Faith

2019 College Theme

“One Heart, One Commitment, One Life.”

Introductory Remarks:

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE DEATH OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE,

FOUNDER OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

(1719-2019)

During 2019, the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (the De La Salle Brothers) and the Lasallian Family will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the death of their founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Patron Saint of Teachers.

The Institute has designated 2019 as the Year of Lasallian Vocations.

Throughout the world, events and celebrations are being planned to honour our common heritage of providing a human and Christian education to the young, and the poor, and to promote the vocation of the educational ministry.

Pope Francis once said, "We are pilgrims from death to the fullness of life." With this understanding, the theme of the Tercentenary, One Heart, One Commitment, One Life represents the fullness of De La Salle's life and the continued vitality of the Lasallian Mission and vocation in 80 countries around the world.

"You can perform miracles in regard both yourselves and your work by an entire fidelity to grace, not letting any movement of grace go by without corresponding with it; and by touching the hearts of children entrusted to your care," (J.B. De La Salle, Meditation 180.3)

For Reflection:

Extracts from the Brother Superiors Letter, 15th May, 2018

Throughout his life, John Baptist de La Salle placed great emphasis on a strong prayer life and formed his Brothers to be men of the Spirit.  Not surprisingly, the last book he wrote was the Explanation of the Method of Interior Prayer.  On the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the birth of the Founder, St. Pope John Paul II wrote:

The secret of John Baptist de La Salle is the personal and living relationship he maintained with the Lord in daily meditation, a source from which he drew the inventive audacity that characterised him.  By listening to God, he received the enlightenment that gradually enabled him to discern the urgent needs of his time, so that he could respond to them in a suitable manner.

May we honour our holy Founder by emulating his love of prayer and meditation, often consciously placing ourselves in God’s presence so at to know his will for our mission of human and Christian education.  May our own contemplation of God’s saving presence and of Jesus’ project for the Reign of God fill us with inventive audacity and practical concern so that we can respond – today and in the future – to the educational needs of marginalised, vulnerable and neglected children and young people.

Extract from the 42nd General Chapter of the Brothers

In our lives, there are special, powerful moments when the past takes on a new meaning, the events of the present have a stronger impact and the future is faced with renewed determination.  Today God is calling each one according to his or her own vocation, to accomplish ‘together and by association’ the mission confided to St John Baptist de La Salle and to the Institute he founded…

Aware of the dignity of each person, we rejoice in the rich diversity of our respective vocations and responsibilities these imply.  What unites us is our common reference to St John Baptist de La Salle and a continuous striving to enter more fully into his spirit.  Belonging to the Lasallian Family commits us to work together to respond to the educational needs of the young.

Proclamation of a Jubilee Year:

Extract from a letter written by Bro Robert Schieler, fsc

Brother Superior

I am very pleased to inform you that the Holy See (The Vatican) has declared 2019 a Jubilee Year in honour of the 300th anniversary of the death of St John Baptist de La Salle.

A Jubilee Year offers the opportunity to express our faith through concrete actions I favour of those most in need.  I invite you to celebrate the Jubilee through practical acts of kindness and service to young people yearning for mercy and compassion…

…I encourage each of you to become a pilgrim during the Jubilee Year.  let your pilgrimage take you “beyond borders” to places that inspire you with a sense of God’s presence and to the poor and vulnerable people who are occasions to encounter Jesus Christ.

Therefore, take time to consider:

• How do we offer enriching and inclusive experiences for our Brothers, students, Old Collegians, families, colleagues?
• How do we collectively and collegially harness our efforts to celebrate the year’s significance through the identified priorities of:  Mission, formation, Spirituality, Vocations?
• How to identify the new challenges and the urgent needs of our world (human and environment) and how can 2019 be a catalyst to respond with compassion and creativity?
• Fast forward 100 years when planning is taking place for the Founder’s 400th anniversary, what legacy de we want to be acknowledged for?

Tercentenary Prayer

God, our Father,

You love us with endless mercy.

You call us to be your sons and daughters.

You invite us to take care of the Earth, our common home.

                Lord, grant us a big heart.

                A heart always willing to love.

                A compassionate heart for those who suffer.

                A heart where there is a place for Lasallians all around the world.

Lord Jesus,

You love us all and make us your brothers and sisters.

You call us to follow you.

You invite us to announce the Good News.

                Lord, grant us the courage to live our commitment.

• to go beyond our borders;
• to discover you in the lowliest;
• to see with the eyes of faith;
• and to share our mission

with all Lasallians throughout the whole world.

Holy Spirit,

You love us and offer us the gift of association.

You call us to live with joy.

You invite us to be people with a creative inner life.

                Lord, grant us your strength for a life full of meaning.

• we will live the values of the Gospel;
• our inner life will grow;
• and we will be credible witnesses, together with the entire

Lasallian Family, in the midst of our world.

Holy Trinity,

God of communion,

we want to be faithful to our charism,

zealous in our life of faith

and committed to the Lasallian educational mission.

                Together and by association,

                and in a spirit of thanksgiving,

                we celebrate these 300 years of life

                and renew our Lasallian commitment.

We make this prayer through the intercession of Mary, Queen and Mother

of Christian Schools, and through the intercession of St John Baptist de La Salle,

patron of all teachers.  Amen.

John Rhynehart, Director of Faith and Mission