From all of us here at IDI,
we Wish you, our readers,
a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

URUGUAY: Presence of Africa
USA: Annual Dominican Leadership Conference
CROATIA: International Week of Studies
VENEZUELA: 500 years of Dominican Evangelisation
POLAND: In Search of an identity through Liturgical Music
ROME: Dominican Sisters International (DSI)
SRI LANKA: Dominicans in the Island of Paradise
FRANCE: News from Dominican Lay Fraternities
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: Joy for the Dominican Family
CHILE: "Pentecost" Dominican Youth
PAKISTAN: Christian-Muslim Dialogue Forum
HONDURAS-NICARAGUA: Victims' plea for help
PERU: Saint Rose Radio Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

Uruguay: Presence of Africa

(98/228) My first time to see the offerings was the morning I found, inside the gate of the Church, a plastic tray with corns fruit and flowers. On another occasion there were two soup plates with food under a bench in the Church. Another day the lid of a cardboard box appeared with two dead pigeons, fruit and vegetables. My curiosity was further aroused when the papers and the TV carried extensive reports of the celebrations on the beaches to mark 2 February. That is the day when the Afro-Brazilian religious have their birthday

An African Goddess

February 2, formerly called the "feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary" in the Catholic Church, is the feast day of the goddess, lemanjá: the goddess of fertility, the mother of the fish of the sea. Lemanjá is a goddess of Nigerian origin. Her dress is blue and white and her image is similar to statues of Our Lady. She is believed to be very vain and likes gifts of perfume, jewellery, fruit and flowers. On that day the beaches of Montevideo are crowded with worshippers and curious onlookers. Candles are placed in the sand, the faithful dance to the incessant beat of the drums, pray and offer incense. People wade into the water to place their gifts or send them out to sea in little toy boats. The more remote beaches are littered on the following day, with parts of sacrificed chickens.

The religion is called Umbanda and is a mixture of African religions, popular Catholicism, the religions of the indigenous peoples of America, and spiritism. The slaves who were brought to America in the 16th century carried with them their beliefs, traditions and music. On arrival they were baptised, and to all outward appearances accepted the rituals of the Catholic Church. The clergy was happy to see them organise processions with statues of Our Lady or some saint, but did not realise that each statue represented for them an African god. Elements of the religions of the indigenous peoples were slowly incorporated, and in the last century many beliefs of spiritism were added - contact with the spirits of the dead, mediums and trances were likewise incorporated.

Because of the strong influence of Brazil the religion is referred to as Afro-Brazilian. At present there are two currents in the movement: one looking to Brazil, using Portuguese terms, and the other looking to recover an African identity. The latter tries to make the descendants of the slaves not to look on themselves as such, but rather as descendants of noble warrior races of Africa. New-Age spirituality and ecology fit in well with Umbanda teaching. A very prominent leader, who advertises on TV calls this group: The Association of the Evangelical, Spiritual, Umbanda Temple of the Child God. (Devotion to the Child God "el Niño Dios", is popular in the Catholic Church.

The Ceremonies

There are about 1,000 centres of Umbanda in Montevideo. The followers are mostly poorer people but also include the well off, and it has a strong attraction for the black population of the country. Their places of worship are often their own homes, with an intimate atmosphere in which visitors are made to feel welcome.

The ceremonies include offerings of incense, tobacco, fruit, food and small animals of white flesh. The men wear white shirts and trousers, and the women wear long white dresses, and cover their heads with white scarves. The mediums dance in circles to the beat of drums until they fall into a trance and can communicate with the spirits of the dead. Revelations and visions take place. Their sacraments include baptism and matrimony but the children will also be baptised in the Catholic Church, as it gives special protection against certain evil spirits. People who attend the Umbanda centres will also assist at Mass, participate in Catholic processions and novenas, and have statues of Our Lady and the saints in their homes. Their teaching stresses care for children, the aged, the handicapped and those in need, respect for creation, and openness to all religions. Each person is considered to be special, with a special mission. Questions such as politics or sexual matters are excluded.

Identity and Support

What attracts people to this religion? The "experts" who have studied the question say there is no simple answer. Many factors come into the picture. The present economic situation of the country makes people look for a spiritual solution to their material or health problems. People search for a personal identity and for community support in modern society. For over a hundred years, Uruguay has boasted of being a secular society, where religion was irrelevant; but now people are looking for something else. Umbanda, from being looked on as something akin to witchcraft or black magic, has now become socially acceptable and has increased in number in the past ten years, whereas the traditional religions are losing ground.

What is the response of the Catholic Church? As so often happened in the past, there is a real danger of missing the bus once again; the danger of not taking seriously the new religious movements, the danger in being busy in doing what we have always done. During the year, the clergy of our area asked a sociologist and an anthropologist to address us on the topic of the new religious movements. The challenge is to find a response to what is happening in our society today.

USA: Annual Dominican Leadership Conference

(98/229) Such were the parting words of the over 125 elected members of the Dominican Leadership Conference. Its annual meeting was held 10-13 October at the Center for Development in Ministry at the University of St Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, IL. The goal of this year's gathering was to enrich the preaching mission of the Order by creating more effective links among the vast number of Dominican groups and projects that exist across the US and beyond. This was expressed in the Conference theme: Connecting Currents for Dominican Life and Mission.

The participants included members of DLC, who are elected leaders of 31 congregations of women and the four US provinces of Dominican men. Also invited were representatives of 21 Dominican groups and organisations including the justice promoters, preaching promoters, formation/vocation ministers, communicators, the Dominican Earth Initiative, the Dominican Institute for the Arts, the Dominican Youth Movement, Associates, Dominican Volunteers, Las Casas Ministry, and the Dominican Laity among others. International representatives were present from DSI and CODAL. Collectively, these groups were known as Companions for Mission and they represent a broad range of grassroots level Dominican activity.

The participants reflected together on the pressing realities of our world and the urgency to act on behalf of those without resources, without a voice or hope. They explored how the resources and relationships among these various groups might be linked more effectively to advance he work of justice.

Some specific action steps were taken as a result of the meeting.

The members agreed to a process that allows the Dominican Leadership Conference to take a corporate stance and formulate resolutions in order to speak corporately against the heresies of our day.

The DLC membership approved a non-binding resolution put forward by the Dominican Conference on Globalisation. The resolution reads: "To counteract the negative effects of globalisation on people who are poor, we encourage each Dominican congregation or province to earmark five per cent of their total investment portfolio for alternative/community investment by the year 2000, giving special attention to enterprises beyond the US borders".

The members committed themselves to link with the variety of Dominican groups and organisations to participate in the Jubilee 2000 Campaign. Many congregations and provinces already have made commitments to this effort. Through this support by the entire DLC, all Dominicans are invited to conversion and the forgiveness of world debt.

The DLC members also committed themselves to link with our Companions in Mission to invite young people into Dominican charism and the preaching mission.

In the regional groups, such as the Dominican Council of the South, the Structure Alliance and the Councils of the Northeast, the members committed themselves to strengthen the connections among them and to create collaborative strategies that help each regional group act corporately in confronting evil with the Gospel.

In other actions, Sr Catherine Walsh OP (Hope) began her term as President of DLC. Sr Anne Lythgoe OP (Elkins Park) was elected Vice-President. Sr Barbara Rapp OP (Kentucky) will continue to serve as Treasurer. Sr Gloria Marie Jones OP (Mission San Jose) was re-elected Secretary. Alberto Rodriguez OP (St Martin) serves as Past President. Mary Ellen O'Grady OP (Sinsinawa) is the Executive Director of DLC. The DLC Offices are at the Dominican Conference Center in River Forest IL.

Croatia: International Week of Studies

(98/230) From 6-13 September 1998, the Dominican Province of Croatia, with the unanimous support of the Fourth General Assembly of Inter-European OP, which took place last year in Dubrovnik, sponsored an International Week of Studies for Dominicans in formation. (see IDI365 98/157). The sixty-eight participants at the conference came from Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland. The theme of the Conference was: "The Situation, Tasks, and Perspective of Today's Mass Media and its Role in the Proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ". The Friars of the Order of Preachers have placed Social Communication and Mass Media among its priorities, given that they are involved in every possible way of preaching the Gospel.

Dr Danijel Labas, the adjunct director of IKA (Catholic Information Agency in Croatia) and professor of journalistic ethics at the University of Zagreb, gave a presentation on the ethics of communication and on the human person as the subject of interpersonal (mutual) communications. He said that the history of human society is the history of communication. All cultural heritage is transmitted from one generation to the next through various forms of communication. People today, more than ever before need to be aware of the influence of the mass media. We live in a world, where the issue of communication is central, and we can no longer consider it a " peripheral tool" of social and ecclesial life. It is important to study Mass Media and its ever-increasing role in the creation of public opinion. It has an influence on politics and, above all, on the development of democracy. At the same time, it influences people's images of faith and of the Church. Most of all, it has an influence on the image that people have of themselves.

The Church encounters new challenges every day. One of the greatest is how it can develop its own way of speaking, how it can make its teaching more accessible by the use of the mass media, which is capable of uniting humanity.

In the second part of Dr Labas' presentation, he spoke about non-verbal communication, which, according to Ray L Birdwhistelly, accounts for 70% of human communication and is considered the most trustworthy and authentic form. The Spanish Dominican fr Felicísimo Martínez Díez, professor of fundamental theology in Venezuela, underlined, when speaking about preaching the Gospel in the world of Mass Media, the great untapped potential of social communications media in building a climate of trust, mutual recognition and respect for different social groups, nations, religions, and cultures. The Christian message need not fear the Mass Media. By its very nature, if it is transmitted authentically, it will be strengthened when confronted by different religions and different attitudes and ways of thinking. Fr Felicísimo discussed the challenges and possibilities that the Mass Media presents to those who preach the Gospel. He emphasised that the Church today is called to involve itself in catechesis and in preaching the Gospel in a de-christianised world and in confronting the culture of our world. He pointed out five areas and experiences that Dominican preaching must confront: scientific, philosophical, theological, social, and interdisciplinary investigations.

The first of the five areas he listed, at the border of life and death, calls us to commit ourselves to establishing justice and peace in the world. The second, at the line between humanity and inhumanity, shows the challenge brought about by the marginalised, the excluded, and the outcasts of society. The third focus, at the border between the religious and non-religious experience, confronts the Church with questions of secularised ideologies. The fourth, the area of Christian experience itself, shows the vital importance of inter-religious dialogue. The fifth area, within the Church itself, is concerned with the challenges of ecumenical dialogue with non-Catholic denominations and sects.

The task of working for justice and peace must be a priority in the Christian life and in the preaching of the Gospel in the world of Mass Media. Justice is integral to preaching the Gospel. Mercy cannot be fully realised without justice for all. A just attitude is manifested in mutual relations and in places where those relations take on political responsibility.

The Mass Media appear all-powerful today. It can present information justly or unjustly. Its contact with a multitude of peoples permits it to create a global culture. The Church must give an authentic response in public debates and in all questions of peace and justice, human rights, freedom of speech, ecology, and nuclear testing.

Within the context of the Week of Studies, a Christian rock group, " Messengers of Hope" led by fr Anto Bobas OP, gave a concert on 12 September. The Week of Studies concluded with a Mass celebrated in Croatian, German, and Spanish which were the three official languages of this year's conference.

The next Week of Studies for brothers in formation will be held from 6- 12 September 1999, again in Dubrovnik. The official languages will be French and English. The theme has yet to be determined.

For more information contact one of the following:

fr Hrvoje Lasic OP
Regent of Studies
Kontakova 1 HR-1000
Zagreb
Croatia
Tel: 385.1.2392.564
Fax: 385.1.2392.587.

fr Frano Prcela OP
Andreasstrasse, 27
D-40213 Dusseldorf
Germany
Tel: 49.211.136.340
Fax: 49.211.136.34.30
E-mail

Venezuela: 500 Years of Dominican Evangelisation

(98/231) Christopher Columbus discovered Venezuela in 1498 on his third voyage. He called it " Graceland", because of the natural wonders he observed there. For the fifth centenary celebration of evangelisation, fr Julian García del Castillo, the regional prior of the Vicariate of Betica, and fr Antonio Bueno proposed to the Episcopal Conference that they organise a History Congress to recall the Dominicans' "peaceful and apostolic evangelisation, carried out without weapons and armies". The Vice-president of the Episcopal Conference, Most Rev Baltazar Porras Cardozo, Archbishop of Merida, undertook this work himself.

The Congress had two phases. The first phase occurred last October 15th and 16'h in the city of Mérida, nestled in a beautiful valley skirted by the " Five Bald Eagles", ie the five snow-capped peaks of the Venezuelan Andes. At the opening ceremony, the authorities of the University of the Andes, the Mérida Academy, and the Legislative Assembly each paid tribute to the Order of Preachers for its evangelical work.

Various professors and researchers from the University of the Andes, friars, and sisters described the significant historical events of the Dominican presence in the country. They emphasised the work of missionaries from the East in the evangelisation of the west and of the Plains by, what was called until 1950, the Province of Saint Anthony in New Granada (present day Colombia), and now the Province of the Rosary. Also, they acknowledged the presence of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Rose, founded a hundred years ago in the city of Mérida. Both the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation and those of Saint Rose of Lima gave reports on their evangelisation work. Archbishop Porras concluded this first phase by emphasising the participation of our brothers from the Province of Holland in the formation of Venezuelan priests at the Archdiocesan seminary, when it was in Curaçao, a hundred years ago.

The second phase of the Congress took place October 22nd and 23rd at the Academy of History, and the Archdiocese's Sacred Museum, both in Caracas. The opening session included the presence of the member bishops of the Conference's Permanent Council. The Apostolic Nuncio concluded the Congress and emphasised the importance of the Order' s work of evangelisation.

We listened to presentations about the spiritual radiance of Saint Hyacinth's Priory in Caracas, and the missions in the Holy Cross Province in the Indies along the coasts of Barlovento. Reports on the work of the Congregations of the Holy Family and of Saint Dominic, and of the Contemplative Nuns of the Monastery of the Rosary in Los Teques were also presented.

The Republic of Venezuela's Post and Telegraph Commission issued a collection of commemorative stamps to mark the Fifth Centenary of Evangelisation, on which appear some distinguished figures from the Dominican Jesuit, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Capuchin Orders. Representing our community are the images of frs Juan Garcés and Francisco Fernández de Cordoba, the first to sealed with their blood their commitment to non-violent evangelisation in America; fr Pedro de Córdoba, author of the first Latin American catechism to be used in Venezuela, and Bishop and friar Antonio González de Acuña. Watch out, stamp collectors!

Poland: in Search of An Identity Through Liturgical Music

(98/232) In 1994, a festival of early music "Song of our Roots", was organised for the first time in Jaroslaw, a town in south-eastern Poland. Every year since then, the Festival has been taking place there, exploring ever more deeply the theme of our roots, as expressed in music. The Festival is organised by the "Early Music in Jaroslaw" Association, in close collaboration with the local Dominican Priory. Brethren from other priories of the Polish Province, as well as from the other Provinces, also take part and lend a hand. The artistic director is Marcin Bornus-Szczycinski, a professional singer of early music, who also teaches Gregorian chant to our student brothers.

Some of the best European ensembles have come to Jaroslaw, and this year was no exception. Ensembles from Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Russia and Poland performed during the week 23rd 29th August. There were also lirniks (hurdy-gurdy players) from Estonia, Russia, Ukraine and Poland. And there was Marcel Pérès, who throughout the Festival worked with a specially-assembled choir, practising the singing of the Dominican liturgy according to the treatise of Jerome of Moravia (1270). This treatise presents, in detail, the Dominican way of singing the Gregorian chant in the 13th century. The idea was to have seventy Dominicans from different provinces sing the liturgy in this manner, following the original idea of Blessed Humbert of Romans, who, in 1254, designed the liturgy for seventy participants. Unfortunately, although seventy had been invited, not all were able to be present. Nevertheless, the choir was formed, with lay people making up the required number, and on the last day of the Festival, they sang the Order of Mass, and the whole liturgy of the hours in that 13th century style. On the following day, the choir went to Cracow and sang the liturgy of the hours in the Dominican church there. In the square outside the church, the lirniks sang their songs, and preachers delivered sermons, commenting on the songs.

The theme of the Jaroslaw Festival, "Song of our Roots", corresponds to the theme of the Cracow 2000 Festival, which is, " Thought - Spirituality - Creativity". The city of Cracow has been chosen as one of the nine cultural capitals of Europe for the year 2000. Along with three other such capitals - Santiago de Compostella, Avignon and Brussels - Cracow is to explore the theme of spirituality. Thus, the participants of the Jaroslaw Festival will work on the same project for the year 2000.

Next year, the seventh Festival of Early Music, "Song of our Roots" will be held, once again, in Jaroslaw from 22nd to 28th August. There will be lectures and seminars, and ensembles from many European countries will perform. The Byzantine Choir of St Irene Cathedral in Athens will sing the liturgy of St John Chrysostom and the Byzantine Vespers. Marcel Pérès will, this time, help us to prepare for the Benedictine liturgy of the hours. He will lead a choir made up of religious from different countries. They will sing the whole liturgy of the hours on the last day of the Festival, and on Sunday, 29th August, they will go Cracow to sing the liturgy in the church of the old Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec, outside Cracow.

Rome: Dominican Sisters International (DSI)

(98/233) The Co-ordinating Council of Dominican Sisters International (DSI) met for its annual session at Santa Sabina November 13-18. Mary Robinson, High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, was in Rome the day before at a colloquium to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. Four members of the Co-ordinating Council attended her presentation. We were provided with the backdrop for our meeting when she said, <<I am deeply convinced that individualistic theories are already a thing of the past. Interdependent actions are favoured now. Our hope rests in this>>. As the Co-ordinating Council we want to be catalysts in the promotion of the international networks and alliances at the service of our mission. That's why we're happy to share with all the members of the Dominican Family the new initiatives that have surfaced in response to the lively impetus of the May 1998 meeting:

• the Dominican monastery in Herne, Belgium, has welcomed two sisters from Congo to provide them with an opportunity for study and formation.
• the Dominican Family's news bulletin in New Zealand is airing a radio programme.
• a congregation wants to celebrate its one hundred years of ministry by sending a group of sisters to a new mission ad gentes
• we are busy housing Eastern European sisters during their years of study, finding resources to cover the study expenses of sisters in Vietnam, and other projects.

It is a great joy to present these initiatives, which express a collaborative effort begun by all the sisters. We realise that there are many other needs and many other congregations prepared to help. Don't hesitate to contact us!

We are so grateful for the numerous responses to the questionnaire concerning the proposed Dominican Lay Volunteer Movement. The programme itself expresses the collaboration and work of Dominican brothers and sisters. Veronica Rafferty will be the DSI representative for the team organising the programme.

We have added with great hope and joy Sisters Mary Hughes (USA and Canada), Christine Mwale (Africa), and Zenaida Nacpil (Asia-Pacific) to the co-ordination team. Their appointment and presence have brought us even closer to every continent where we are found. Among the topics covered during our time together, the presentation on the work being done in the USA on the National Debt, the Globalisation of the Economy and their impacts and adverse effects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America was of particular interest.

We had a meeting with fr Timothy and his Council to share our work and projects. Together we have proposed the foundations for the organisation of and participation in the Dominican Family General Assembly in the year 2000. This meeting once again has strengthened the richness of our bonds of collaboration and fraternity, which DSI exists to do.

Sri Lanka: Dominicans in the Island of Paradise

(98/234) The Arab mariners who first sailed to the island of Sri-Lanka were so enamoured of its lush, tropical charms that they called it Serendip, the " Island of the Cosmos, a name that has since given us the word " Serendipity", the art of discovery by happy chance. Today it is called the Island of Paradise.

Sri Lanka has a population of 18.5 million. It has a literacy rate of 89%. The languages spoken are Sinhala, Tamil and English. English is widely spoken, except in the remote villages. About 74% of the population is Sinhalese; 18.1% Tamil; 7.1% Moorish (the descendants of ancient Arabs) and 0.8% Burghers (the descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonists) and others. The four major Religions of the world are present in Sri Lanka: Buddhism 69%; Hinduism 15%; Christianity and Islam 8%. Its chief exports are garments, precious stones, tea, rubber, coconuts and textiles.

There are two Congregations of Dominican sisters in Sri Lanka: The Congregation of St Catherine of Siena (Philippines), has about thirty sisters, and that of the Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena (Malta) has about ten. There are about sixteen members of Dominican laity who are under the direction of fr Jaylath Balgalla OP, a Sri Lankan of the Philippine province. There is another friar, fr Pancras Jordan a Sri Lankan of the province of India, who is presently working in Australia.

During my stay, I was able to visit fr Jaylath's parish and all the houses of the sisters. Fr Jaylath has an interesting plan to start a cultural and research centre in the Buddhist town where he lives. The sisters run schools for the poor of the area, in addition to their Pastoral and Formation work.

On 12 August, there was a meeting of all Dominicans at which there were about twenty-three participants representing the various communities. The day was devoted to the study of what the Order, and especially the Asia-Pacific Region, is doing in the areas of Justice and Peace issues. There were two practical sessions using the Order's Justice and Peace Formation Kit. The afternoon was spent in group-discussions on important issues and an action plan for the Dominicans in Sri Lanka.

The following issues were brought forward: the war, ethnic problems, broken families, unemployment, child prostitution, alcoholism and drug abuse, the educational system, suicide rate, poverty, the loss of cultural values and political divisions. The war is our first concern. For the past fifteen years, the Sri Lankan Government has been engaged in a protracted armed conflict with the Tamil rebel forces - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam- (LTTE), for control of the northern and eastern provinces of the island, areas which has a high concentration of Tamils. Sri Lanka spends about 400 million Rupees a day on the "war for peace". Operation Jaya Sikuru (Victory Assured), has become a costly drain on the country, so no real development can take place. Defence expenditure has risen to record heights. It is mainly the young who are killed, maimed or permanently disabled. With the continuance of this situation, hope for the future of Sri Lanka is dwindling. The Government hopes that by demoralising the LTTE by war, it will force them to negotiate. The Government has put forward proposals that claim to be a solution to the ethnic crisis. Although it may not be acceptable as a complete solution, there is a possibility of a solution through the devolution of power.

Since 1995 the attitude of the international community to the crisis in Sri Lanka seems to have changed. There is a new understanding of the Sri Lankan Government which, up till 1995, was considered to be responsible for massive human rights violations. At the same time sympathy for the LTTE has lessened.

Suggested action for Dominicans in Sri Lanka:

• As educators, we are be more concerned about the children. Aware of their home situation, we should reach out to them with compassion and love, and give them a really good education.
• We move out to help others in every way possible.
• We promote Justice and Peace in our own communities.
• We witness to poverty by a simple live style.
• We promote Justice and Peace through our writing.
• We organise Study Groups and Seminars on Human Rights.

At the end of our sharing, there was a suggestion that we, as Dominicans, make a statement appealing for Peace in Sri Lanka. It was decided that Sr Pauline Pereira would be the new Justice and Peace Link person.

At the end of our sharing, there was a suggestion that we, as Dominicans, make a statement appealing for Peace in Sri Lanka. It was decided that Sr Pauline Pereira would be the new Justice and Peace Link person.

A Justice and Peace Forum was formed consisting of Sr Pauline Pereira, fr Jayalath Balagalla, Sr Theresa Fernando and Stanley and Irene who are Lay Dominicans. This Forum planned the following zone meeting wich took place in Sri Lanka.

France: News From Dominican Lay Fraternities

(98/235) The Dominican Lay Fraternities (DLF) of France, who previously constituted only one national entity divided into regions and fraternities, decided to abandon their national structure and regroup into two Provinces in anticipation of the friars decision to unite the Provinces of Paris and Lyon. This union became effective in July of 1997, and, consequently, the DLF divided itself into two provinces: the DLF Province of France and the DLF Province of Toulouse. A mutual desire on the part of both the Friars' and the Dominican Family for a closer proximity and tighter collaboration between the two led to the decision.

Moreover, we decided that, from the inception of the two provinces, we would celebrate two provincial chapters every four years in order to bring together all of those delegates responsible for their respective fraternities, and have them participate actively in the governing of the new provinces. This goes together with our hope of deepening our Dominican life, especially our vocation as lay Preachers, and with the quest for the rejuvenation of our own structures.

The Chapter of DLF Province of France and Fanjeaux met at the Priory of L'Arbresle from 23-28 August 1998 and the Chapter of the DLF Province of Toulouse met from 23-26 October 1998 at the same place. There was an atmosphere of great participation, sharing, and hope at both Chapters. Each Province elected Provincial Lay Administrators for four year terms: Mrs Sylvie Vincienne was elected to head the Province of France and Miss Chantal Soligny the Province of Toulouse. The Chapters' Minutes are being prepared...

The two DLF Provinces are governed by the same board of directors and this was given the approval of the two Provincial Priors on 2 October 1997 and there is much inter-provincial co-operation

Congo-Brazzaville: Joy for the Dominican Family

(98/236) The Master of the Order, fr Timothy Radcliffe, constantly encourages and supports us in our working together more and more as a Dominican Family. The Little Dominican Sisters in Brazzaville (Congo) held important celebrations with five Dominican friars, during the last academic year. Four of the students, who are students at the Priories of Kinshasa-Limete or Abidjan, were in Brazzaville for a few weeks this past summer.

It was good to experience together these moments full of hope and signs of peace after months of civil war (June-October 1997), which impoverished the country and filled it with mourning and sadness. A young Congolese woman, Sister Catherine Tandou, celebrated her First Profession at Saint John Mary Vianney Church in Brazzaville on September 1998. She was the thirteenth young woman to make her profession with the Little Dominican Sisters in the Congo. Our joy was increased all the more by the presence of our five brothers at the celebration: fr Francis WelloSamba, fr Gabriel Samba, fr Claver Boundja (all of whom are Congolese), and fr Guy-Armand Ntchouankeu and fr Gabriel-Marie Tchonang (both from Cameroon). We gathered around the altar as sisters and brothers and sang a hymn to Saint Dominic at the end of the celebration.

On 3rd September everyone went to Catherine's family's house to celebrate the equivalent of a " traditional marriage" ceremony, according to local custom, in anticipation of her First Profession. Sister received a blessing from the different family members: from now on no one can put obstacles in her path to the religious life. It was a day of great joy for her family and an opportunity for her to show and introduce them to the entire Dominican Family and some of the demands and joys of religious life.

On Monday 7th September 1998, in our community Chapel, we celebrated together the renewal of fr Gabriel-Marie's temporary vows, which were received by fr Wello-Samba, delegate of the Provincial Prior, as well as those of Sister Nelly Tsasa, received by Sister Odette Sarda, General Prioress of the Congregation of Little Dominican Sisters.

These events required much material, liturgical, and spiritual preparation and mutual service, which enabled us to experience great fraternal joy in our Dominican life.

Chile: "Pentecost" Dominican Youth

(98/237) The conference began with the gradual arrival of the delegates, which made real and concrete the beautiful dream of bringing together young people who identify with the charism of Dominic de Guzman, to participated in the " Continental Conference" convoked by the Archdiocese of Santiago.

The opening Mass was on the theme of Dominican Pentecost, and recalled Dominic de Guzman sending his brothers throughout Europe. " Grain that remains in a pile rots, but scattered it bears much fruit." We, the brothers and sisters, the young people of America, who had come to celebrate unity in the Spirit, unity in our faith in Jesus Christ, and unity in the charism of preaching left by our holy father Dominic, are the fruit of that dispersion

The most important symbol at the presentation of the gifts was a symbolic house, signifying Chile, which desires to gather together, with open arms, her brothers and sisters from the far reaches of the continent. The celebration was very colourful, a sign of the immense cultural richness of our peoples. Prayers were read in our different languages: English, Spanish, Aymara, Portuguese, and Quechua.

The choice of the theme was to confront the participants with the harsh reality that causes so many young people on our continent, as well as ourselves, to suffer poverty, loneliness, drug-addiction, prostitution and religious and civil marginalisation. We tried to identify the structures that cause this marginalisation: the social, political, economic, and cultural systems. This was followed by discuss what it is that prevents us from creating a culture of solidarity and love.

Finally, we considered what our commitment should be. Our reflection was inspired and guided by the Beatitudes. We have to begin with a creative living out of the Beatitudes of mercy and compassion, of Saint Dominic's ideals, and to identify ourselves with others in love and devotion.

On the second evening, all the delegates demonstrated their traditional dances, dress, music, and art. This was a Celebration of Cultures, the blooming of that splendid diversity that identifies and unites us, in spite of our differences, in that fraternity tried and proven in blood and fire. It was a wonderful example of brothers and sisters building the great Homeland of Latin America and the Caribbean. Anything less would be an injustice in a conference of this magnitude.

Our nuns from the Monastery of Saint Rose in Santiago, and the Little Sisters of the Lamb joined us for Morning Prayer on both days of the conference. We will not forget the Dominican Youth Movement in Chile that helped us to sing and rejoice together in God throughout the afternoon: "With all your hands, with all of your voices, sing with me, sing American brother and American sister...." It was a celebration for the entire Dominican Family, a kairos, a time of grace and blessing, for all those who follow Jesus in the way of Dominic de Guzman.

Last but not least, we could not fail to have a celebration in honour of our companion on the way, our Lady of the Rosary, mother of the Order of Preachers. It was a feast full of colour, and diversity means of the plurality of languages and dress, but with one common faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

The representatives from the different countries met together to reflect on the possibility of a Dominican Youth Movement organised at the level of the continent of Latin American. Very creative initiatives were suggested, and they were supported by fr Manuel Martínez OP, Promoter for the Dominican Family in Latin America and the Caribbean. One such initiative was the possibility of having a representative from each country at future conferences, who could communicate with the secretariat in Tucumán City and with the Dominican Youth Communities in their respective countries.

These are some of the challenges we face so as to give life to the Dominican Youth Movement; to foster mutual collaboration among the communities within the countries themselves and at the level of Latin America and Caribbean.

We wish to thank everyone who made this beautiful experience possible: the Master of the Order who supported us, CIDAL, the provincials who trusted our co-ordination, fr. Félix Fernández OP who was the principal co-ordinator of the event, and, finally, the entire Chilean Dominican Family and all those who offered their " two cents" in order to make this conference a success.

Pakistan: Christian-Muslim Dialogue Forum

(98/238) A Muslim-Christian Dialogue Forum was established on 9th November 1998, in Lahore, to promote religious tolerance between Muslims and Christians so that they could work together for the promotion of peace, human rights and democracy. The forum was established on the initiative of Muslims at a round-table conference, at which Muslim and Christian religious leaders were invited by Professor Dr Muhamed Tahirul Qadri, an important religious and political leader, to bridge the gap between the religious minorities and the majority in Pakistan.

The conference was attended by well-known Christian and Muslim political, social, and human rights activists, and religious leaders from all over the country. At the end of the conference, joint resolutions were issued which called for a joint electorate system, as provided for in the Constitution prior to the 8th Amendment. The conference rejected the 15th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which was introduced by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, to make Quran and Sunna the supreme law in the country. The participants agreed that there was no need of such an amendment, as provisions to implement Islamic laws were already present in the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan. This bill had been introduced to further degrade minorities and set them aside from the main stream. Dr Qadir said that through this Bill Mr Nawaz Sharif wanted to become a dictator. He further lamented that the present government seems to know nothing about Islam and that it has no respect for justice, equality or freedom. Mr Qadir gave the assurance that his party was with the Christians and that he will uphold their rights as much as those of the Muslims.

The participants of this conference urged the government to take urgent steps to remove the feelings of insecurity among the minorities, and to eliminate discrimination against them, and demanded equal rights for all, in keeping with the vision of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of the nation. The participants asked that the positive role of Christians and other minorities in the establishment and development of Pakistan be acknowledged, since their contribution and sacrifices were no less than those of the Muslims.

Bishop Azriah said that it was an historic day for Pakistan and all its communities and that he deeply appreciated this dialogue which had been initiated by the majority community. He expressed his appreciation of the fact that the forum had no political agenda, and appealed to all Pakistanis to eliminate discrimination in religious matters for the future prosperity of the country. He said that Christians were also Pakistanis and deserved equal rights, as guaranteed in the Constitutions.

The conference was chaired by Professor Tahirul Qadri, and Christian participants included Bishops Bonaventure Paul, Samuel Robert Azariah, Samuel John, and fr James Channan OP, Shahbaz Bhatti and ten other Christian leaders. It was decided that the members of the conference would be increased but that the ratio of Christian and Muslims members would remain the same. Members of other minorities would also be included in this forum. Further guidelines and the manifesto of the Forum would be discussed at the next conference. This forum will be raised to the status of a world mission of harmony between the two largest communities of Muslims and Christians. The next meeting of the Forum will take place on 30 January 1999 and will discuss a three point agenda on joint electorate, religious tolerance and the 15th amendment.

Honduras-Nicaragua: Victims' Plea for Help

(98/239) We Dominicans of the Vice-Province of Central America, motivated by the emergency situation in Honduras and Nicaragua in the wake of the devastating effects left by Hurricane Mitch, which unforeseeably remained stationary over the coast of the two countries for almost one week, invite the Dominican Family around the world to join in solidarity with us.

Our presence in the poorest communities of the Central American region has allowed us to witness the sorrow and suffering as a result of the loss of so many lives. A large part of Central America is enveloped by a volcanic ring, which suffered unpredictable mud-slides which devastated entire populations in their path and transformed these areas into huge cemeteries. Together with the destruction of bridges, highways and roads, water and light installations, and power and telephone lines, the mudslides have displaced thousands of people, crops, livestock ranches, and poultry yards, everything being devastated by the relentless and uncontrollable floods. In the next few months production of the basic necessities will cease, aggravating the critical economic situation that exists in the most impoverished areas of these Central American countries. Worse still, the risk of epidemics (cholera and malaria) is high if there is no medicine to take and no one to supply and administer it.

We feel that, in the midst of this situation, it is the right time to create among ourselves genuine bonds of fraternity for the sake of the common good, to help us to rebuild these victims' lives and collaborate in solidarity with them in the reconstruction of their countries. We thank you so much in anticipation of your generous help.

Donations may be sent to the following address:

Peru: Saint Rose Radio Celebrates its 40th Birthday

(98/240) On 15th October 1998 Saint Rose Radio, "The Rosary Station", celebrated forty years of radio-transmission service in Peru. It was an occasion to remember what it meant in its first years, back in 1958, when a station inside a Priory's cloisters was inconceivable. It was unheard of, but electronic technology penetrated the cloister walls through this medium of social communication, the radio. In this way, the Dominican Order, whose charism is preaching, discovered how to preach the Gospel from a new pulpit - an electronic one.

During these years, the station has seen four directors: fr Isnardo Huaita, the late founder; fr Francisco Villena; fr Jorge Cuadros; fr Juan Sokólich Alvarado, the current director.

At the same time there always have been collaborators, technicians, and contractors who support the maintenance of the station and all its needs.

While it is certain that the station was born from a certain devotional orientation, (which is present to this day), nevertheless, immediately following the Second Vatican Council, it adopted a particularly Latin-American social line of thought inspired by the Gospel, and in accordance with the social teaching of the Church. Consequently, it has taken up the defence of the poor, trying to be the voice of those who do not have one. Saint Rose Radio does not appear in the " ratings" of commercial polls because its programmes are directed to those who are never polled.

Saint Rose Radio transmits 24 hours a day. Its programmes include messages, music, entertainment, news, and commentaries on national and church affairs. With technological advancement (such as transmission via satellite), we have been able to realise the recommendations of the General Chapter in Bologna, which asked for more idealism, generosity, and formation of consciences by using the modern media in our work of evangelisation, such as the Internet.

Saint Rose Radio can be contacted at:

The frequencies for Radio Saint Rose are:

AM: 1500 Kcs at 10Kw
OC: 6045 Kcs at 5Kw y
FM: 105.1 In Villa El Salvador, which will go on air in the next few days