Dear Brothers,

Greetings from Australia I do hope you are well. Just to keep you up to date with a few issues around the Asia Pacific Region.

1. Regarding the proposed purchase of the property in the Philippines for the Centre for Hospitaller Formation (CHF) that had been approved at our last Asia Pacific Commission (APC) meeting in the Philippines 7,8,9 June. (See Attached photograph.) Unfortunately we were unable to raise sufficient loans within the required time scale to secure this property. I wish to thank those Provinces and Delegations who so generously responded to our attempt, through loans, to make our vision for the future of formation within the region a reality. Sadly, as I have mention, there was insufficient support from all members to allow this purchase to proceed. So where to now?? Well at this time we will continue to rent the present property that we are using and if, and hopefully when, the various Provinces and Delegations send further participants for the CHF Program then we will look to alternative accommodation arrangements. While in Rome at the recent General Council Meeting I requested, and it was approved, that the Prior General’s Annual Appeal will be directed to the raising of funds for the purchase of a property for the CHF, so here’s hoping! The ultimate success of this CHF project is of course not dependent on a building but rather on the commitment and priority of Provincials and Delegates in sending suitable men for formation preparation.

2. Another issue that I was asked by APC to pursue while in Rome was further exploring the possibility of Brother Vincent being available as Team Leader for our Asia Pacific Regional Formation Program. Following lengthy discussions with the Prior General he was still strongly committed to his decision that Brother Vincent must go to the new Province of the Good Shepherd as leader of formation and to accompany the new Province. Since my meetings with the Prior General, Brother Vincent’s Canadian visa has been granted, so now Vincent can move ahead with his plans to move to Canada. I tried my best efforts Brothers, so again where to now?? Our Regional Formation Team held a meeting in Quiapo on July 7th where the Brothers present attempted to plan for 2016 Regional Postulancy beginning at Quiapo, 8^th March 2016 and continuing Regional Novitiate Program at Amadeo as best they can given our disappointment in not having the extra and essential position of Team Leader at this stage.

3. Lastly I had one more hoped for outcome while in Rome, and following previous failed attempts have succeeded in having a dedicated section on the Order's Website for the Asia Pacific Region, along with sections for each of the Order’s regions. If you now look at the Order’s Website you will see a new area has been created in the bottom left had corner under the heading Regional Commissions. At our last APC meeting I raised the issue of communication within the region now that we no longer have the kind assistance of the US Province co-worker Steve Gaucin, who did such a fabulous job with the “Connections Newsletter”. So here is another hopefully useful means of communication. It is dependent on us all promoting this means of communication and encouraging people within our Province or Delegation to prepare stories for the Order’s Website in our regional space. Can I suggest that any stories need to be reasonably short and due to our diversity of languages that photographs always are the most effective way to tell the story. Brother Andre, Secretary General, oversees the website so I encourage Provincials/Delegates and their Councils to immediately appoint someone within your Province or Delegation to be responsible to regularly send him stories to be posted in our regional space. As you maybe aware August tends to be summer holiday time for Rome so don’t be disappointed if there is no response this coming month, however this gives us all time to have people responsible in place and stories prepared and lodged by the end of August. I do really hope you are able to assist in making this project worthwhile.

   Know you each remain as always in my prayers.

   Your brother,

    

   Joseph 

   Brother Joseph Smith oh

   General Delegate for Asia Pacific and North America