By Miguel Castrillo (Grade 12-SJII) and Jarred Ampania (Grade 12-SJI)
On 9 May 2026, the Singapore Mission Assembly took place at St. Patrick’s School, bringing together different stakeholders in the Lasallian family – namely De La Salle Brothers, board members, school leaders, staff, students, alumni, and parents. The Mission Assembly allowed for like-minded people to come together and engage in reflection and spiritual conversation, ensuring no voice is left unheard and no stakeholder unrepresented, contributing to the strengthening of the Lasallian mission in Singapore and the wider Lasallian community.
As student representatives for our respective schools, we were incredibly proud and excited to represent the St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI) and St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJII) students’ perspective at the Singapore Mission Assembly. Going into the day, we weren't entirely sure what to expect. However, what struck us most was how the different members of our community—spanning varied levels of prestige, contributions, and direct involvement—all embodied the core Lasallian values in their own unique way. This turned what were initially foreign faces into a circle of friends; the communion we shared instantly made us feel right at home.
Beyond that comfort, the assembly allowed us to see how communion beautifully knits faith and service together. While God loves each of us individually, it is through the communion and community He offers us that we can do great, unspeakable things together. We witnessed a powerful microcosm of Lasallianism as a whole: the many diverse parts of our district, much like different key ingredients, worked harmoniously together over our spiritual conversations.
Beyond strengthening our understanding of the Lasallian mission and its global scope, we learned a lot from the participants in our respective groups. For instance, in our spiritual conversations, a teacher from St. Stephen’s School shared the realities of her classroom, particularly reflecting on the challenge of having only two Catholic students in her class of 30. Yet, she encouraged her boys to participate in regional activities, such as visiting eco-camps in the Philippines or Thailand. Hearing her ambition to strengthen the international Lasallian experience, we were deeply inspired to adopt a similar mindset.
Hearing her speak of these goals showed us the value of something that is easily taken for granted: the importance of a supportive, global community, especially one that intentionally reaches out to encompass the peripheries. It proved to us that we are never isolated in our school environments; we are part of a massive, living family dedicated to lifting one another.
Ultimately, as student representatives for our respective schools, the lasting hope and insights we gained from this experience are: Not only are we called to build communion by being persons for others, but we as Lasallians also strive to be the spark; to be the yeast; to be the catalyst for change.
Apart from taking on the role of student representatives for young Lasallians in Singapore, we also took on the added role of student facilitators. Truth be told, being a student facilitator – especially in a group full of adults – was filled with challenges and was not at all easy. Despite that, the challenges undoubtedly shaped a unique experience for both of us.
For instance, we shared similar concerns regarding the summarising of the group discussion for the assembly. We acknowledged that this role we played was pivotal in ensuring the Lasallian mission catered to each and every stakeholder that was a part of it. Knowing that, we worried whether we would be able to sustain our attention for the three hours of discussion to capture all the points mentioned by the group members.
During the actual discussion, we struggled to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the free-flowing discussion. As such, we found it difficult to capture each point in detail. Fortunately for us, our group members were kind enough to share with us the notes they took down before and during the discussion so that consolidating all the points from each person would be easier. Having everyone’s notes definitely helped us tremendously, but on a deeper level, it also revealed the importance of collaboration.
Applying this idea of collaboration to the broader picture, we realised that our experience as student facilitators affirmed the importance of working together towards a common goal. Similarly, the Lasallian mission calls each and every Lasallian to work together in the spirit of association to achieve our common mission of serving the last, the lost, and the least.
Through our role as student facilitators, we were able to truly appreciate everyone who was present at the 2026 Singapore Mission Assembly. To think that each and every single one of us – regardless of which stakeholder group we represented – were willing to sacrifice our Saturday morning for this Mission Assembly, it really did say something about the cohesiveness of our Lasallian family. Indeed, ‘We are one, but we are many’ – many individuals who are united by the shared dream of looking out for and engaging with our brothers and sisters in the peripheries.
We are, and will always be grateful for the opportunity presented to us in this Mission Assembly. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!
