New Facilities Dedicated at Marist Asia Pacific Center in Manila
VITALITY AT MAPAC

Located in Manila, the Philippines, MAPAC is the Post-Novitiate House of Formation for the Provinces, Districts and Sectors of Asia and the Pacific. Good news! The number of Brothers reaching this stage of their formation has been steadily increasing over recent years. Projections indicated that the number of rooms for Student Brothers needed to be doubled to around 60. In his Welcome at the ceremony for blessing and opening two new residences, each providing 16 additional rooms, Bro. Carl Tapp, MAPAC?s Rector, reflected on this joyous state of affairs. The ceremony took place on the Feast of the Visitation. Bishop Crisostomo Yalung of the local Diocese of Antipolo presided at the Blessing. He spoke of how the gathering of Brothers representing diverse cultures at the MAPAC was an opportunity for profound encounters, much like the Visitation was for Mary and Elizabeth. The day also happened to be the anniversary of the Bishop?s episcopal ordination. The opening ceremony was celebrated by Bishop Crisostomo, Bro. Mikaele Seniwaitui from Fiji, elected as the first leader of the new residence called the Chanel Fraternity, and Bro. Peter Rodney representing the General Council. The residence is named after St. Peter Chanel, the Marist Martyr in the Pacific. The second residence, (which will provide for increased numbers of Brothers in the future) has been named Lorenzo Ruiz after the first Filipino Saint. In his brief address, Brother Peter thanked all the Brothers who have worked on the Staff at MAPAC, past and present. He also praised the school?s graduates, whose lives have borne witness to Marist Brotherhood. On returning to their home countries they have been both a model and inspiration to the current Brothers studying at MAPAC. Vitality attracts.

For the 2002-2003 academic year 34 Student Brothers are enrolled in the program: 10 each from the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, 5 from India, 2 each from Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu, and 1 each from Korea, Sri Lanka and the Solomon Islands. In addition to our Brothers, there are 31 students from eight other Religious Congregations on campus. MAPAC is making a substantial contribution to the formation of young religious in this part of the world.

Letter from Brother Seán Sammon
TO A YOUNG MARIST BROTHER
Bro. Seán has sent a personalized letter to each Marist Brother younger than 40. His Letter to a young Marist brother is the first of a series he has planned. This letter, about 20 pages in length, centers on fidelity and the gift of self to the Lord. It has been addressed to 834 brothers. Copies have also been sent to Provincials.

Two important developments
MARY?S ROSARY
Celebrating the beginning of his 25th year as Pope, John Paul II has launched the Year of the Rosary, taking place from now until October 2003. In Section 21 of his new apostolic letter, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, the Pope introduces five new Luminous Mysteries from Christ?s public life:
1. His Baptism in the Jordan;
2. His self-revelation at the wedding in Cana;
3. His proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the invitation to conversion;
4. His Transfiguration;
5. His instituting the Eucharist, sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery.

NEWS IN BRIEF
– Riccardo Giacconi, born in Genoa, Italy in 1931, recently awarded the 2002 Nobel Prize for Physics for his work in Astrophysics, is a graduate of the Marist Brothers high school in Genoa.
– The Marist Brothers Pontifical University in Porto Alegre, Brazil held its Teleformaristas Congress on October 11th and 12th. Dealing with the topic ?Spirituality and mission: challenge for Marist educators.? In a teleconference, Bro. Luis G. Sobrado, Vicar General, gave a presentation from Rome on ?The 20th General Chapter?s principal calls and challenges for Marist educators.?
– The Vidimus dominum Association, responsible for www.vidimusdominum.org dedicated to the religious life, has held a special assembly in Rome. It authorized religious Provinces to join as associates to assist in maintaining this internet service. Bro. Lluís Serra, in charge of Marist Publications, was elected to the Board of Directors.
– Province assembly in Canada:
150 people met at Cap-de-la-Madeleine on September 29th for an an assembly of the new Province of Canada. Participants formulated plans for the second session of the Provincial Chapter.
– Bro. Giovanni Bigotto, Postulator General, has just published a new book, available in English and French, entitled Brother Basilio Rueda on the road to canonization: ?I want to awaken the dawn.? Spanish and Portuguese versions of the book will be published in the near future.
– Argentina?s two Provinces, Cordoba and Rio de la Plata, together with Uruguay are on their way to forming a new Administrative Unit that will be known as The Southern Cross.
– Tragically, on October 4th, Bro Fidelis Nwanosike, 64, died in a fire that destroyed the Brothers community residence at St. Joseph?s in Uturu, Nigeria.
– Doctor Carmine Palombella, who took care of the Brothers at the General House during the 1970s and 80s passed away recently in Dublín, Ireland.
– The Arco Norte Provincials in Latin America met earlier this month in Mexico City to deliberate on topics important to their region.
– The provincial assembly of Bishops held meetings in Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The church leaders called on their people to be fully aware of their responsibility to rebuild the country following six years of war, now that armed forces from other nations have pulled out of the region. The Brothers have welcomed this message with great expectations.
– On October 12th, Frankfurt, Germany?s Book Fair played host to a organization named Futura Mundi. The gathering, with the theme of ?Bridges for a divided world,? examined ways to overcome cultural and economic factors causing division between rich and poor countries.
– According to a recent report issued by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, ?The state of nutritional insecurity in the world of 2002,? six million children die every year due to malnutrition.

DOWNLOAD DOC