LEAD Story 428

By Raphael Chua (4th year BS Industrial Engineering Student; Contact of the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines)

Having entered the Brothers Live in Program (BLIP), I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in a transformative experience that helped me reinforce my faith, service, and communion with the help of De La Salle Brothers. This is a program where we have discussions and learnings that can spark a passion for social justice. Most importantly, it is where the teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle feel ever present. 

From the moment I first arrived, the Brothers were all welcoming, and I immediately had a sense of belonging to the community. Initially, I had misconceptions about the Brothers being strict but it was quite the opposite. They cracked all sorts of jokes, shared their journey, and were genuinely supportive of whatever challenges we were facing in our lives. Living alongside the Brothers allowed me to witness firsthand their dedication to education and service.

Our day starts with a communal prayer, and during this time, I reflect on the blessings in my life and the opportunities that lie ahead. During the evenings, there were informal gatherings in the common area just so everyone could catch up on their day. We share our triumphs and frustrations throughout the day. The sessions that we have helped me learn more about the brothers' vocation. What struck me the most in one of our sessions was Brother Kino telling us that vocation is not just a calling but also responding to the call. It talks about recognizing our purpose and taking the necessary actions to fulfill it. 

To any young man considering joining BLIP, I advise you to join the program to have an opportunity to discover your potential and have the opportunity to awaken for a higher purpose. You will live and breathe the Lasallian traditions and carry them forward to the world. 

The bonds that I have formed throughout my journey will last a lifetime. It made me into a more thoughtful individual ready to face the challenges of the world, exemplifying our core values of faith, service, and communion. 

#YesBro #FSCvocations

By Jose Miguel Villegas (2nd Year BS Legal Management Student; Aspirant of the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines)

Questions answered, curiosities quenched, and new paths illuminated — these were the shared experiences of the young men who participated in the Becoming Brothers Manila event.

The National Lasallian Vocations Team of De La Salle Philippines, in partnership with the Lasallian Vocations Team of De La Salle University, hosted the Becoming Brothers last 28 September at the Jose Pardo AFSC Hall. Around 17 De La Salle Brothers and three postulants shared their vocation stories with curious students and young professionals. Unique in its own way, the journey of the invited De La Salle Brothers from schools in Luzon has inspired those present to reflect and seek their own mission — their vocation. Many questions were raised, but the frequent concern of participants was whether becoming a De La Salle Brother would force them to leave their profession. In one of the tables, Br. John David Ong FSC, Director of the Lasallian Formation Center, shared that one can still practice his profession as a De La Salle Brother. He continues to explain that one’s current work is a vocation that can be adopted and practiced in ways aligned with the ministries of a Lasalle Brother.

As the event concludes, the community of De La Salle Brothers in Manila and the entire Philippines remains hopeful. They hope that the theme of the event, 'Seeking One's Vocation,' will continue to resonate with the audience, inspiring them to consider the invitation to serve a life similar to that of the founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle.

#YesBro #FSCvocations

 

The 9th Malaysian Lasallian Educators Conference (MaLEC 9) took place from 17th September til 20th September 2024 at Bayview Hotel in Georgetown, Penang. 

It brought together 90 educators, administrators, Board of Governors, Alumni and a few guests from other schools. 

The primary objective of the conference was to provide a space for school administrators and educators to engage with each other while charting a pathway forward as Lasallian schools. 

  1. Develop an appreciation for Lasallian education and its communities
  2. Gain deeper understanding of what it means to be a Lasallian school in this time and age
  3. Evaluate the significance of a Lasallian culture in our schools
  4. Create systems and processes that reflect/exude values of inclusivity and respect for all persons
  5. Explore ways to work together as an educational community and establish a national network of administrators

The two-and-a-half-day program took participants on a journey from envisioning where their schools could be in 6 years, to reflecting on where there are now using the Lasallian Identity Criteria tool and on to what are possible pathways in which they could undertake or create to live and reflect the 5 Lasallian Core Principles. 

This year’s conference gave participants opportunities to share, reflect and plan a course of action in their regional clusters. 

We were honoured to be graced by the presence of Br Jj, Visitor, who shared an inspiring message at the welcome dinner. 

Towards the end of the program, participants were given a tour of the St. Xavier’s Institution heritage room and a bakery for students who are more inclined to vocational studies. 

MaLEC 9 was officially closed by Br Andrew Loke who shared what the journey was like for the organising committee. This took place at the closing dinner which showcased the talent of both primary and secondary students from St. Xavier’s. 

Some participants were asked to share their experience of MALEC 9 and this was their response:

Inspiring! It has made me feel part of a bigger family. Looking forward to collaborations – Ms Emily Dorall, La Salle Petaling Jaya 

MaLEC 9 encouraged and inspired Lasallians to explore new resources and new pathways As Lasallians we need to move as a family. We need to continue building new pathways to help transform lives. – Tay Peng Hoon, Principal , St. Andrew’s Muar 

Photos from the Facebook page of De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia

From 18-24 September 2024, Br. JJ Jimenez FSC had the second phase of his canonical visit to the Sector of Thailand, this time visiting the Communities in Chanthaburi and Nakhonsawan. Apart from visiting the Brothers, he also took time to meet with the partners and young people in our schools.

During his visit to La Salle School Chanthaburi, Br. JJ joined the opening ceremony of the school Youth Office and the Chanthaburi Rak Nu Camp project. While in La Salle School Nakhonsawan, he met with administrators and teachers--including Filipino teachers part of the school's faculty--as well as members of the La Salle Youth Group.

On 15-23 September 2024, the Philippine Lasallian Family welcomed twenty one (21) teachers, administrators, and formators from De La Salle Secondary School Bomana from Papua New Guinea.

The delegates were able to visit four schools in Luzon, wherein they engaged in benchmarking and discussion regarding the following topics: Information Technology and Blended Learning, Formation, Guidance Programs, Social Action and Service Learning, and Alternative education. During this period, they also had the opportunity to observe classes in the different schools. 

It is all not business, however, our fellow Lasallians from Bomana visited important historical sites within Manila, and went on a gastronomical and cultural experience. 

It is our sincere hope that the 11-day trip was meaningful, and full of inspiration on how we can better respond to the mission entrusted to us.

Brothers Mico and Butch launched the “LEAD for Peace”* campaign at St. Joseph’s Institution International School (SJIIS) this week to mark the International Lasallian Days of Peace from 21 September to 21 October 2024.

They spoke during the Elementary School (ES) and High School (HS) assemblies about the importance of promoting peace and supporting efforts for a more just world. During tutor time, HS students made origami peace cranes. 

Next week, Year 11-13 students will go for a Service-Learning Day on 03 October 2024, actively engage in service-learning activities, and collaborate with a partner community serving a vulnerable sector of society. 

Let us all be peacemakers in our daily lives, through kindness, justice, and compassion. As St. John Baptist de La Salle said, “Be driven by the spirit of love and concern for others.”

From the De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia Facebook page.

Last 20 September 2024, the La Salle Youth Group of La Salle School Bangkok organized an activity with the theme Participation, Development, and Peace.

National Youth Day is celebrated in Thailand every 20 September. Coincidentally, the United Nations has designated 21 September of every year as the International Day of Peace to raise awareness among people around the world about the cessation of violence against humans, animals, and the environment.

From the Facebook page of La Salle School Bangkok

On 20 September 2024, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Br. Francisco Terayut Chadang FSC--Director of La Salle School Nakhonsawan--read the message of the United Nations Secretary-General and led a moment silence and prayer, with the theme "Cultivating a Culture of Peace."

The United Nations has designated 21 September of every year as the International Day of Peace to raise awareness among people around the world about the cessation of violence against humans, animals, and the environment. For humans, this includes the use of physical and mental violence, as the world has seen countless wars and violence throughout history, leading to loss. Even today, violence continues to occur around the world, from family problems to international problems. Using peaceful means to solve problems together starts with creating a culture of peace in the minds of individuals, families, communities, societies, nations, and the world.

From the Facebook page of La Salle School Nakhonsawan

By Br. Luke Thatsaworn Nonthiboot FSC

Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore from 11-13 September 2024 was a time of great joy and thanksgiving for the Roman Catholics of sunny Singapore. It has been 38 years since Pope St. John Paul II visited Singapore on 20 November 1986. It fulfilled the theme of his visit and brought the “Unity and hope” for the local Catholic faith and mission.

11 September 2024, he arrived in Singapore from Dili, Timor-Leste with Vatican staff and officials to be greeted by a thousand Catholics at the airport. He held a private meeting with the members of the Society of Jesus at the St. Francis Xavier Retreat Centre in the evening of the same day.

Pope Francis visits Singapore

On the following morning, he received an official welcome  by the President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong before a guard of honour parade at Parliament House. At about 10:30 am, he headed for the  National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Cultural Centre theater for a meeting with "authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps." Mr. Tharman and Pope Francis both delivered speeches at the state address at NUS. Pope Francis praised the city-state's inclusive and harmonious policies amid a highly diverse multicultural and multireligious society. At the same time, he cautioned that meritocracy may lead some to be marginalised for which the state could be mindful of.

Pope Francis visits Singapore

In the afternoon at about 4:30 pm, he arrived at the National Stadium to celebrate Holy Mass with 50,000 Catholics and more viewing the livestream of the Mass. He made a tour around the stadium pitch to greet people before Mass started, with many children brought to him for his blessing. His homily praised the gleaming architecture of the state and he reminded the congregation of the importance of love behind the impressive buildings he saw in Singapore. He alluded to the migrant workers that have built the city and that care must be taken for their welfare.

His final day 13 September 2024, morning, he celebrated a private Mass with the priests and religious followed by a visit to a group of elderly people at St. Theresa’s Home.

For the last event of his visit, he held an inter-religious dialogue with youths at Catholic Junior College before leaving Singapore. He appeared particularly re-energised when he interacted with the youth with their questions and   praised the inter-religious dialogue with youths of different religions, the close collaboration of the different religious leaders in Singapore including the positive policy of the government in this aspect as a model for others to emulate.
 

By Silay LSVP Community, Kalinga

One life. 4 young individuals responded to the call of a long-term (8-10 months) volunteer engagement in Silay Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) community in the mountains of Kalinga, Philippines. They are the 25th batch of Lasallian volunteers who will commit their lives to a mutually-transformative experience. Before their deployment, the volunteers underwent a 2-week orientation-seminar which aimed to purify their intentions, build a sense of community, understand their part as Lasallian volunteers, and equip them with basic life support skills.

Lasallian Volunteer Program Batch 25

Live it. To culminate the orientation seminar, a commissioning ceremony was held together with the Brothers of the Lasallian Formation Center (LFC), Members of the Lasallian Partners Council, Lasallian Mission Services, and volunteers of LSVP Batch 24. By the end of the ceremony, the volunteers, in good faith, read their memoirs, “God who guides all things with wisdom and serenity, whose way it is not to force the inclination of persons, willed to commit me entirely to (their personal commitment), God did this in an imperceptible way and over a long period of time so that one commitment led to another in a way that I did not foresee in the beginning. One Life. Live it. Volunteer! "

Volunteer! These young individuals, though coming from different backgrounds, chose to spend their time for the service of others. Truly, their hearts are in the peripheries.

Looking forward: The Lasallian Volunteer Program (LSVP) will be sharing volunteer stories every end of the month. May you find inspiration in these seemingly ordinary stories but done with extraordinary love.