January 30, 2010
Dear Brothers and Lasallian Partners:
Prayerful greetings from Myanmar and hope this edition of HEARTS ON FIRE finds all in good health and full of the spirit of faith and zeal!I thank those who sent in entries for this edition and hope others will be able to send an update for April.
We have encouraging reports from several sectors about responses given to the initial efforts to foster awareness of our Lasallian vocation and the various forms of commitment made by interested young persons.Of note as well are the increasing number of Brothers and Lasallian Partners who join the person officially appointed by the District/sector and assist with all aspects of fostering vocation work. Such broad-based support and involvement is not only a great help to the person appointed but gives a strong message to all our publics as to the priority given by all associated with the Lasallian educational mission.Special appreciation to those who are giving of their time and interest and may the Spirit inform all our efforts.
Included with this edition are several summaries and references to material that can be helpful in gaining a wider perspective on the work for vocations. Hope you will find the material helpful and encouraging.
Prayers for all the efforts being made to accompany and assist those young people who are sensing a call from God to one of the forms of our Lasallian vocation; may we provide the example that will continue to attract and inspire them.
I would ask you, as I did with the last newsletter, to be sure this one is distributed to the communities and institutions in your sector.Thank you for this extra work.
Fraternally,
Mark
Brother Mark Murphy, FSCDirector of Lasallian ServicesPARC – Singapore
Australia – New Zealand – Papua New GuineafromBr Mark McKeon, FSC
As a follow up to the two challenge programs (Test Drive the Brothers’ Life) last year I have been keeping in contact with the participants via “Facebook”. I set up a group link and have been sending them regular emails. This year we have two challenge programs planned one in May and one in November. The most successful way of advertising these programs continues to be through parish newsletters. Last year 80% of the participants heard about these programs via this cost free method. This year we will have two Postulancy programs operating in our District. One based in Papua New Guinea and the other in Sydney, Australia. It looks as if there will be two Postulants commencing a program in Papua New Guinea. They will join another postulant, John Francis, who has already completed a year for the Postulancy and who is likely to go to the regional novitiate in Lipa in May. The two Australian based postulants, Bill and Lewis, will live in the community at Bankstown in Sydney. In August they will head to the novitiate of the U.S.A./Toronto Region. We have been fortunate to have our Papua New Guinea postulant, John Francis, with us in Sydney for a couple of weeks. While in Australia, along with the Bill and Lewis, he has undertaken a psychological assessment as part of his preparation to be accepted in to the novitiate. In preparation for the year ahead of them the postulants were taken through the process of building their own personal annual program. This was based on the major headings in the 2007 General Chapter documents. This Year our District will continue the publication of our vocation newsletter, “UPFRONT”. It will be published bi-monthly. If you would like to subscribe to an E-Newsletter go to www.delasallebrothers.com A group of brothers, known as Ambassadors, will continue to make themselves available to speak at parishes on the vocation to the brothers’ life. In addition to this there will be also vocation visits to targeted schools in the District.
INDIAfromBrother Inego Amalan, FSC
Come and See Programs:On 27th December, 23 of the 72 boys invited from 8 schools in the Palayamkottai Diocese came for a one day program at the Sacred Heart Brothers’ hostel. Since it was vacation time, the hostel was free and the Sacred Heart Brothers helped with the program for the De La Salle Brothers!There was a great talk on Brotherhood vocation by a SH Brother and I gave one specific to the De La Salle Brothers; wonderful food and accommodations were much appreciated. It provided a good chance for me to interview the boys individually. There was a great hike in the afternoon near to the place where we had the camp. Special appreciation was expressed to the Sacred Heart Brothers in Irudayakulam Community and the day was an inspiration for all concerned.
On January 10, I organized another one day Come and See program in Dindigu, aided by our own Brothers to work with the 20 boys who came from 5 schools. I gave a talk about the life of our Founder and Br Jayakumar motivated them about our Lasallian vocation and mission. The priest at the Sunday noon Mass stressed the importance of responding to the call of God. The afternoon began with a power-point presentation on our mission in India; young Brothers Kulnadi and Reegan motivated and inspired them with talks about the initial formation program. It was a very successful day and I give special thanks to the Brothers of the Community for their help from beginning to end.
Now I spend time with follow up visits to the families of those boys who show a special interest, with other visits to hostel and schools outside of school hours.
Lasallian Youth Gathering:In BoysTown, we are having the annual Lasallian Youth Movement on the 22nd of January. It will be a full three day program with participation fromall our institutions in the Delegation. The theme is: Media and Its Impact on Youth. I will write about it in my next report. I request prayers for more good vocations.
PHILIPPINESfromBrother Mikey Cua, FSC
Brother Mikey writes and sends the Bulletin published by Brother Edmundo Fernandez, Visitor, describing the work of Brother Rey Mejias and the many assisting him with the promotion of vocations. The report is on page 6 of this newsletter.
OTHER:from conversations and observation, we also have the following –
SINGAPORE:Ignaci, a university instructor,has been a postulant this past year, staying with several communities in the Penang District and an extended stay with the postulants in the Philippines; he is now doing his final preparations under the direction of Brother Collin Wee in preparation for going to the novitiate in Lipa in May;there are three teachers who have expressed a desire to become more familiar with the Brothers’ vocation and are making arrangements for visits / stays in the communities this coming year.
MYANMAR:Brothers Lawrence, Noel, Joseph A, and Moris did numerous visits and interviews during the months from September through December to various states in the country, interviewing young men and their families who were recommended by parish priests and religious Sisters for the Come and See Program.This extensive travel and work has resulted in 12 young men, 10th standard completed and registering for university, are in Kalaw for the 9 month program with Brothers Joseph A, Anthony and Joseph T. Also in the Sub-District program are 7 aspirants in residence in Yangon for the 2nd year program and 4 pre-postulants in Maymyo for their 3rd year program.–The 7 aspirants at the Provincialate joined last Sunday in the local seminary’s Assembly for Vocations’ program and put together a fine display with hand-out materials. There were 8 other religious orders present in addition to the diocesean clergy and over 1500 young persons and their parents in attendance. So we pray there will beon-going contact with those who showed an interest.
RESOURCES:You may find one or more of these references providing you with personal encouragement and inspiration as well as useful information to employ in your efforts for promoting vocational awareness:
(1)“World Youth Day and Religious Life”byWilliam Prospero, SJ(Review for Religious, April 2009):Prospero begins his article: “Many vocation directors will confirm that a substantial number of candidates from seminaries and institutes of consecrated life consider a World Youth Day (WYD) experience to have been an important part of their discernment. Many candidates say they first thought seriously about religious life or the priesthood while on a WYD pilgrimage. What is it about WYD that promotes consecrate life?”-He then goes on to answer his question with the remainder of his article.
Given the success of the last WYD, especially under the excellent organization of the ANZPNG District, perhaps we could go back and see if those who attended from our areas have in fact given such thought to a vocation within Church service, especially as Lasallians.And it suggests that we might motivate those who plan to go to the next WYD in Spain to have similar thoughts.
(2) Brother David Hawke has provided two very fine articles discussing the work of vocation awareness and promotion:
(a) “Faith, US Culture, and the Consecrated Life”byMark R Francis, C.S.V, former Superior General of the Viatorians, presented as a paper to the Extraordinary General Chapter of the Sacred Heart Priests/Brothers.While his analysis is particular to the United States context, his reflections may prove helpful, especially for those of us in sectors that are primarily aging.He ends the article with three “Modest Observations”:Appreciating the Generational Differences; Attending to the Quality of Community Life; ‘Deregulation’ in a Muticultural Society.
His conclusion begins: “ Paraphrasing Mark Twain, ‘reports of the death of religious life in the United States have been greatly exaggerated.”There is a basis for seeing some increased interest and commitment becoming evident.
(b) US/Toronto Region Vocation Ministry: Presentation by Brother George Van Grieken, FSC Regional Vocation Director(November, 200) . An interesting summary and reflection on present practices in the Districts of the USA/Toronto Region.
I can provide copies of the above articles if you request them.They make for interesting and provocative reading;perhaps helpful for our situation in PARC with appropriate cultural adjustments.
Thank you again for your on-going efforts and be assured of our prayers and support.
Fraternally,
Mark
Brother Mark Murphy, FSCDirector of Lasallian ServicesPARC – Singapore
DISTRICT OF THE PHILIPPINES-VOCATION RETREAT
5th Inter Luzon Aspirants
Workshop. 6 La Salle Brothers (Brs. Rey, Vince, Mandy, Mike, Ruben, Mikey and Aikee), 4 Postulants (Ignaci, Francis, Gelo and Wilson) and 19 Aspirants from Luzon attended the Mt.Samat Pilgrimage in Bataan. Together with other Catholics ages eighteen to thirty who feel drawn to a life of service in the Church, they went on a journey to the summit of Mt.Samat.
The program, conceptualized by Bishop Soc Villegas, aims to assist those in the early discernment process by providing young adults an opportunity to talk about vocation and expand the appreciation of those drawn to a life of service in the Church. The aspirants have adapted the activity for the first time for the 5th Inter Luzon Aspirants Workshop (ILAW).
The experience while physically challenging was also very prayerful. Br. Vince Fernandez provided a guided reflection as the group climbed the mountain. Everyone was invited to make room for God in an intentional and specific way. In the course of the three-hour journey to the summit, the participants did not only listen for God’s guidance by meditating upon the Scripture but also enjoyed the company of one another. Upon arrival at the base of the famous Bataan Memorial Cross atop Mt.Samat, the participants were met with songs and dances organized by the parish. The pilgrimage concluded with a Mass at the Shrine of Valor grounds celebrated by Bishop Soc.!
One aspirant I closely journeyed with during the climb described the experience as “awesome”. It opened his eyes to the many different considerations a vocational call brings. Sharing his experience with others undergoing the same process was helpful to his own discernment.
After the climb, the Brothers and aspirants spent the night at Jaime Hilario Integrated School-La Salle in Bagac. The following day, November 29, was rest and recreation. Some participants went swimming while others enjoyed the beauty of the place and the company of others. The activity ended with a Prayer Service led by Br. Mandy Dujunco. The group left Bataan after lunch. Hopefully the journey helped the Aspirants gain a deeper understanding of God’s call.
(Br. Rey Mejias, Vocation Promoter)
