VISIT OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH, HIS BEATITUDE BARTHOLOMEW
TO LYCÉE LEONÍN IN NEW SMYRNA, ATHENS

On October 1st, our Marist School Community in Athens had the honor and joy of welcoming the Primate of the Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Athenagoras, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Bishop Foscolos, the School?s administration and faculty, Catholic and Orthodox priests, school chaplains, representatives of the parents? association, local dignitaries, and 2000 students from the School?s three grade levels welcomed the Patriarch in the school yard with warm applause.
The School?s Principal, Brother Ignace Kapetanios, extended a cordial welcome to His Beatitude and expressed the Community?s joy and honor in receiving this extraordinary visit.
After that Brother Georges Roussos read a message addressed to the Patriarch by Reverend Brother Seán Sammon, Superior General, and then Brother Michel Morel greeted His Beatitude with a message from the Provincial of our Marist Province.
Near the end of his visit, the Ecumenical Patriarch gave his special greetings to the students, underlining how the language and culture of their country helps to attain highest human values and shape one?s personality, soul, and character.
We are sure that with the help of your teachers you will understand that it is essential that your studies lead you to acquire learning that will enable you to distinguish good from evil…
… However, beyond knowledge, training, and strong convictions, you will obtain above all the love of Christ, your faithful friend.
Toward the end of his brief talk, His Beatitude underlined the ecumenical significance of a visit such as this, and also called to mind an excerpt from the joint declaration of His Holiness John Paul II and the Orthodox Archbishop of Athens in May of 2001 at the Areopagus.
We need to do all in our power so that Europe?s Christian roots and its Christian soul may be safeguarded whole and unbroken.

Hurricane Isidore strikes Yucatan, Mexico
MARIST SUPPORT AND SOLIDARITY
Hurricane Isidore roared across the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, uprooting as many as a third of the trees in the city of Merida. Marist schools were badly damaged, especially with many windows shattered. Libraries were flooded and many books lost.
The Brothers have organized groups of students and parents to distribute aid that has been coming in from everywhere. They are bringing much-needed materials and encouragement to townspeople and ranchers undergoing great suffering. People have lost crops, beekeeping industries, pig farms, poultry farms, ?everything.

Province of Portugal
BROTHERS AND LAY MARISTS ATTEND FORMATION MEETING
On October 19th our Marist school in Carcavelos hosted a formation meeting for brothers and lay Marists. Its theme: ?Personal identity in its psychological, anthropological and spiritual dimensions.? About 60 people participated in these sessions.
The meetings are part of a formal two-year program. A main objective is to bring together the educational community around topics involving spirituality, pedagogy, and the charism of St. Marcellin Champagnat.

The tragedy in Bali
PRAYERS FOR OUR AUSTRALIAN MARIST FAMILY
The atrocity carried out in Bali has directly affected several families associated with the brothers and their schools in Australia. Family members have been listed among the dead and missing from the bombing. The community in Forbes, for example, has taken part in a funeral for three young people.

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