Mari-vikk Viñas Made Affiliate Member of the De La Salle Brothers

In a simple ceremony on 7 September, Mari-vikk Viñas became an affiliated member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools for her many years of service to the Lasallian Mission in the Philippines.

Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, Lasallian East Asia District Visitor, praised Br. Mari-vikk in what he calls her “quiet service.” He further commends her in his homily saying of the new affiliate member:

“Your affiliation is important as it is a recognition of all the good things you represent— a Lasallian who is low key, quiet and hardworking, profoundly committed to the mission, disciplined, highly ethical, deeply professional.”

Br. Mandy Dujunco FSC Wins Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Award

Johnny's Big Secret, written by Br. Mandy Dujunco FSC, won the Cardinal Sin Catholic Book Award for the Youth and Children category at recent Catholic Mass Media Awards.

This book is the fruit of his studies with the Formation Institute for Religion Educators (FIRE) at the Ateneo de Manila University. It tells a story of a young boy who discovers other boys playing with devils and wants one for himself. It was written to teach very young children about the sacrament of reconciliation.

The book is illustrated by Kenneth Atendido, colored by Marc Reil Gepaya and laid out by Myrna Bongala Caquilala. 

International Young Brothers Assembly

Thirty-nine Young Brothers from the five regions of the Institute are currently in De La Salle University - Dasmariñas for the International Young Brothers Assembly. Their website has daily updates on the events, documents, presentations, and photos. I enjoin all Lasallians to pray for the delegates. You may use their prayer found in this link: http://iyba.lasalle.org/prayer-during-the-assembly

Forest Instead of Trees: Residencia Aspirants Formation Session 1

Why does the prospect of meeting new people frighten me? Why do I blurt out things without thinking about the consequences? Why do I get "kutob" about certain things? Why do I see the forest instead of the trees?

These and many other questions were explored and answered in the first Formation Session facilitated by Br. Sockie for the Residencia Aspirants at the Family Den of the Residencia De La Salle in DLSU-D. The session focused on the Myers Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) personality type of each Aspirant in the hopes of helping them understand themselves in four areas:

Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I).

Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N).

Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).

Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new information and options? This is called Judging (J) or Perceiving (P). (From: http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/)

What was interesting was that all the Residencia Aspirants, including Br. Sockie, are Fs (Feeling Type), who look at people first over logic and consistency. The group quipped: "We desire mercy, not sacrifice."

The Formation Sessions of the Residencia Aspirants are held every Semester with different facilitators as part of the personal growth aspect of the Aspirants.

—By Br. Sockie de la Rosa FSC 

Vocation Road Tour: Bacolod

Last 26-28 June, Br. Alex Diaz FSC was here in Bacolod City for his Vocation Road Tour. The tour consisted of visiting the different La Salle schools present in the Philippine Sector. Its purpose is to promote the De La Salle Brothers vocation. On his first day, he had a talk at the Gallaga Theater with USLS-IS High School students from the IS Acolytes, the Search-In Core group, and the Student Affairs Council. He shared about his vocation, what it feels like to be a Brother and how he was able to respond to God’s call.

In the afternoon he had a question and answer forum with two selected Grade 11 classes. He also interacted with some selected high school students through the Brew with Bro at the High School Campus Ministry Office. There, he was able to answer questions about the Brothers, which were formed from the curious minds of the young boys who wanted to know more. He also talked about his different experiences as a brother, the steps he took to become a brother, his main ministry work as the National Vocations Promoter, and many other things, hoping to inspire some of the boys present.

In the evening, Br. Alex had a meeting with the Bacolod BACon (Brothers, Aspirants, and Contacts) about his plans and goals in promoting vocations for this year and the following years. True to its famous hospitality, the dinner was hosted by the Vocations Ministry Office at the Moon Café, a Mexican inspired restaurant. After having dinner and sharing stories, the group went to another famous culinary spot, the Calea for dessert.

On the Second day, Br. Alex had a talk with College students from selected RS classes in the morning and in the afternoon. There was also a lunch meeting at the Ledesma Boardroom with the Local Vocation Team (LVT). After Br. Alex’s talk in the afternoon, he went to the Bacolod Brother’s house to again have Brew with Bro with 20 selected College students and Faculty from the IS. There, the students and faculty interacted with the brothers while having a small merienda.

On the third day Br. Alex went to St. Joseph School-La Salle to meet with the newly formed Local Vocation Team and also had conversations with the students.

Last 29 June, for the first time in the Philippine history, the Sector reached fifty Filipino brothers. And hopefully with Br. Alex at the helm and the Vocation Road Tours, fifty is just the beginning. Truly, the Vocation Road Tour serves as an instrument that will help us start to respond to God’s call. It is a chance to consider another option in life and to choose what we really want to do, to be the person we want to be or to be the person that God intended us to be. Let us all help each other in promoting vocations and continue to live Jesus in our hearts forever.

—By Emmanuel John Paul Locsin