Dear Lasallians,
As we embark on a new year, we are excited to welcome you to the Year of Lasallian Spirituality, a time for deep reflection, renewal and growth in our shared mission of faith, service and education. This year is an invitation for each of us to rediscover the heart of our Lasallian vocation, to strengthen our commitment to our vocation as educators, and to be ever more attuned to the call to serve others with compassion and love.
In the spirit of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, let us reflect on the profound richness of our Lasallian spiritual heritage. De La Salle’s vision of an education that transforms lives, rooted in faith and guided by love, continues to inspire us in our work with young people and in the world around us. We find this encouragement echoed in the Founder’s words from his Meditations for the Time of Retreat: “To be entrusted with the teaching of the young is a great gift and grace of God.” Indeed, Lasallian spirituality is inspired by and designed for educators!
As we journey together, let us be reminded of the importance of prayer, contemplation and connection in our everyday lives. Just as the Founder showed us, it is in moments of prayerful reflection that we gain the strength and clarity to meet the challenges of our time and to live out the Gospel in our actions. May this year serve as a time to grow in your own personal relationship with God, to seek deeper spiritual connection, and to renew your dedication to the ministry of education.
We are part of a global Lasallian family dedicated to orienting education as a transformative, spiritual force for good. Whether you are a teacher, staff person or administrator, this year is a call to unite and live out the core principles that bring us together. Together, let us walk this year in the spirit of De La Salle, guided by faith and zeal, as we strive to build a world that reflects the light and hope of the Gospel.
Having had the opportunity to sit with a variety of scholars versed in Lasallian Spirituality over the past two years, I feel humbled to make this journey with each of you, knowing that this is the beginning of a chapter. I hope that the seeds planted this year will bear fruit for decades to come, inspiring continued research and dialogue dedicated to Lasallian spirituality and the spirituality of educators. For more information and resources, please visit the Lasallian Region of North America’s Lasallian Spirituality webpage. May this Year of Lasallian Spirituality be a time of abundant grace, spiritual renewal, and a deepening sense of belonging to our Lasallian family.
Welcome to this exciting year, and may God bless you as you continue on this journey!
In Christ and in the spirit of Saint La Salle,
Brother Michael Phipps, FSC
Spirituality Project Manager
Christian Brothers Conference