Superior General Brother Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría has concluded the first portion of his visit to the United States-Toronto Region. General Councilor Brother Robert Schieler accompanied Brother Álvaro on stops in the Midwest District and the District of San Francisco during April. Brother Álvaro will return to the Region to visit the District of Eastern North America and the New Orleans-Santa Fe District in the fall.

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Day 25: Thursday, April 28, 2011Bro. Álvaro arrived at Saint Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, CA and was greeted by President Bro. Edmond Larouche, Principal Pete Imperial, Vice Principal Cathy Molinelli and the Saint Mary’s Brothers Community. Bro. Álvaro met with students, including those who participated in the El Otro Lado experience, which was an immersion experience with students from San Miguel High School in Tucson, AZ focusing on immigration and border communities.
Bro. Álvaro arrived at San Miguel Community in Tucson, AZ in the evening and enjoyed an informal dinner hosted by the community and attended by San Miguel High School leadership.

While at Justin-Siena, Bro. Álvaro learned about the history of the school, branding, and the new mascot for the Braves being launched in partnership with the local native tribe, the Wappos. Bro. Álvaro also toured the campus and met with many members of the school community. The visit ended with a reception.

“It’s a great honor to welcome Brother Álvaro,” said Brother Ronald. “We’re delighted that he has taken the time to meet with our students and those who are working to nurture the Lasallian mission at the College, and we deeply value the insights he has shared with us about the growing importance of Lasallian higher education during his visit.”
Bro. Álvaro then visited Brothers of the La Salle Vietnam House Community in San Jose, CA where Bro. Valery An presented him with a brief history of the community. Bro. Álvaro recalled his recent visit to Vietnam and acknowledged the works of the Brothers for poor people in Vietnam and in Cambodia. Bro. Álvaro also visited De La Salle Chapel in San Jose where he was welcomed by the La Salle Sisters and toured the property.

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Day 20: Saturday, April 23, 2011On Holy Saturday, Bro. Álvaro joined the Holy Week retreat participants for morning prayer followed by breakfast and an informal day. Everyone gathered in the courtyard at 9:00 p.m. for the beginning of the Easter Vigil, which included the lighting of the Easter candle, procession into the chapel, and vigil readings, followed by Mass of the Resurrection and a reception.

Day 18: Thursday, April 21, 2011




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Day 13: Saturday, April 16, 2011Today began Bro. Álvaro’s visit to the District of San Francisco. Bro. Stanislaus Campbell, Visitor, and Bro. Thomas Jones, Auxiliary Visitor, welcomed Brothers Álvaro’s and Robert when they arrived. The Brothers joined the Provincialate Community for social and dinner.
Message from Bro. Álvaro as he ends his Midwest District visit:At the end of my visit to the Midwest District I take with me a wonderful impression of the human quality of the Lasallian people I was able to meet in many different places: Chicago, Winona, Memphis, St. Louis, Glencoe, Tulsa and Minneapolis. The Lasallian Mission of human and Christian education is very much alive in the District. I think we can look forward with confidence because Brothers and lay people working together in the same charism, spirituality and mission represent a large force, capable of overcoming the obstacles that may arise, to continue the beautiful vocation the Lord in his mysterious plan has called us to: to be instruments of salvation for young people especially the poor, the least loved and those who have no voice. May St. John Baptist de La Salle continue to bless the wonderful work done by the District. My memory of this visit will be unforgettable. Thank you very much to everybody.
Pictures from Bro. Álvaro’s visit to the Midwest District.
Day 12: Friday, April 15, 2011Today marked the final day of Bro. Álvaro’s visit to the Midwest District. He met with both the Mission and Ministry Council and the District Council where they discussed the District’s blessings and challenges. Bro. Álvaro said the Lasallian spirit is very alive in the Midwest District. The visit ended with the Midwest District presenting a monetary gift for the Superior’s Fund which can be used to assist Districts in need.
Day 11: Thursday, April 14, 2011Today’s visit took the Brothers back to Chicago and St. Patrick High School, which celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. Bro. Álvaro’s first visit to the school started with a breakfast reception with Bro. Konrad Diebold, president of St. Pat’s, along with staff, students, and guests. A liturgy followed which included the affiliation of St. Pat’s principal Dr. Joe Schmidt and benefactor Mr. Lowell Stahl ’52. Both were formally affiliated by Bro. Álvaro.
After lunch, Bro. Álvaro met with Lasallian groups, including Lasallian Youth representatives from De La Salle Institute, Montini Catholic High School, and St. Pat’s. Bro. Álvaro then met with Lasallian Volunteers from Chicago and Racine, plus former LV Matt Palkert, Harvey House Director, and Peter Tooher, LV Program Coordinator. Bro. Álvaro also met with Brothers mostly from Chicago and Wisconsin.
Day 10: Wednesday, April 13, 2011Bro. Michael Collins, president of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, MN provided Bro. Álvaro with an update on the Regional Lasallian Educational Brand Initiative before Bro. Álvaro met with representatives from Lasallian high schools who have been through Lasallian formation programs. Bro. Álvaro then visited the Twin Cities Campus of Saint Mary’s University for the first time where he heard from a panel composed of six students who their SMU experiences. The day ended with dinner with Bro. William Mann, president of Saint Mary’s University.
Day 9: Tuesday, April 12, 2011Tuesday’s visit began at San Miguel Middle School in Minneapolis, MN, which was Bro. Álvaro’s first time at the school. Students led the visiting Brothers on a tour before lunch with four students and members of the school community. Bro. Álvaro also answered a variety of questions from students. As the visit to San Miguel came to a close, Bro. Álvaro remarked how sad it is that the school is closing at the end of this academic year.
The next stop was at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, MN where Bro. Álvaro met with Brothers from the Twin Cities and shared a meal hosted by Totino-Grace. The school’s show choir, “A Company of Singers,” then performed for the group.
The day ended with a meeting of executive members of boards of directors from the Twin Cities Lasallian high schools and Dunrovin Retreat Center, along with chief administrators. Bro. Álvaro spoke about the importance of Association and expressed his appreciation for all that boards do to help ensure the Lasallian Mission and obtain the resources necessary to sustain the ministries.
Day 8: Monday, April 11, 2011Day 8 started with a liturgy at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa, OK which students from San Miguel School also attended. Bishop Edward Slattery presided over the Mass. Bro. Álvaro’s visit marked the first time a Superior General has visited Bishop Kelley.
After lunch, the group went to San Miguel to visit staff and students. San Miguel presented a short video on the school after which the students asked Bro. Álvaro several questions. The group was also given a tour of the school, which recently moved into the former Catholic Charities building nearby after sharing space in a church basement.
The Diocese of Tulsa covered Bro. Álvaro’s visit.
Day 7: Sunday, April 10, 2011Bro. Álvaro attended a brunch to kick off Founders’ Week at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL with several administrators, faculty members and Brothers. Following brunch, Bro. Álvaro met with about 25 Brothers from the area.
The group arrived in Tulsa, OK Sunday evening and attended a reception with Lasallians from Bishop Kelley High School and San Miguel School who have been through formation programs.
Day 6: Saturday, April 9, 2011 Bro. Álvaro visited the La Salle Retreat Center in Glencoe, MO Saturday to celebrate its 125th anniversary. He said Glencoe is a very special place for him because while it served as the provincial headquarters for the St. Louis District, many Brothers from the Midwest served in Guatemala and Nicaragua. Four Brothers present at the luncheon—Brothers Bill Brynda, Bernard Brungardt, Jim Krause, and Dale Mooney—served in Guatemala while Bro. Álvaro was Visitor there.
Day 5: Friday, April 8, 2011Today’s visit took Bro. Álvaro to St. Louis where he attended a monthly luncheon at De La Salle at St. Matthew’s which celebrates accomplishments. After the luncheon, the group went to Christian Brothers College High School for an after-school reception with the faculty and staff in the library. After Bro. Álvaro spoke briefly, a student interviewed him for a video project. He then met with all of the Missouri Brothers at the Brothers’ house nearby, which included Brothers from St. Louis, Kansas City and Jefferson City.
Day 4: Thursday, April 7, 2011Day four of Bro. Álvaro’s visit took place in Memphis, TN on the Feast Day of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The day began with a liturgy at Christian Brothers High School which included representatives from Christian Brothers University and De La Salle at Blessed Sacrament. After communion, the Brothers renewed their vows. Following a reception, the group had lunch at CBU with student leaders and CBU awarded Bro. Álvaro the Maurelian Medal during a convocation. Bro. Maurelian founded CBU 140 years ago. Bro. Álvaro then met with CBU president Dr. John Smarrelli Jr. and the cabinet. They talked about the growing importance of Lasallian universities and the role they can play in advancing the Lasallian Mission. Bro. Álvaro also met with all of the Brothers in Memphis along with attending a dinner and social.
Day 3: Wednesday, April 6, 2011The third day of Bro. Álvaro’s visit began at the Brother David Darst Center in Chicago, IL. He met with staff and board members, and learned about the center. Bro. Álvaro also visited the seven Brothers who live at Resurrection Retirement Center. The day ended with a flight to Memphis where Thursday’s visits will take place.
Day 2: Tuesday, April 5, 2011Bro. Álvaro spent the second day of his visit at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona. After a welcome by the SMU Concert Choir, Bro. Álvaro met with the young men who participate in the Lasallian Teacher Immersion Program (LTIP). He also took part in a Founder’s Day liturgy and met with employees of Saint Mary’s Press. He attended a special luncheon and convocation where Brothers Michael Collins and Jeff Gros (SMU alumni) were awarded honorary doctorates, and Dr. Roxanne Eubank, Chair of the Mission and Ministry Council, was recognized as the Outstanding Lasallian Educator for SMU. Before returning to Chicago, Bro. Álvaro had dinner with Brothers at the Brothers’ residence.
The Winona Post covered Bro. Álvaro’s visit.
In this video message, Bro. Álvaro talks about plans for his pastoral visit to the Midwest District. He says the goal of his visit is to encourage Lasallians to live with more authenticity to Lasallian values. Bro. Álvaro is traveling with Bro. Robert Schieler (General Councilor), Bro. Frank Carr (Midwest Visitor), and Bro. Larry Schatz (Auxiliary Visitor).
Day 1: Monday, April 4, 2011Bro. Álvaro began his two-week visit to the Midwest District with a video conference call with De La Salle Blackfeet School in Browning, MT. Bro. Álvaro spoke with Bro. Paul Ackerman, school president, and students. He also took a virtual tour of the school.