LASALLIAN
VISIONS
BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS H DISTRICT OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
AUGUST 2017 • NO. 20
TWINNING
Hand-in-Hand, Face-to-Face, Creating Connection Through Technology by Philip De Rita - with Elizabeth Jodice & Kathy Howe For more than twenty years, twinning, which pairs ministries from the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) with Lwanga District ministries, has been a major source of financial support for our African schools. This effort helps raise funds and awareness of the larger Lasallian family, providing for new technology, updating school facilities, and expanding educational programs in areas of extreme poverty. As the Provincial/Visitor of the Lwanga District, Br. Ghebreyesus Habte, FSC, oversees the Brothers, Partners-in-Mission, Communities, and Lasallian ministries in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. He has resolved to expand and enhance the twinning program, meeting with schools throughout North America. “For many of our twinned ministries, the relationship is stronger now than ever, thanks to technology,” said Br. Ghebreyesus on a recent trip to the District of Eastern North America (DENA). A number of our schools have
created Skype video conferencing connections with their twinned schools for a face-to-face experience. “I truly believe these types of collaboration are creating a sense of nearness to each other.” commented Br. Ghebreyesus (Ghebres for short), who has been diligent in sharing photos and stories with Districts and their ministries. In a first-of-its-kind effort, all five RELAN ministries that are twinned with Mount La Salle College in Naka Nigeria skyped for approximately one hour in December 2016. DENA schools involved were: Calvert Hall College High School, Towson MD; De La Salle College “Oaklands,” Toronto Ontario; and St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute,
Buffalo NY. They were joined by De La Salle North Catholic High School, Portland OR and La Salle High School, Pasadena CA. After praying together, Mount La Salle students talked about life and school in Nigeria. Then students and twinning coordinators from each school had the opportunity to ask questions and share information on extracurricular activities and service projects. “We are happy to know that people care about us, and we feel blessed to belong to the Lasallian family. We now feel challenged to also be of service to others.” Mount La Salle students Udubbu Hezekiah and Uuma Patricia commented after the Skype. (continued on page 4)
Students and faculty from the Lwanga District in Africa are excited about new opportunities made possible by the support of their twinned schools in the USA.
Seen here on-screen, Child Discovery Centre Administrator, Br. Paul Anderson, FSC and his students connect with students from CBA Syracuse.