The Superior General and his Council, in Circular 448: Toward the Year 2007 published February 1, 2001, announced the establishment or reconstituting of four international councils and standing councils. One of these is the Standing Council for the Lasallian Educational Mission. This Council is co-ordinated by the Institute Secretary for the Lasallian Educational Mission, and had its first meeting from March 19th - 23rd, 2001.

The task entrusted to this Council by the the 43rd General Chapter is to collect from Regions facts, information about work undertaken, and sources of concern regarding the Lasallian educational mission. The Council, whose members represent all the Regions of the Institute, has a dual function: to keep the Superior General and his Council informed, and to provide accompaniment for the Regions, stimulating educational and pastoral initiatives. It will convoke the International Assembly for the Lasallian Educational Mission before the next General Chapter and finally, will represent the Institute in civil and ecclesiastical organisations.

The week was marked by intense work and a cordial atmosphere. It began with a detailed exchange of personal information which revealed the diversity and the wealth of experience of the members who came from all over the world. The pooling of ideas proved to be very valuable and exciting.

Brother Superior honoured us with his presence to mark the official beginning the Council's work. He spoke to us of the Mystery of the Incarnation, reminding us that our Lasallian spirituality was largely one of incarnation. As an excellent teacher, Brother Alvaro Rodriguez Echeverria gave us each a framed picture, which invited us to contemplate in silence the creative fidelity of Mary who said "yes" to the love of God and of her neighbour.

Subsequently, Mrs Mijo Beccaria, President of the International Catholic Childhood Bureau (BICE), stimulated our reflection by commenting on the five Lasallian Colloquia which took place during the last seven years, highlighting the salient points of this wide-ranging exercise, and suggesting avenues worth exploring.

We begin our work with our minds full of the challenges we need to face with the young people of this age, bearing in mind great priorities: the Rights of Children and the Educational Service of the Poor. These two priorities will inspire us as we pursue the following aims we have decided to adopt:

First of all, we shall turn our attention to the Lasallian Educational Mission, treating it from an anthropological point of view, by:

1) examining what has been written over the last 20 years on the Lasallian educational apostolate, evaluating it, and highlighting its underlying anthropology;
2) examining what has been written and done in Districts regarding the educational service of the poor, drawing up an inventory , making it available to Districts to show what has been done, and to universities, so that they can reveal the anthropological background of children;
3) examining the world of young people and what characterises them today, and asking universties to study this question.

Next, as a means of supporting the promotion of justice and the educational service of the poor, we wish to set up two networks:

1) one for the persons in each District responsible for the promotion of the rights of children,
2) another for the men and women involved in the work of the Institute who run innovative programs for the most underprivileged children. This network would facilitate the exchange of information and expertise.

We still need to tackle the question of evangelisation and pastoral work, decide who will be working with us, discover their expectations, and decide how we shall work with them.

Our week together has now ended and there remains much to be done. We leave with a mandate to reflect about many new things and to share them with the various Regions of the Institute. It is clear that these things will serve to stimulate the reflection of future Provincial chapters.

The warm and genuine welcome of the central community during our stay in the Generalate made this first working session most pleasant, and we thank the community for this.

The Standing Council for the Lasallian Educational Mission

Br. Claude Reinhardt (General Councillor)
Br. Miguel Campos (General Councillor)
Br. Nicolas Capelle, Secretary for Education
Mr. Jose Cueli, RELAL Region (West Indies)
Mrs. Joan Landeros, RELAL, (University of Mexico City)
Mr. Denis de Villers, Region of French-speaking Canada
Mr. Charles Gaus, USA/Toronto Region, (Baltimore)
Br. Giuseppe Gioia, Region of Italy, (Rome)
Mr. Jöel Le Natur, Region of France
Mr. Albert Leroy, RELEC Region, (South Belgium)
Br. Jose Maria Martinez, ARLEP Region, (Central Spain)
Br. Frederick Mueller, USA/Toronto Region, (LI-NE)
Br. Valere Adonsou, RELAF, (Togo)
Br. I. Sebastian, PARC Region, (India)
Br. Owen Smith, REBIM Region, (Great Britain)