The fifth cohort of the Brother John Johnston Institute of Contemporary Lasallian Practice (JJI) met by District in March to consider the topic of evangelization and the spiritual needs of young people.
The District of San Francisco New Orleans (SFNO) gathered March 13-15, at Mont La Salle in Napa, California, with Charlie Legendre, AFSC, the District’s director of evangelization and catechesis, serving as their facilitator. The District of Eastern North America (DENA) followed, meeting March 20-22, at Bon Secours Retreat Center in Marriottsville, Maryland. Dr. Kevin Ahern, professor of religious studies at Manhattan University, facilitated DENA’s session. Finally, the Midwest District held their session March 27-29, at the Alverna Center at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota. Venus Wozniak, associate director of mission and ministry at Lewis University, served as the Midwest’s facilitator.
The goals of the spring session were to 1) lay the foundation for the concept and practice of evangelization and catechesis within the Lasallian family and Catholic Church, 2) provide examples of how all Lasallians are called to evangelize within our diverse roles and ministries, 3) reflect on where the Lasallian family and church are being called as evangelizers and catechists, and 4) allow participants time to explore their own faith journeys.
Ford Dieth, head of Upper School at Christian Brothers School in New Orleans, Louisiana, said that the spring session was “deeply spiritual” for him. “I am taking away a renewed sense of what evangelization looks like in our schools,” Dieth said. “I have been inspired and energized by the truly amazing faculty, staff and administrators who have dedicated their lives to Lasallian institutions and the children therein, to whom the mission calls out to.”
Afolarin (Fola) Ogunyinka, quality assurance and training director at Catholic Community Services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said the JJI session allowed him to grasp the Lasallian core principles. He said that one of his main takeaways was to “focus on conversing and not convincing. Conversations help develop relationships. Discipleship is more effective in the context of relationships.”
Ogunyinka commented that the Gospel story of the woman at the well (John 4:4-42) helped him to arrive at his second takeaway: “Always look for common ground with (young people). Both the woman of Samaria and Jesus could relate with the concept of thirst. Common ground (is) to be leveraged for connections.”
“Finding common ground is one of the best ways to build relationships,” remarked JJI participant Kelly Foley, director of campus ministry at West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia.
“Throughout his ministry, Jesus brought his message to all people, no matter who they were or where they were from. At West Catholic Preparatory High School, we have students who come to us from many different religious traditions. This time of year is often the most obvious outward display of our diversity. For example, a teacher might have one student in class wearing her hijab because it is Ramadan sitting next to a student who just received ashes on his forehead because it is Ash Wednesday,” Foley said.
“This winter we had 23 students join our Kairos retreat, but only a handful were Catholic. The students discuss common concerns and open up their hearts to one another. They live together, eat together, play together, and pray together. It is in these spaces that Christ’s command to ‘Love one another’ is best displayed,” she continued.
Many participants told Christian Brothers Conference how meaningful the Johnston experience overall has been for them.
“The most striking part of the experience is the connection and bond you form with other Lasallians from across our District and Region. Not long ago, we came together in July for the initial JJI session, and in less than a year, the Midwest group is profoundly close,” said John Goode, vice president of Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee.
The fifth cohort will gather for a second time as Region at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois, from July 14-18.
Johnston is a two-year Regional formation program focused on deepening participants’ understanding of Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s story and vision, Lasallian pedagogy, the Lasallian promotion of justice and Lasallian spirituality while using contemporary texts to inform and influence current and future Lasallian practice.