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Delegate
photos by Brother James Joost, FSC
Groups ranging from 20 in Milwaukie to 50 in Berkeley met for four hours, were introduced to fellow assembly delegates from their particular region of the San Francisco District, and reviewed every aspect of the upcoming assembly, from the number of towels that would be available in their dorm rooms at the College during assembly week to the often intricate rules of order for assembly procedures. Presentations were made by Preparatory Committee members and a prepared script assisted in a live demonstration of an assembly session, the format for which is based on procedures for the Brothers' District Chapter that takes place every four years.
Two small-group sessions at each regional meeting provided opportunities for delegates to introduce themselves to one another, share their thoughts about the upcoming assembly, and consider issues they feel are important to address at the assembly. Catherine Karrels, Principal of De Marillac Middle School in San Francisco and Preparatory Committee member, told delegates at the Berkeley meeting that the small groups would help delegates see "just who the players are," and, in particular, how they came to be delegates - by right, by election, or by appointment of the Brother Visitor (read about delegate selection in the introduction to the List of Delegates).
The announcement was made to the delegates gathered that two special observers will be attending the assembly from the Brothers' Generalate in Rome - Brother William Mann, FSC, Vicar General of the Institute, and Brother Claude Reinhardt, FSC, member of the General Council. Brother Stanislaus told the group that these special guests will share their reflections, hopes, and expectations concerning the District of San Francisco, will provide the delegates with a needed international perspective, and will witness the District Assembly on Mission as "the first time in the history of the Institute that such an assembly is being undertaken in this way and on this scale." Following a sometimes humorous mock assembly session, but one which illustrated the importance of the work to be done by delegates this summer, practicalities of the event were discussed. Delegates were thanked for their dedication to the Lasallian educational mission in the San Francisco District, and the importance of prayer was stressed for the success of the Assembly and for those young men and women entrusted to the care of District schools and educational ministries. Saint
John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us! Reminders for Delegates
Please return committee selection and volunteer options
postcard by May 15. |
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On
April 24, 29, 30, and May 1, 2002, delegates to the first-ever District
Assembly on Mission met for regional meetings hosted in the Pacific
Northwest by La Salle High School in Milwaukie, Oregon, in Southern
California by La Salle High School in Pasadena, and in the San Francisco
Bay Area by Saint Mary's College in Moraga and Saint Mary's College
High School in Berkeley.
Brother
Stanislaus Campbell, FSC, Preparatory Committee Chair, told the gatherings
that, of significant benefit to the assembly is the fact that "we're
not starting from scratch." "During the last eight years," said Brother
Stanislaus, "the District has focused particular attention on the education
of the poor in an intentional return to the roots of our mission. That
focus will continue, but we will also be mindful that the Lasallian
educational mission is for all young people that we serve." Brother
also indicated that the 1999 District document, the 
The
various committees in which the most intensive work of the assembly
will take place were described to delegates, who will select the committee
on which they would most like to serve. Committees are expected to be
set by early June, after which individual groups will meet to prepare
for the general assembly in late July. Delegates were also asked to
complete a "survey of values and priorities" that is available to delegates
and non-delegates alike online on the District Web site's Assembly on
Mission