Appointment of European Bahá’í Youth Council

20 October 1989

To all National Spiritual Assemblies in Europe

Announce appointment first European Bahá’í Youth council with following members: Onno Frank van Bekkum, Morten Bergsmo, Nadi Hofmann, Alessandra Lanfranconi, John McGill, Bahiyyih Tahzib, Robert Weinberg.

Duties Council will include coordination those activities European Bahá’í Youth having continental impact; assistance and advice to Continental Board of Counselors, National Spiritual Assemblies and National Bahá’í Youth Committees on matters related to Bahá’í youth activities; representation of European Bahá’í youth on continental basis with non-Bahá’í youth groups and other agencies.

First full meeting Council scheduled for weekend 4 to 6 November 1989 in London.

Hail this new development Bahá’í youth work, eagerly anticipate great enhancement potential for promotion Faith throughout continent. Praying

Holy Shrines outpouring divine bounties confirm initial steps assumption

highly meritorious tasks.

The Universal House of Justice

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001)

Passing of Roddy Lutchmaya, Continental Counselor

9 October 1989

To selected National Spiritual Assemblies

DEEPIY GRIEVED SUDDEN UNTIMELY DEATH DEVOTED PROMOTER FAITH RODDY LUTCHMAYA HIS INCESSANT INTENSIVE EFFORTS TEACHING FIELD MAURITIUS FROM EARLY YEARS ESTABLISHMENT FAITH THAT ISLAND, HIS LONG RECORD ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ON NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY, CULMINATING IN HIS MEMBERSHIP ON BOARD OP COUNSELORS IN AFRICA, WILL ALWAYS BE LOVINGIY REMEMBERED. HIS HUMILITY, STEADFASTNESS, PERSEVERANCE UNFORGETTABLE HIS REWARD ABHA KINGDOM UNDOUBTEDLY BOUNTIFUL. MAY RISING GENERATION BAHA’IS ISLANDS INDIAN OCEAN FOLLOW HIS NOBLE FOOTSTEPS.

PRAYING HOIY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL. CALLING FOR SPECIAL MEMORIAL GATHERINGS MOTHER TEMPLE KAMPALA AND IN BAHA’I COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT AFRICAN CONTINENT. CONVEY RELATIVES HEARTFELT SYMPATHY.

Universal House of Justice

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001)

Encouraging the Holding of Feasts

26 September 1989

To all National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The International Teaching Center has recently asked the Universal House of Justice about the possibility of direct involvement of Auxiliary Board members and their assistants in encouraging the holding of Nineteen Day Feasts in countries where the Local Spiritual Assembly is not exercising its responsibilities in this regard. The House of Justice responded as follows.

As you rightly point out, in many such communities the fostering of the Feast is an effective aid to community development. Feasts may, in turn, lead to other activities such as children’s classes, and gradually help in the activation of the Local Assembly. Assistants may therefore assume the important role of encouraging the believers to gather for the Feast as an interim measure when the Local Spiritual Assembly is not functioning, although the Nineteen Day Feast can be an official administrative occasion only when there is a Local Spiritual Assembly to take charge of it. Indeed groups, spontaneous gatherings of the friends, and even isolated believers may certainly observe the Feast.

It should nevertheless be borne in mind that the goal is for the Local Assembly to be strengthened in order that it may itself assume responsibility to conduct the Feast.

It would be appropriate for you to consult with the Counselors about the matter. The Auxiliary Board members and their assistants can do a great deal to assist.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

(Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1986-2001)