Under the motto “leading together with hope towards the future”, the Caribbean city of Santiago de los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic, is hosting the Regional Assembly on Association for Mission from 28 to 31 October, bringing together more than 50 Brothers and laypeople from the eight Districts of the Lasallian Region of Latin America (RELAL).
The central purpose of this Assembly is “to consolidate the vision of One La Salle in such a way as to enable us to address the reality of Latin America and the Caribbean, the impact of the Regional Action Plan 2023–2026, and the General Council’s guidelines regarding governance structures, synodal leadership and the preferential option for the poor”, as stated on the RELAL website.
To this end, “the aim is to define renewed projects and lines of action in the Region that foster co-responsibility and innovation within the Lasallian Educational Mission, building on the priorities and programmes already set out at the 46th General Chapter”.
Passion, vocation and mission
Consequently, by analysing the results of the Regional Action Plan in the Region, sharing meaningful experiences and best practices, and aligning Regional capacities, the Assembly prioritises a participatory methodology, “moving forward in a spirit of synodality, allowing ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit, with attitudes of listening, humility and co-responsibility”, as detailed by Beda González, from the Central America–Panama District, “through three methodological stages: passion (where do we come from?), vocation (where are we?) and mission (where are we heading to?)”.
This process, rooted in Lasallian spirituality and fraternity, aims to formulate the projects and lines of action for the new Regional Action Plan, in order to address the priorities and programmes of the Lasallian Educational Mission, defined for the period 2026–2029, as an expression of renewal in governance structures, synodal leadership and the preferential option for the poor.