(98/242) EDITOR: Books received. San Domenico visto dai suoi contemporanei. (The oldest documents referring to the Saint and the Dominican Order), by fr Pietro Lippini OP. Edizioni Studio Domenicano, Bologna, Italy, 1998, 565 pp.;
Episcopologio Dominicano de México by fr Esteban Arroyo OP, Instituto Dominicano de Investigaciones Históricas, Guerrero y Pino Suárez, 76000 Querétaro, Qro.. 1998. 285 pp.;
Catherine of Siena. By Giuliana Cavallini, OP Geoffrey Chapman, London, England, 1998, 164 pp.

(98/243) ITALY: New book about Savonarola. This is not just <<another biography>> about Fra Girolamo Savonarola that summarises the details we already have in previously existing works. It's a <<special>> biography because the author makes the documents and Savonarola himself come alive in such a way that it seems to be more like an autobiography of the protagonist. <<I am a friar of the Order of Saint Dominic>>, Savonarola said often. The characteristic quality of this work is precisely its manner of documenting and reflecting the martyr's Dominican charism. Interestingly, the last chapter is aimed particularly at young people. Girolamo Savonarola, martire della verita. By fr Alfonso D'Amato OP. Edizione Tipoarte, Bologna, Italy. 1998, 254 pp.

(98/244) SPAIN: Is Philosophy useful for anything? fr Mateo Febrer OP, 90, has just published a more than five-hundred page book under the curious title ¿Pero, es que la Filosofa sirve para algo.? It is an apologetic treatment dedicated to confronting atheism with the weapons of reason and philosophy. It is consistent with the Pope's recent encyclical <<Fides et Ratio>>, which invites Catholics to deepen their understanding of the study of philosophy. More information: Ediciones del Instituto de Teologia y Humanismo, Barcelona, 1998, 506 PP-i

(98/245) CUBA: Information Bulletin for the Dominicans. To mark the centenary of the Dominicans' return to this Caribbean island, the friars have edited an <<Information Bulletin for the Dominican Family in Cuba>>, the first issue of which appeared in June of 1998. Though it might be a small publication, its contents respond to a need for communication and information about life and work of Dominicans in Cuba. Our congratulations.

(98/246) URUGUAY: National Council of Dominican Lay Fraternities. The Dominican Lay Fraternities of Uruguay held its First National Congress August 15-16, 1998, during which it approved its own director and elected a National Council for a three-year term in accordance with the Rule of the Order. The Council is formed of the presidents and a delegate from each fraternity and the National Promoter for the Dominican Family. Blanca Guerrero de Gomez is the Council president, Angelica Galli the vice-president, Silvia Rodriguez the secretary, and Gustavo Villalba the treasurer. We send all of you our congratulations from Rome.

(98/247) FRANCE: Video on Msgr Pierre Claverie OP. The French Committee for Radio and Television (CFRT), supported by the Dominicans in the Province of France and in collaboration with La Vie and the General Curia of the Order, has just released a thirty minute video on Msgr Pierre Claverie, OP, Bishop of Oran, who was assassinated on 1st August 1996. The film, presented at the opening of the General Chapter in Bologna, was televised on French TV October 18 1998. Requests (for the French version) can be made to: CFRT, 45-bis rue de la Glaciere, 75013 Paris, France.

(98/248) CURIA: Reelection of the Vicar General of Puerto Rico. The Master of the Order confirmed the reelection of fr Mario Alberto Rodríguez León OP, 47, as Vicar General for the General Vicariate of the Holy Cross in Puerto Rico on November 6, 1998. fr Mario has a Doctorate in History. He was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico on December 14, 1950. He made his profession in the Order on 17th August 1984 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 16, 1991. Congratulations, Mario.

(98/249) POLAND: Seven new Dominican deacons. Seven men were ordained to the diaconate at the Dominican church of Holy Trinity in Cracow on 10th October 1998. The liturgical ceremony was carefully prepared. A choir of Dominican friars and young people from the university chapel sang the antiphons and the Mass parts in Gregorian chant as well as adding to the beauty of the occasion with some Renaissance polyphonic compositions.

(98/250) SPAIN: Tribute to a Dominican. On 1st October 1998, fr Alfonso Esponera OP, from the Province of Aragón, received the <<Outstanding Doctorate Award>> from the University of Valencia for his dissertation <<Presence in America of the Valencian Priory of Dominicans during the Second Half of the Eighteenth Century: Fray Luis Sales OP (1745-1807).>> Our congratulations to fr Alfonso.

(98/251) BELGIUM: Sister Brigitte Rigo, new Prioress General. During their General Chapter, the Dominican Missionaries Sisters of Our Lady of Fichermont elected Sr Brigitte Rigo as the Congregation's Prioress General and Sisters Marie-]eanne Leroy (Vicar), Marianne-Ibrahim Goffoel, and Georgette Roland as members of the General Council. Congratulations, Sisters.

(98.252) CHILE: New Regent of Studies. The Master of the Order named fr Guido Delran OP, 61, as the new Regent of Studies for the Vicariate of Chile on November 25, 1998, following the General Vicariate's Chapter's request on 28th October 1998. fr Guido is also in charge of the Vicariate's Permanent Formation. He succeeds Fr. Julian Riquelme as Regent. Congratulations.

(98/253) NICARAGUA: Music in the barrio. In Batahola, a crowded neighbourhood of Managua, fr Angel Torrellas OP has for many years been helping countless people to learn through music. Dozens of girls, boys, and young adults meet in an apprenticeship to learn musical harmony and to master musical instruments. A little while back a German orchestral conductor came for more than two weeks to give lessons in choir and orchestra conducting.