 Young Lasallians and Brothers Meet to Discuss Community Living:Vocations are plentiful across the United States of America. Graduates of Lasallian colleges and many other institutions of higher education are joining communities of the De La Salle Christian Brothers for an extended period of time. It is a remarkable change from just 10-years ago when a commitment of more than one year was exceptional.
These young Lasallians often have had contact with the FSC mission in secondary school. They usually volunteered at something in college. After college they become Lasallian Volunteers and are assigned to serve the poor and live in community with other young Lasallians and De La Salle Christian Brothers.
Recently 21 former and current Lasallian Volunteers came together from across the United States with 10 Brothers for a weekend of reflection on community living. They shared all the different variations of community they have experienced and they called for creativity in developing new forms of community life for the mission. Some are raising families, others are in professional university programs but all want to continue to live Lasallian community for the mission. They are excellent examples of what Bro Robert Conte calls “Narrative Identity” in MEL#25. In other words, their life experience over many years has formed their Lasallian identity.
Little by little and in various ways, they have developed their Lasallian Vocation for communion, consecration, and mission. At the end of their meeting in Minneapolis, MN, which coincided with the mid-point of the special CIL session in Rome entitled “Being Brother Today” one Brother summarized the weekend discussion about identity with the phrase: “Being Brother Today Ain’t Just About Brothers”. For more information write to David Kasievich, Director of Lasallian Volunteers at dkasievich@cbconf.org.
(David Kasievich)
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 Young Lasallian Appointed by District as Part-Time Youth Minister: Tom McIlroy – who in 2004 served as a pioneer in the one-year Share the Mission Residential Volunteer Program in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea – has recently been appointed part-time Youth Minister at De La Salle Malvern (Melbourne), Australia.
He spends two days each week at the school, in addition to pursuing his university studies. His role includes all aspects of Youth Ministry (retreat programs, social justice, service projects, community building) and Lasallian Heritage at the school, as well as supporting La Salle Melbourne, the network of former students which runs Camp La Salle, “Fish La Salle,” and other regular events in service of youngsters in need. Lasallian Youth Ministry aims at empowering young people – either current or former students of Lasallian schools – to work to bring about De La Salle’s vision in their own lives.
The District of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea has long held Youth Ministry as a high priority. Until the beginning of 2006, one full-time Lasallian Youth Minister had been based at the District Offices. This year the position was expanded to include three part-time Youth Ministers, each attached to a specific school in the District.
Concerning his appointment, Tom has stated: “It is a real privilege for me to be able to continue to be involved with the Brothers and the school that I love, continuing the work of John Baptist de La Salle in a modern context.”
(In the Know: Lasallian Newsletter)
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lasallew@lasalle.org