Lasallians from the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) were among the 400 young Lasallians who attended World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.
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Contacts from RELAN connect with Brother Superior General Robert Schieler, FSC, during World Youth Day. Courtesy Brother Edward Shields, FSC
The young people, representing 20 countries, came together for the Lasallian gathering on July 27 with Brother Superior Robert Schieler, FSC, to share, pray and dream about the future of the Lasallian mission. Brother Robert spoke to them about what mercy, the central theme of WYD, means in the Church from a Lasallian perspective.
Read Brother Robert’s address >
Each District in RELAN was represented at WYD. Attendees included Brothers and contacts, Lasallians from Quebec, a group from Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga, more than 100 people associated with the La Salle Vietnam House in San Jose, California, and individual Lasallians from schools including Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee, Justin-Siena High School in Napa, California, and La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island.
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Brothers Edward Shields and Peter Killeen, from the District of Eastern North America (DENA), accompanied a group of contacts to WYD who represented DENA, the Midwest District and the District of San Francisco New Orleans (SFNO). SFNO contact Oscar Castro, a 2014 graduate of San Miguel High School in Tucson, Arizona, and a current student at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, was moved by connecting with Lasallians from around the world.
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Young people from the Francophone Canada District were among the WYD participants from RELAN. Courtesy Francophone Canada District
“No matter where you are or how long we’ve known them, being in the presence of De La Salle Christian Brothers always feels like home,” Castro wrote. “To be able to be among Lasallians like myself from around the world was just that and more, as the room was full of high spirits and joyful hearts.”
Ron Jovi Ramirez, a contact from DENA, called it very humbling and eye opening to see so many Lasallians gathered in one place.
“It was nice to meet others that shared the same mission that Saint John Baptist de La Salle started so many years ago, and how it has changed and grown to a more beautiful mission,” Ramirez wrote. “I know we will all still continue this mission in all corners of the world with all the different connections we’ve made.”
The group from the Francophone Canada District included 11 young people and two adults. They began their journey with a pilgrimage through Paris and Reims to walk in the footsteps of Saint John Baptist de La Salle before traveling to Poland.
“Throughout the trip, we were invited to live God’s mercy, theme of the event,” said Johanie Chabot, a counselor at Villa des Jeunes in St-Augustin-de-Desmaures,
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Brother Superior General Robert Schieler, FSC, center, help to promote vocations at the Institute booth. Courtesy Young Lasallians
Quebec. “Thanks to those who have prayed for us and encouraged us in this life-time experience!”
Lasallians also had a presence at WYD by sharing information on the Brothers vocation and Young Lasallians at their vocations stand. Visitors stopped by to learn more about the Lasallian mission and what it means to be a Brother.
The next World Youth Day will take place in 2019 in Panama.
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