If you are new to the Lasallian world, and even perhaps to the educational world, the whole thing may seem a be daunting. But don’t despair! That’s exactly how De La Salle and the first Brothers began. You’re in good company.
If you just want to have an overview of basics, then start with the booklet “St. John Baptist de La Salle: Founder, Educator, Saint.” Here you will find all the basics about this “Lasallian” business that others seem to find important. Look through the booklet, read the sections that appeal to you, and when you’re ready, take a look at the Study Guide that was created in order to help others look at its contents a little more deeply. Also check out the “Reflections” video, where Br. Gerard Rummery talks simply and directly about St. John Baptist de La Salle and the Brothers, and why he has been so captivated by their experience over the years. The “Inspiration” video will give you an overview of how one videographer, without past experience of agendas, came to understand what the Lasallian world was all about, simply by going around Lasallian sites, filming and asking questions. There are also other resources about Prayer, and District Facts, and the SFNO Website that you might like shown in the carousel below. For a more comprehensive list of resources, go to the RESOURCE CATALOGUE and check off the “NEWCOMERS” box in the search options.
When you find yourself ready, talk with others about what you’re learning, the questions that have come up, and how all of this resonates (or doesn’t) with your initial experience of the Lasallian world. The more you enter into the process of real learning (AKA “Formation”), the greater the opportunity to understand, engage in, and enjoy the Lasallian Catholic educational experience.
2021 International Lasallian COVID Study
2021 International Lasallian COVID Survey
These are the results of the 2021 International Lasallian COVID Study that was sent to all Lasallian institutions in 79 countries.
The report provides a global overview of the pandemic’s impact and of the responses it evoked in the areas of pedagogical management, institutional management, school management, and financial management.
Groups of scholars from Lasallian universities in various parts of the world analyzed the data and provided their conclusions, insights, and recommendations.
Below are PDF copies of the report. CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO OPEN THE PDF. The survey instrument itself is HERE.
Video INTRODUCTION below (54 min.)
Advent Reflection Videos
These short Advent reflections are centered around the week’s Gospel, De La Salle’s meditations, and a contemporary application of their intent. They may be used for personal reflection, group conversation, or the like. (6.5 – 7.5 minutes long each)
Here are direct links to the individual video reflections and to a PDF with the readings:
Creating a New Lasallian Map
Building New Paths to Transform Lives
Two Brothers have written and distributed a small booklet to help facilitate conversations among the Lasallian Family worldwide. It is provided in response to the invitation from the Preparatory Commission of the 46th General Chapter to Lasallians everywhere to think about, discuss, and share their thoughts about the future direction of the Institute.
Printed copies have been made available to each District in the Institute, both for the Brothers and for interested Lasallians.
On this page are downloadable copies of that same booklet, provided in English, Español, and Français.
Please click on the booklet’s image below to download the PDF.
Introduction – Meditations for the Time of Retreat
This is a short overview of the 16 meditations that De La Salle wrote for the Brothers during their annual retreat. These meditations provide a concise synthesis of De La Salle’s spirituality – the priorities, themes, approaches, and perspectives that characterize the Lasallian educational context. They are meant to be read and considered in a retreat-like setting and are worth careful reading and ongoing reflection.
The video is one of a series of videos introducing major Lasallian resources available in print. (In process)
(7.5 Minutes)
Film Maker: Br. George Van Grieken, FSC
(The “Show the VIDEO” tab below lets you run the video from here.)
Lasallian World Maps
Here are two maps of the worldwide Lasallian educational community. The statistics are from 2020.
The blue map simply shows the locations and statistics. The tan map includes hand-drawn images of Brothers involved in a variety of scenes in their ministries.
Either map may be downloaded as a PDF file, which allows you to print it in whatever size you wish. You are free to print and share it without any additional permissions.
To download, click on the map images below for the low-resolution PDF, or on the specific format that you would like from the options next to each map.
St. John Baptist De La Salle: Journey of a Man
This one-man show by Michael Cook, now-retired professor of drama at Saint Mary’s College of California, presents the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle in an engaging, dramatic, and comprehensive fashion. No one has ever done such a depiction of this Patron Saint of Teachers, and Michael does justice to all of the story’s drama, nuances, and sets of characters involved.
The production was written by Michael, his wife Jeffra, and Dan Cauthon, along with a host of other collaborators. It is a project that came about as a project taken on while he was part of the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies.
Actor: Michael Cook
For further credits see the RESOURCE DESCRIPTION tab below.
Length: 1 hour
(The entire 3-hour production, it is available at THIS link.)
The “Show the VIDEO” tab below lets you run the video from here.
The Teacher’s Saint – The Life and Times of St. John Baptist de La Salle.
This short, accessible biography of the life and times of St. John Baptist de La Salle is written for all those who are interested enough in his life to want to know more but who don’t have the time or inclination to read longer biographies such as those by Luke Salm or Alfred Calcutt. Written in an appealing style, the main outlines of his life are presented, along with an introductory section that lays out the social, political, and religious context of his time.
Author: George Van Grieken, FSC
Publisher: Christian Brothers Conference
Paperback (110 Pages)
NOTE: There is a 20% discount through the Saint Mary’s Press website for purchases of 2 or more copies with the code:TEACHERSAINT!
The book is available on Amazon as well.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle: His Life and Spirituality
Pamphlet introducing St. John Baptist de La Salle and his educational legacy.
Study Guide – “Saint John Baptist de La Salle” Booklet
This guide accompanies the SFNO introductory booklet about De La Salle and his charism “John Baptist de La Salle: Founder, Educator, Saint.”
Lasallian Saints of Yesterday … and Tomorrow
This is an overview of all of the Lasallian Saints, Blesseds, and other who are being considered for canonization – as of 2013.
John Baptist de La Salle (Illustrated Book)
This short illustrated version of the life story of St. John Baptist de La Salle is appealing for all ages, especially young people. The drawings are well done, the story is dramatic, and major components of De La Salle’s life are well covered.
Teaching Units for Lasallian Schools
These are complete Lasallian teaching units for high school students. Each level has a one-week set of all the resources needed to teach the classes. Created in 1998, they can be easily adapted and supplemented with videos and other more contemporary material. It’s a good place to start!
See the longer description below for a breakdown of the units.
Project Coordinator: Br. George Van Grieken, FSC
Editor: Greg Kopra
Lasallian Educational Service of the Poor – Selections from Recent Institute Documents
These are selections from recent documents from the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools that are related to Lasallian educational service of the poor.
The original documents that are cited in this overview are listed below. Each listing below is also a direct link to a PDF version of the entire document.
Collected and compiled by Dr. Greg Kopra – Director, Formation for Mission (District of San Francisco New Orleans)
Lifting Students to God
This is a prayer resource for teachers that provides a format for personal prayer centered around specific students and their challenges, character, and/or specific concerns. Guiding questions, addressed in the presence of God, draw us into a deeper appreciation of their situation and focuses our prayer for that individual.
Author: Br. Michael Livaudais, FSC
100 Short Quotes by De La Salle
This is a set of 100 short quotations from St. John Baptist de La Salle, taken from various writings during his life, and arranged according to specific themes. It is a worthwhile resource for displays or for prayer or group reflection.
Author: St. John Baptist de La Salle, Patron of Teachers
Compilation: Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC
Must-Have Digital Lasallian Resources
The resources listed below are mostly available online and are indispensable in the work of creating and facilitating Lasallian mission formation programs at a Lasallian schools or institution. Unless otherwise noted, all of these resources are available through this Lasallian Resource Center website.
The resources list was compiled by Dr. Greg Kopra for the “Local Formators Gathering” of the SFNO District in April 2019.
1989 Letter to the Lasallian Family
This Letter to the Lasallian Family was a seminal publication from the General Council of the time. It speaks ab out a variety of topics that are relevant to any discussion of “Association” in contemporary times.
The PDF version provided here is also an OCR version, so that you can search for key terms of phrases.
Association – Statements from Institute Documents Since 1928
These are selections from documents from the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools concerning “association” and its developed understanding and application.
The original documents that are cited in this overview are listed below. Each listing below is also a direct link to a PDF version of the entire document, or a text that includes the entire document.
Collected and compiled by Dr. Greg Kopra – Director, Formation for Mission (District of San Francisco New Orleans)
Saint John Baptist de La Salle: Founder, Educator, Saint
A comprehensive introduction to the life of John Baptist de La Salle, his unique pedagogical approach towards students, and his enduring spirituality. A brief survey of his personal life story leads to a description of the innovative educational elements he and the early Brothers introduced, followed by a concise summary of the elements of his education-based spirituality.
This resource may be used by itself or with the study guides that are available for its use within Lasallian institutions. It makes for a very accessible overview for both new and veteran teachers and administrators.
Please look at the link icons below for the file size that is most appropriate for your device:
– SMALL FILE – 8 MB
– MEDIUM FILE – 60 MB
– LARGE FILE – 288 MB
Physical copies are available upon request from Katie Batt (kbatt@dlsi.org).
Publisher: District of San Francisco New Orleans
Circulars – Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Here is a collection of the Circular Letters of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools that are available in English in PDF format. Some have come from other websites, and some have been scanned and turned into PDF format by the Lasallian Resource Center.
This collection will expand as more circulars become available in the PDF format. When possible, the PDF version is also an OCR version, so that you can search for key terms of phrases.
Go HERE for Dr. Greg Kopra’s “Selections from Recent Institute Documents Related to Our Lasallian Educational Service of the Poor”