THAILAND -Prayerful Lenten greetings from La Salle Chanthaburi as we begin the journey of prayer, contemplation and conversion leading towards Easter, which is the highest summit of the liturgical life of the Church.
There is no doubt that COVID-19 has brought about horrific impacts on our lives. With sickness, death, schools being closed, and the unemployment rates soaring globally, it is very easy to despair. Yet, such horrific impacts also leads us to finding new ways to address the need for interconnectedness. Needless to say, Br. Armin Luistro FSC, the Visitor, was able to make his canonical visit with us via Zoom. On Feb 8th and 9th, Br. Armin was able to hold reddition with all the Brothers in the community.
In the dialogue with the community on the 9th, Br. Armin invited the community to reflect upon the effects of COVID-19 pandemic that we have collectively and or individually experienced. He asked the community to ruminate in our minds and hearts the Pastoral Letter 2020 of the Superior General as to how, in this pandemic, we can deepen our relationship with Jesus, creatively respond to the emerging needs of education, and rejuvenate the sense of community. Br. Armin also reminded the community that our Lasallian mission is integrally connected with our life in the community. Our community life and our mission cannot be separated from the community prayer life. Together they shape us and give us our identity and authenticity as De La Salle Brothers. In other words, who we are and what we do are interconnected and interrelated.
May this Lenten season be a season of change, a season of conversion, that is “a deep and sincere change of heart”which ultimately involves turning in anew direction as we continue to carry on the work entrusted to us by the Founder and the early Brothers. (Text & Photo: Br. Benedict Chaiwat Phanomworachai FSC)
