Lay Partners Commission
 


Lasallian Partners
The development of the Lasallian Mission requires the Institute to allow itself to be stimulated by the dynamism apparent among partners and associates, and to encourage and support collaboration among themselves and with the Brothers, so that all can deepen their own understanding of association, in the light of the observations made, the Lasallian charism and the present theology of the Church.

        
(From 43rd Generarl Chapter Document)

 

Partners
There are partners who in fact share our Mission in its multiple educational, catechetical, apostolic and professional aspects, and make it possible for the mission to be accomplished. They collaborate with conviction for the time they are with us.
 
         (From 43rd Generarl Chapter Document)

Associates
There are partners who have a long record of collaborating in the Lasallian Mission, and who feel a call to deepen the charism, spirituality and Lasallian communion in which they wish to participate.
 
         (From 43rd General Chapter Document)

FORMATION FOR LASALLIAN PARTNERS IN INDIA TO TRADITION AND HERITAGE
The Lasallian FAITH strives to contribute towards the animation and accompaniment of our Lay Partners in the Tradition and Heritage of Lasallian Mission and Charism.
GOAL
Promoting and supporting the Lasallian association through and understanding and appreciation of the Lasallian Charism, heritage and tradition in India of great diversity of faiths and cultures.
CHALLENGES AHEAD
The Lasallian FAITH services to contribute for the promotion of Lay Partners in our Lasallian Mission. It foresees a number of challenges:

1 If the concept of Shared Mission is not understood by the FSCs of the Delegation, it may not facilitate cordial platform   for the formation of Lay Partners.
2 This may also create confusion among the Brothers WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO, thereby leads the Brothers   to create imbalance between the professional and vocational aspect of their lives.
3 The completion of the Formation Programme of the Lay Partners may challenges our present structures of animation   and administration.
4 Lack of trained Brothers in the Lasallian Spirituality and Pedagogy.
5 The Materials of the programme have to be prepared carefully to respect the sentiments of the Partners of the other     faith.
6 The lack of English knowledge would cause us to translate the materials in to the vernacular language.
7 The cost of preparing these materials would be an extra burden on the Delegation.

PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION

The formation programme has seven stages, namely: Input, Reflection, Initiation, Plan, Involvement, Implementation and Commitment. Each stage emphasizes a main and specific objectives. These stages are inter-related and ultimately, leading to commitment to Lasallian Mission.

INPUT: The objective simply to understand the life of St. Lasalle as a Vocation for Mission. It is also leading to have a personal love for the Founder.
REFLECTION: The goal is to assist to integrate the Lasallian tradition and heritage and to understand the influence of  the Founder in the world of education.
INITIATION: The aim is to become aware of the social conditions of the Indian society. This stage makes the partners to respond to the socio and political realities. The partners are gradually initiated to promote a sense of social responsibility among the youth. (Birth of Lasallian Movements, Youth clubs and so on.)
PLAN: The objective is to promote inter-religious dialogue. It initiates to become one with the cultural ethos of the people. It initiates to find means to discern the value based teaching and living.
INVOLVEMENT: It aims to initiate process of communion by developing links of unity, communication, common actions, good personal relationship in the Lasallian Mission. It funds ways to integrate the principles of Lasallian tradition with the experiences of the previous stages.
IMPLEMENTATION: This focus to find effective means to apply the principles of Lasallian association with  contemporary leadership. It leads the partners to take initiative to develop leadership skills among the student community.
COMMITMENT: It aims to discover together in open dialogue to identify themselves in reference to the Lasallian Mission.

At every stage, we need to be open to the movements of the Holy Spirit through the inspirations and responds of the members. Plan of action needs to be always at every stage. Animating the partners in the forming of discernment is most significant. Faith and community experience are the integral part of this programme. It is advisable that the Brothers of the community or the Institutions to be part of the Formation process, not only as inspirational team but also to show their interest and encouragement to them, by their lively accompaniment.

CONCLUSION: Initiating a programme that strives to significantly contribute to the Formation of the Lay Partners is really challenging. It needs to be faced with courage and determination. By our openness and willingness to the spirit of God, we relive our founding story in India.


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Lasallian Partner's Formation center

Name of the center
VANAVIL the means RAINBOW

Explanation to the name:
The "Rainbow" was given as a covenant to every living creature on the earth during the time of NOAH(Gn.9:17). We believe that this Vanavil becomes a covenant of hope to all the Lasallians in India. The FSCs in India feel that it is quite demanding to their Traditional apostolate of education, they reach out to the various statures of the Society in imparting the social and educational values that are cherished most by their dear Founder. They pursue that the VANAVIL launches into the endeavours of creating an awareness meaningful LIVING for everyone who is associated with it.

Aim of Vanavil
1. To focus on FORMATION OF LASALLIAN PARTNERS in the aspects of characteristics of Lasallians & Schools and the holistic education in the Lasallian tradition & heritage.
2. To intensify the thirst for Social justice and human dignity - as the Lasallian SALVATION.
Objectives
1. To provide FORMATION for the educators and administrators on Lasallian tradition & heritage.
2. To encourage the youth to realize the healthy values of TEACHING & LEARNING, RELIGIOUS & HUMAN.
3. To improve the standard of education in all the programs run in the Delegation.
4. To promote Socially useful and productive citizens of the Country.
5. To make a legal cell in guiding educators and socially disadvantaged citizens of India.

Persons Responsible

A full time animator preferably a Brother is responsible for the animation of the programs at VANAVIL. He is assisted by a panel of experts. The panel is nominated by Bro. President in consultation with the animator.

Scheme of Vanavil
The animator is given freedom to design the program in an innovative Spirit within the boundary of the AIM and OBJECTIVES of the Centre. He is accountable to get the approval from Bro. Delegate / Bro. President and his Council, before executing any of its programs. This approval has to be gotten at the beginning of every academical year.

Panel of Experts : Proposed for the approval of Bro. President:
Term of reference

a) To assist to achieve the aim and objectives of "Vanavil".
b)

To advise the Director to foster a spirit of collaboration and mutual enrichment in Lasallian tradition among the Educators particularly our own partners and Alumni of the Delegation;

c)

To provide technical and professional services and assistance to carry out the formation programme;

d) To assist the Director in formulating and evaluating the annual plan of the Centre;
e) wherever possible to assist the Director in implementing the annual plan of the Centre;
f) To propose means and modes to encourage the Brother's Communities to share their Lasallian identity with others... and to help belonging to Lasallian groups to grow in awareness of being Lasallian , to being associated with the Institute, and being committed to the Lasallian mission;(C:422,P7).
g) To be a study group on sharing the Lasallian Charism with educators and young people of other faiths. C. 447, Pro:2, P.7);

Organizational Structure
1, Three members of the panel will form as "Core Team"; The Core Team will be responsible for the implementation of the Plan; it will meet six time a year to coordinate and support the Director in a more collaborate way. The director will be accountable to the Core Team in matters connected with the programme, finance, day to day administration and so forth. The minutes of the Core Team will be sent to the Commission for Lasallian Partners (CLP) for the follow up action to the Delegation Council.

2. For the legal purpose, "Vanavil" will register itself under the Society Registration / Act / Trust within three months of the proposal on organization and the budget by Brother President;

3. If it is Trust, the Core Team members will from the Trust ; if it is Registered Society, then the President and one more Brother will be form the Society.

4. The Director will be allowed to open an account in the name of the Centre "Vanavil"; he will be operating the accounts;

Composition of the Panel

1. The Director of "Vanavil" is the Chair person of the Panel;
2. The total number of the Panel is ten, inclusive of the Director,
3. The total number of Brothers not to exceed to 40%;
4. The Chairman of the Mission Commission be part of the panel so as to be in line with the reflection and vision of the Delegation;
5. The Chairman of the formation be part of the panel to collaborate in formation programmes of the Brothers and Partners.
6. A representation from the Young Brothers who are in Teaching faculty is desired to promote a healthy tradition in the Delegation for the formation of the Partners;
7. The participants of the regional assembly at the PARC level is included in the panel;
8. Two representation from the Former students;
9. Experts in the filed of Education;
10. Representations from the Partners of our Institutions;
11. To be sure of having the members of different faiths;

The Proposed names of the Panel members;

1. Brother John Fernando. FSC., Chairman.
2. Brother Thomas Michael. FSC., (Mission Chairman)
3. Brother Christopher. FSC., (Formation Chairman)
4. Brother Nester A. Kattar., (Young Brothers representative)
5. Mr. Brethy (Educator & Principal of Teacher Training School)
6. Mr. Pepin (Participant of Lay Partners Assembly - PARC).
7. Miss. Jeyashree (Participant of Lay Partners Assembly - PARC).
8. Mrs. Emelda Christy (Partners representative).
9. Fr. Selvam (Educator & Former Student representative).
10. Mr. Karpagavinayagaam (Former Representative).

Quorum
At least 60% of the members to be present for the meeting.

Meetings

The Panel meeting will gather twice a year; one to plan for the year and the other during the year to evaluate the programme;

Financial Plan

      
Delegation set aside a sum of Rs. 5 Lakhs as Endowment along with Shared mission endowment which was raised by myself a few year back; The endowment is operated from the Delegation. 75% of the interest could be spend as operational expenses of the Centre and the other 25% of the interest could be put back to the Capital to grow;

The 90% of the Partners contribution from the Institutions could be used for the regular operational budget;

The registration fee per head (in consultation with the institutions) could be paid by Institutions whenever a programme is organized by the Centre;

Director could charge a sum of amount whenever be presents the programme at the Institution at their request;

besides, the Director could be allowed to raise fund for endowment, individual programme, any special projects like software and so forth either within the country or through writing projects;

Time Plan

Level : 1 : Setting up basic infrastructure like Office, legal and Administrative structure and other needed equipments to begin the Centre and planning for a six year project; In view of wider consultation, the Director will meet the Directors, Administrator, Partners and Brothers individually or in groups; he will also visit and consults with the Lasallian Educational Services for the Partners and associates in the districts of Penang, Philippines and Australia in August 2006; The consultation will conclude by calling for a Panel meet at the middle of September and finalizes the plan at the end of September and presents to the Delegation for approval.

Level :2: The Centre will prepare the programme materials (Software programmes and the needed materials) with the approved plan of the Delegation; Professionals Technicians will be in operation from October to December 2006.

Level 3: The Centre will be officially inaugurated in January 32007. The Centre will be ready Year Planner available to the Delegation.


June 20 Submission of Organizational structure and budget for the approval of Brother Delegate and president for their approval.
June 30 approval awaited for the Organizational Structure and bud from the Central team.
July 01 Announcement of Panel Members and core team.
July 07 Meeting with President at Mangalagiri.
July 10 Meeting the Partners and Brothers at St. Joseph's;
July 13 Meeting the Partners, Alumni and Brothers at St. Joseph's;
July 16 Meeting the Administrators at Boys Town.
July 17 Meeting the Partners brothers at St. James.
July 19 Meeting the Partners, Alumni and Brothers at Keesara.
July 24 Meeting the Partners, Alumni and Brothers at Pudhumanam.
July 25 .Meeting the Tsunami animators at Nagai.
July 26 Meeting the Partners, Alumni and Brothers at BT
July 30 Meeting the Directors at Boys ' Town
August 12 Meeting Brother Delegate at Boys' Town.
August 15 - 30 Visiting Australia, Philippines and Malaysia
September 17 Panel meet at Mangalagiri.
September 23 Core Team meets at Mangalagiri.
September 30 Plan submitted for approval.
October 16 Approval awaited for the Partners Training Programme.
January 26 Inauguration of Vanavil at Mangalagiri.

Lay Partners Commission 2006-09:

01.
Br. John Fernando - Chairman
02.
Br. Antony
03.
Ms. Emalda Christie
04.
Br. Amalan
05.
Mr. Peppin

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