“Growing together in Lasallian Spirituality” was the theme of the 26th Congress of the European Association of Directors of Lasallian Institutions (ASSEDIL) held in Malta from 23 to 26 April, with the attendance of more than 130 Lasallians from Europe and the Middle East.
On this occasion, the Stella Maris College campus hosted the Congress with the support of a team of volunteers, favouring spaces for meeting, reflection and prayer, in a spirit of fraternity and joy, as was appreciated from the very first moment, during the opening of the Congress, when the Visitor of the District of Ireland, Great Britain, Malta (IGBM), Brother Ben Hanlon, together with the President of ASSEDIL, Ms. Marta Martínez Casanovas, offered a warm welcome to the participants.
The opening conference was given by Brother Santiago Rodríguez Mancini, Director of the Office of Lasallian Heritage and Research and of the Generalate in Rome, who addressed the theme of the Congress in the context of the Year of Lasallian Spirituality which is being celebrated in 2025.
Br. William Mann opened the session on the second day of the Congress with a presentation on the Meditations for the Time of Retreat of St. John Baptist de La Salle, prompting a reflection on the timeliness of the Founder’s spiritual heritage and how these texts continue to speak to the challenges and hopes of Lasallian leaders today.
The dynamics of the workshops, organised in language groups in English, French and Spanish, then explored the practice of interior prayer in the form of a spiritual retreat.
On the third day, the morning session provided an opportunity to share experiences of how Lasallian educators creatively deliver spirituality into the classroom. In this regard, after prayer led by the delegates from Belgium South, there were short presentations on spiritual practices including Godly Play (Arlep), spaces of prayer (IGBM), HARA (Arlep), Silent Walk (Belgium North), and Youth and Spirituality (France and Belgium South).
“These diverse approaches highlighted how spirituality can be woven into school life in practical and deeply meaningful ways”, remarked Ms. Marta Martinez.
To complement these proposals, participants chose two experiential workshops that allowed them to immerse themselves in these practices at first hand. In addition, the sharing and conclusions in small groups provided a rich opportunity to reflect on new possibilities.
The activities on the last day of the Congress were preceded by a time of prayer led by the Arlep District. This was followed by a presentation by Mr Gregory Leonard from Belgium South on “Filling my well”, reflecting on how Lasallian leaders can nourish their own spirituality.
In the light of this proposal, participants reflected in groups on how to maintain their own spirituality, also evaluating their experiences and sharing what inspired them most and what they will take back to their schools.
To conclude the congress, Brother William Mann presented a summary of the shared spiritual journey, while Brother Superior General, Armin Luistro, pronounced the closing remarks of the event, together with Brother Joël Palud, General Councillor, and Ms Marta Martínez Casanovas, President of ASSEDIL.
“The sense of mission, fraternity and shared purpose that filled every moment of the Congress now travels with each participant back to their communities”, observed Ms Marta, in closing, thanking the Lasallians of Malta “for their warm welcome and hospitality”, as seen also during the cultural visits to Valletta, the country’s capital, and at the dinner hosted by the city’s De La Salle College. “A perfect blend of culture and communion”.
* Article prepared with the support of ASSEDIL.
