Prayer & Formation Resources for Lasallian Groups
These sets of resources around specific themes are meant to be used for prayer and discussion by Lasallian educators, administrators, board members, students, and others interested in pursuing their Lasallian identity.
Many of these began with a Board focus and were adapted for use with school groups, teacher groups, Brother groups, and any groups of gathered Lasallians. If portions of them are used in other prayer services, it would appropriate to give proper attribution to the sources used.
TIMELINES – St. John Baptist de La Salle
Below are three online timelines that highlight significant events in the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle.
Some are more detailed than others. They may be well used with students, teachers, and others who are interested in the linear events of De La Salle’s life.
Tricentenary and the Year of Lasallian Vocations
2019 is the tricentenary anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s passing into eternal life. It has also been declared as the Year of Lasallian Vocations.
The goals of this tercentenary year are to:
- Celebrate and give thanks for our common heritage and our vitality through our association for the transformative human and Christian education of the young, especially the poor.
- Renew our commitment to respond to the reality and needs of today through promoting our mission, charism, and founding story.
- Share our hope for the future within the unity and diversity of Lasallian vocations by witnessing the movement of the Spirit in our lives and ministry.
The resources on this page are to assist in providing a variety of ways to educate, collaborate, and celebrate within the Lasallian world and elsewhere.
If there are resources you wish to contribute, please contact Br. Chris Patiño, FSC (brochrisfsc@dlsi.org).
Br. James Miller, FSC
The Vatican announced on Thursday, November 8, 2018, that Pope Francis approved a decree recognizing that Brother James Miller died as a martyr Feb. 13, 1982, in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. The process for declaring him a martyr began in 2009 and received this important ‘green light’ from the theological commission, which means we will soon be able to celebrate his beatification. Br. James will be the first De La Salle Christian Brothers from the United States to be beatified. The cause of beatification was undertaken by the Diocese of Huehuetenango, Guatemala and received the Decree of Validity in Rome in 2010 when Brother James was designated a Servant of God and a martyr for the faith. As a martyr, Br. James must have one miracle posthumously attributed to him to reach the next level toward official sainthood, which is canonization.
In the afternoon of February 13, 1982, at the age of 37, in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, Brother James (Santiago) Miller was shot several times by three men and he died instantly. Attempts to identify the assassins were unsuccessful. After funeral rites in Guatemala and in Saint Paul, Minnesota, he was buried in the parish cemetery in Polonia, Wisconsin.
Books by Br. Louis DeThomasis, FSC
Br. Louis DeThomasis, FSC, is a De La Salle Christian Brother. Below are some of the books that he has authored on issues of concern to the Catholic Church and on ethical considerations in the world of business. From 2008 to 2017, Brother Louis served as president and chairman of CBIS. Founded in 1981, the Catholic investment service provides socially responsible investment management exclusively to Catholic institutions worldwide. Today, CBIS manages $7 billion in assets for dioceses, colleges, and universities; religious institutes; and health care systems, and has offices in the United States and Europe.
Widely recognized for his distinguished academic leadership in service to Lasallian education, Brother Louis served for 21 years as president of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, and continues today as the university’s president emeritus, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and distinguished senior fellow with the Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership.
Brother Louis earned a bachelor of science degree in international relations from Georgetown University, conducted graduate study in theology at Providence College in Providence, R.I., and earned a doctorate in economics and financial management from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati. He also completed postdoctoral studies as a Bush Fellow at the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.
Recent Institute Documents
Below are four recent documents from the Casa Generalizia in Rome.
Each addresses a different aspect of our contemporary Lasallian world, and all of them are the result of many years of collaborative discussions and work.
They are provided here for ease of access.
You can also got directly to the PUBLICATIONS page of the international Lasallian website.
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.
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.
Prayer Services for General Use
Below are some prayers services that may be used with any group – students, parents, teachers, boards, etc. They are particularly focused on dealing with the challenges of the recent pandemic but could be used in any context.
They are provided in PDF and in Powerpoint formats. For those leading the prayer, all you will need to do is to have readers for the various sections – or allow others to read an individual page in silence if there is a musical selection on the same slide.
Of course, you are welcome to edit the Powerpoint as you wish.
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NOTE: Please see the notes below the prayer services about window and sound sharing.
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.)
2021 – Lasallian Speakers Symposium – ANZPPG
Three online professional learning symposia for Lasallian Educators.
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The ANZZPG Lasallian Formation for Mission Team has created a program of three online symposia focussing on the 2021 Institute Theme: “You Are Part of the Miracle: Our Vision, Our Passion, Our Future.”
The format is a 30-45 minute presentation followed by a short period of facilitated discussion. There is one presenter each from Singapore, the Philippines, and the United States.
Details of the recordings are below.
Prayer Reflections for Lasallians & Books from Br. Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC
The Lasallian community of Brothers and Partners in the United Kingdom have produced numerous resources over the years that have assisted in the Lasallian formation of groups and individuals. Below are four PDF booklets that are a resource for reflection and prayer for Lasallians discerning the way forward in today’s world.
One of those who produced a large number of resources was Br. Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC. His books continue to be published by Matthew James Publishing, and links to these may be found below. Further resources compiles or created by him may also be downloaded as PDF files below.
The Leavening Project – From the General Council of the 46th General Chapter
Here is the “Leavening Project” document that has been created and provided by the General Council. It was released in January of 2023.
This document and worldwide project is provided as a way to “deepen our commitment to what the 46th General Chapter indicates to us with great clairty, strength, and prophecy.” It is provided as a means to “continue to grow in the many experiences of fraternities, communities, and other vibrant intentional experiences that have known how to interpret the newness of the Gospel to read in faith the signs of the time in the Church of the 21st century, living together the call of Jesus Christ.” (General Council)
(LINK to the Institute’s webpage with further information)
INTRO VIDEO
– This short video provides an introduction to the Leavening Project and some of its implications.
Lasallian Stories on the Road
This is the 2022 pastoral letter from Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It follows a long-held tradition whereby the Superior General provides pastoral reflections for the body of the Institute and all of its members. This letter consists of stories from real encounters between Br. Armin and those people whom he has met along the way so far.
Circular 478 – Documents of the 46th General Chapter
This PDF provides the results from the 46th General Chapter of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Held in Rome in May 2022 at the Casa Generalizia, the results were the end of a different process that is explained in the letter that precedes the body of the document.
One Year in Mission Together
This small booklet, created by the Solidarity Office, highlights 52 Lasallian mission projects throughout the world. Each of the 52 double-page spreads has a photo, a description, and a prayer.