. On March
18th
Fr. Thomas came to the
house to confess us and to celebrate Eucharist in
return for all the work done by Hugo in the parish. We
celebrated Holy Week on Holy Thursday we made an altar
of repose; in the evening we had the washing of the
feet followed by adoration and supper. On Good Friday
we held our monthly retreat and observed the fast. In
the evening Noel and Hugo attended some processions in
the old city not forgetting El Señor de los Milagros.
We attended the Easter Vigil in the parish. Easter
Sunday was marked by a special breakfast and a search
for hidden chocolate eggs around the house. On Monday
24th
the four religious
communities in the parish met in San Benito.
Hugo travelled to Moyobamba to conduct the retreat for
the aspirants José Antonio and Amaximandro and returned
happy to have been able to help them in their
discernment process.
Ever continues his studies in ISET and his vocation
promotion took him to the communities in Canto Grande
and Chimbote.
Alberto returned and was glad to be
back . from the Chapter in India. He told us of his
adventures and some rare costumes of that country
Ever, Hugo, Noel and Alberto.
Br. John Casey visited us while here
in Lima conducting a workshop for those in
administration in our colleges here in Peru. On the
6th
April Ever and Alberto
visited their families. Noel was invited to Canto
Grande for lunch and attended a concert by
Alborada.
Richard went to Chimbote for a few days to work and to
rest. Noel attended a conference for delegates in
CONFER . Our day out was spent walking the beach in
Costa Verde. (See photo) (Noel)
Canto Grande -- Lima:
Each Saturday Mike O Donnell does the shopping in Metro
sometimes accompanied by Carlos or Elmer. During the
week he attends the School Library and repairs old
books. On Saturdays he and Diego, Elmer and Carlos play
basketball and he is usually on the winning side
– is it luck or talent? He has English clases
with Elmer.
Miguel Córdova has a full workload being Headmaster of
Fe y Alegría 26. He remains calm in spite of the many
difficulties. He has also taken on the Confirmation
group in the chapel “Familia de Nazaret”.
He will give a model class to the catechists from 19
chapels on the 18th April.
Carlos Flores has started a three year course in
computer studies in the institute of higher education
CIMAS. He teaches religion to second Year in the
afternoons. He will have the youth group soon and he
prepares the choir in the chapel “Familia de
Nazaret”
Elmer Hurtado teaches Religion to three sections of
Fifth Year and frequently replaces teachers who are
absent. He has started some apostolic work with the
smaller children. Elmer continues his studies in the
University of Champagnat where he is honoured with
several scholarships. Together with Carlos he plays the
guitar at the local Masses.
Diego Glos is a man of many talents; he distributes
school texts, organizes the meals programme,
coordinates the sexual orientation programme and is
preparing the way for the arrival of students and
teachers from Bishop Hendricken College, USA. Along
with Miguel and Carlos he attends the meetings for
religious in the parish and last Friday he began a
prayer group. Within the last week he has had two
visitors from the USA. Margaret O’Shea, a
daughter of a school companion of his in Leo High
School and his cousins Tony and Eileen Zeisler, (Diego)
Cochabamba – Centre:
Happy Easter! Both communities celebrated St.
Patrick’s Day together here in the centre.
Tricolours and shamrocks decorated the walls. Saùl
served savoury potatoes with Irish music in the
background. A great night and some stories were told by
the brethren!
Our day out took us to a tourist attraction
“Uncle Sam’s Cabin” to the south of
the city. Plenty of greenery, a swimming pool and a
restaurant, a sunny day that was enjoyed by all.
The 4th
of April is the
International Day against Child Prostitution and on
that day Dermot and Eddie led us in a small peaceful
protest with appropriate placards. All the Brothers
took part outside the bus terminal and Bruno
transmitted a live programme on Radio Maria. It rained
on and off and a few colds resulted but nothing
serious.
On the 10th
April we welcomed John
Casey back to his community after attending the Chapter
in India with visits to Buenos Aires and Peru. As he
was absent for his birthday we celebrated it in Villa
Pagador. Both communities were joined by some of
John’s friends and Xave served pizzas as only he
can.
On 13th
April, Good Shepherd
Sunday, the Christian Brothers played their role in an
EXPOCARISMA where
each congregation explained their charisms.
We continue to keep in touch with the “glue
sniffers” and a certain confidence is building up
slowly between the Brothers and the group. Eddie and
Dermot are contacting many NGOs and groups who work
with young people in the street prior to defining our
project here in Bolivia.
The young Brothers continue to read, study, pass exams
and engage in other pedagogical activities as they
attend universities (Católica and Univalle)
(Elser)
Birthdays and celebrations:
John Casey 1
– April
Ferdi Foley 5 – April
Bruno Rodríguez 17 – April
Patrick Payne 22 - April
Nicky O’Briain 26 – Abril
Alberto Cumbreras 05 - May
Miguel Braulio Córdova 08 – May
José Antonio Castañeda 12 – May
Isasio Gonzalez 15 -- May
Events
that are fast approaching:
Retreat and
Regional Chapter: - 25 July - 3 August (Asunción).