{"id":127477,"date":"2026-09-24T11:13:06","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T09:13:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/?p=127477"},"modified":"2026-09-24T11:14:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T09:14:43","slug":"brother-rafael-ceron-in-lasallian-schools-we-must-create-environments-that-foster-encounter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasalle.org\/en\/brother-rafael-ceron-in-lasallian-schools-we-must-create-environments-that-foster-encounter\/","title":{"rendered":"Brother Rafael Cer\u00f3n: \u201cIn Lasallian schools, we must create environments that foster encounter\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What do the pedagogy of fraternity and the pedagogy of encounter entail? This was one of the questions addressed by Brother Rafael Cer\u00f3n, co-author of <\/span>Lasallian Reflection No. 12<\/b><\/a> \u2013 covering the period 2026\u20132027 \u2013 in conversation with LaSalleOrg Interviews.<\/span><\/p>\n

Referring to the theme addressed in the Lasallian Reflection: <\/span>\u201cBuilding a fraternal world. Pedagogy of Fraternity, Pedagogy of Encounter\u201d<\/b>, Brother Rafael acknowledges that fraternity lies at the very heart of Lasallian history and identity: \u201cto be a Brother who guides, who accompanies, who is there for his students through thick and thin\u201d, he remarks. Thus, being a Brother is more than just a title; it is an expression of a vocation, a calling that transcends one\u2019s entire existence through fraternity and closeness to others, so that, as Brother Rafael puts it, \u201cthe very word \u2018Brother\u2019 already signifies fraternity to me\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hence, advocating for a pedagogy of fraternity involves reaching out to others and, therefore, embracing a pedagogy of encounter because \u201clife is encounter\u201d, as Brother Rafael points out, and this includes <\/span>the world of education by creating environments and \u201cproviding tools so that people can have fruitful encounters<\/b>\u201d. \u201cSo, in Lasallian schools, we must create environments of encounter, where people can connect and build relationships through these bonds of fraternity\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, Lasallian education cannot be neutral, as explained in the Lasallian Reflection; in other words, in the words of Brother Rafael, \u201ceducation must have a purpose, a vision, a mission, and we must not be oblivious to the needs and the reality of our students and our educational community. <\/span>We must always have a purpose, which is to build a more fraternal world, one characterised by greater solidarity<\/b>\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The call in the Lasallian Reflection 2026\u20132027 to build a more fraternal world is, therefore, essential for the entire Lasallian Family and <\/span>an opportunity to take up the challenge of universal fraternity<\/b>, which transcends the \u2018self\u2019 to encounter \u2018the other\u2019 and, recalling the teachings of Pope Francis, also leads us to \u201cbe fraternal towards all of Creation\u201d. Ultimately, it is about \u201cbuilding a project together, despite our differences, in an environment that we must care for\u201d, concludes Brother Rafael Cer\u00f3n.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

We invite you to watch the interview with Brother Rafael Cer\u00f3n on LaSalleOrg Interview.<\/i><\/b><\/h2><\/div>