FRATELLI DELLE SCUOLE CRISTIANE

Rome, March 4, 2005

Brother Stanislaus Campbell
District of San Francisco
Provincial Office
De La Salle Institute
P.O. Box 3720
Napa, CA 94558-0372 

Dear Brother Visitor and dear Lasallians,

After our return to Rome, midway through the Lenten journey, we take the time to thank you for the warm welcome we experienced in all the communities and educational projects of the San Francisco District that we visited.

In particular, we thank you for the systematic planning that went into the preparation for our first pastoral visit to your District. Such planning allowed us not only to visit the wide range of apostolic works of the District, but also to explore with so many Lasallians, Brothers, lay colleagues, students, parents and trustees, the ways in which the major topics of the general Chapter of 2000 are being implemented in Washington State, Portland, California and Arizona.

If the planning was impeccable, its implementation was even more effective. Indeed, in a relatively short time and with a minimum of effort, we were able to measure the extent and the depth of the re-foundational efforts that are operative in your district.

In the first place, re-foundation forces are visible in the energy and vitality of the mission. These forces are visible not only in the creation of significant new works in direct service to the poor, such as the school in Tucson, AZ and in North Catholic in Portland, but also in De Marillac in San Francisco as well as in the high school in Yakima, WA.

In addition, this energy of re-foundation is evident not only in the new innovative responses, but in all the existing schools, in which we were able to detect convincing signs of pedagogical innovations and creativity, in terms of accessibility to the poor, curriculum renewal, service learning. We were particularly impressed with the connections established between the old foundations and the new ones where students and faculty members of the older ones find many opportunities to contribute their gifts and talents in the newer ones.

Re-foundation forces in the life of our educational communities. There is a hunger for a more authentic professional life that finds its roots in the gospel spirituality developed in our Institute, in the footsteps of St John Baptist de La Salle. You have deployed systematic and extensive efforts to provide formative experiences in District programs as well as through the participation in national formation programs such as Buttimer, LLI and Social Justice Institute, not to mention in international immersion programs. These efforts sustained throughout many years have definitely had an impact on administrators, faculty, and staff members as well as among Brothers and students. In that sense, it is moving to hear so many lay colleagues talk about "our Founder," "our Lasallian spirituality" and "our district." The sense of a corporate identity has undoubtedly grown and its fruits are evident in our professional work as educators and as proclaimers of the Gospel.

Re-foundation forces at work in the life of our students. The decision made by the district in your last Mission assembly endorsing "service learning "as one of the main Lasallian characteristics of our educational projects, in formal and non formal educational programs, is beginning to have its own energy in the four states in which you are present.

In addition to that, your commitment to diversity and to develop ways that make all your works more accessible to the poor, is outstanding.

Re-foundation forces in terms of evangelization. This emphasis on "service learning" at the University level, as well as in your schools, and which is developed not only in campus ministry and in your religious education programs, but also in some key areas of the curriculum, seems to motivate the life of our adolescents and young students whenever we had the opportunity to talk to them. The potential for evangelising their lives as future professionals, aware of their own call to sanctity through the transformation of society, creating just structures and in just service to the poor, is enormous.

Re-foundation, as well in the structures that have been implemented, not only in terms of formation, but in allowing all of us to assume together, responsibilities for the Mission and ministries entrusted to all of us. The Mission Council, in particular, seems to help us move in that direction. Obviously, we are all challenged by the need to understand the nature of the connection of these new structures with previously existing District councils and commissions.

Needless to say, we thank God every day for all of you. For your lives and for your work, for the students that God has entrusted to you and for the gifts that continue to develop in your personal and professional life.

Finally, one word to the Brothers regarding their community life in the midst of the emerging vast association of lay men and women, of educational institutions that make up the network of your district. The re-foundation forces operative in the district need to find in each one of you, and in your fraternal communities, a fertile place in which the grace of our vocation as brothers will grow. The future of the large Lasallian association will depend on the authenticity of our primary association as Brothers. We are called to a deeper conversion. We need to take a closer look at our personal and corporate life styles in order to become more authentic poor disciples of Jesus Christ, living in community for mission. We need to find our new role as Brothers in the church and the role of our fraternal communities among the laity, renewing our trust in the same Divine Providence that gave origin to our Institute in the XVII century. And as we move into the new millennium, we need to open up and embrace the passion of God for our students. We also need to increase as well, our efforts to invite young men and women to join us in association. And among them, obviously, we hold the hope that some young men will discover their call to join us as Brothers.

During the rest of this journey of Lent, as we approach the Holy Triduum of Holy Week in which we will celebrate the mystery of "death and rising" of our Lord Jesus Christ , we renew our ties of spiritual union with you, in our common experiences of "dying and rising" to new life in our Institute.

We celebrate this Easter the re-foundational forces in your District with the hope that each one of you, Brothers, Lasallians and students, will experience the transforming power of grace, as we all discover the implications of association in the charism and spirituality of De La Salle in the years to come.

Sincerely in De La Salle,

Brother Álvaro Rodríguez E.                       Brother Miguel Campos

Superior General                                       General Councillor

Meeting with LaSalle Brothers&Sisters from San Jose
Mont La Salle January 30, 2005

Tuesday, January 18

12:59pm&06:50pm        Brothers Thomas and Stanislaus meet Brother Superior and Miguel at SFO
                                    and bring them to Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, and Stanislaus overnight at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Wednesday, January 19

06:45am          Mass and breakfast with Sacred Heart Cathedral Brothers’ Community

08:00am          Brother Stanislaus and Brother David Brennan accompany Brothers Superior and Miguel to De Marillac Middle School.

08:15am          Visit to De Marillac Middle School

Theme: An introduction to De Marillac and the San Miguel school model. Tour led by students in Spanish; overview of school and model by Catherine Karrels, principal; meeting with students and faculty in Spanish.

09:30am         Travel to Lasallian Education Fund (LEF) offices

09:45am         Visit to Lasallian Education Fund (LEF)

10:30am         Sacred Heart Cathedral Brothers’ Community

11:00pm         Lunch with administration and representatives of SHCP in faculty dining room

12:00pm         Meeting with administration and representative faculty and students of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Theme: Intentional efforts to create and maintain a diverse student body: economic, ethnic, racial, etc.

05:45 pm         Prayer and dinner with Sacred Heart Cathedral Community
                       and administration of both De Marillac Middle School and Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, and Stanislaus overnight at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Community

Thursday, January 20

06:00am          Brother Stanislaus accompanies Brothers Superior and Miguel to Los Angeles (OAK to BUR)

08:05am          Southwest 1742 (Oakland to Burbank)

09:10am          Arrival in Burbank
                       3˝ hours travel time from Sacred Heart Cathedral to La Salle and then on to Cathedral High School, Los Angeles

10:00am           Visit to La Salle High School, Pasadena

Theme: Academic awards assembly

11:00am          Travel to Cathedral High School

12:00pm          Tour of Cathedral High School and meeting and lunch with students and faculty Cathedral High School, Los Angeles

Theme: Introduction to CHS by Br. John Montgomery and Martin Farfan. Student Discussion: What Cathedral, as a Lasallian school, means to you?

04:00pm          Meeting with Cathedral Community

Topic: Concluding words at the Intercapitular Meeting on May 22, 2004.

05:00pm          Mass with Cathedral Community

05:45pm          Social and dinner with Brothers of Cathedral Community.

07:00pm          Meeting with Parents Association

10-15 minutes – Theme: Update on Brothers, Brothers Alvaro and Miguel (English preferred)

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, and Stanislaus overnight at Cathedral Brothers’ Community

Friday, January 21

06:30am          Brother Stanislaus accompanies Brothers Superior and Miguel to Tucson, AZ (LAX to TUC)

08:20am          Southwest 1616 (Los Angeles to Tucson)

10:35am          Arrival in Tucson (3 hours travel time – 1 hour time change)

12:45pm          Departure from hotel to San Miguel High School

01:00pm          Reception, tour of the school, meeting with Brothers and Partners

Theme: An introduction to San Miguel and the Cristo Rey model.

06:15pm          Travel to Brothers’ house

06:30pm          Prayer and dinner with Brothers’ community

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, and Stanislaus overnight at La Quinta Hotel

Saturday, January 22

03:30pm          Departure for San Xavier Mission; tour of San Xavier

05:00pm          Sunday Vigil Mass followed by dinner at local restaurant

Overnight at La Quinta Hotel

Sunday, January 23

06:00am          Departure for airport

07:15am(MST)  Southwest 1763 to Las Vegas

07:25am(PST)   Arrive Las Vegas

09:05am          Southwest 131 to Portland

11:30am          Arrive Portland - automobile to Yakima, Washington (3 hours travel time)

03:00pm          Arrival in Yakima

06:30pm          Dinner with La Salle High School Community and administrators (with spouses) of La Salle High School

Overnight at Oxford Suites

Monday, January 24

08:30am – 12:00 noon     Continental breakfast
                                       Meetings with La Salle representatives
                                       Tour of La Salle High School
                                        Lunch

Theme: Introduction to La Salle High School

12:00pm          Automobile to Portland (3 hours travel time)

03:00pm         Check in at Doubletree Hotel, Portland

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, and Stanislaus and Gery Short overnight at Doubletree Hotel, Portland

Tuesday, January 25

07:30am          To La Salle High School, Milwaukie (1/2 hour travel time)

08:00am          Continental breakfast with faculty and staff and tour of school at La Salle High School

09:00am            Mission Council meeting with Brothers Superior and Miguel at La Salle High School followed by lunch

Theme: Issues and challenges facing the District;
Mission Council agenda as appropriate

11:15pm           Lunch meeting with representative faculty and students.

Theme: How LSM has carried on the educational mission without a resident Brothers’ community?

12:30pm          To De La Salle North Catholic High School; Mission Council members also travel to De La Salle North Catholic

01:00pm          Tour of De La Salle North Catholic High School; informal meetings with teachers and students.

Theme: Introduction to DLSNC and the Cristo Rey Network.

05:30pm          Depart hotel for DLSNC Community

06:00pm          Evening Prayer with De La Salle North Catholic Community

06:30pm          Dinner with Brothers, Lasallian Volunteers, administration of De La Salle North Catholic at Brothers’ residence

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, and Stanislaus and Gery Short overnight at Doubletree Hotel, Portland

Wednesday, January 26

07:00am          To Portland Airport. Gery Short provides transport to Portland airport

09:20am          Southwest 1634 (Portland to Sacramento)

10:40am          Arrival at Sacramento airport
                       Travel to Christian Brothers High School Community

01:00pm          Lunch
                       Tour of Christian Brothers High School
                       Meetings with Christian Brothers administration and representatives

Theme: SAGES program and adult formation activities.

03:30pm          Meeting of Bishop Wiegard, Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, Stanislaus (Brothers’ residence)

05:00pm          Evening Prayer

05:30pm          Dinner with Brothers and Christian Brothers High School Administration at Brothers’ Community

Brothers Álvaro and Miguel overnight at Christian Brothers Community

Thursday, January 27

06:45am          Mass and breakfast at Christian Brothers Community

10:00am          Automobile to De La Salle High School, Concord

12:30pm          Lunch at De La Salle High School
                       Meetings with De La Salle High School students and faculty representatives

Theme: Faith formation activities for students.

01:30pm          To Saint Mary’s College.

05:30pm          Social and dinner with Saint Mary’s College Board of Trustees and Regents (Soda Center)

Brothers Superior, Miguel, Stanislaus, and Thomas overnight at Saint Mary’s College

Friday, January 28

7:15am             Mass with SMC Brothers Community (Brothers’ Chapel)
                       Breakfast with SMC Community

09:00am          Tour of Saint Mary’s College Campus

10:00am          Meet with student leaders of Saint Mary’s College

11:30pm          Meet with CILSA and Campus Ministry

12:15pm          Lunch with SMC representatives

05:15pm          Meeting and dinner with Saint Mary’s College Brothers’ communities and De La Salle High School Brothers’ Community

Brothers Superior, Miguel, Stanislaus, and Thomas overnight at Saint Mary’s College

Saturday, January 29

08:00am         To Mont La Salle

10:00am          District Council meeting (Conference Center Meeting Room)

12:00pm          Lunch with District Council (Conference Center Dining Room)

06:00pm          Social and dinner with Provincialate Community

Overnight at Mont La Salle

07:30am           Breakfast with Provincialate Community

11:00am          Mass with all communities (Main Chapel)

12:00pm          Luncheon with all MLS communities, St. Benilde Community
                       La Salle Vietnam House, and Lasallian Sisters (Conference Center Dining Rm.)

04:45pm          Meeting with Holy Family and Provincialate Communities

Topic: Letter to senior Brothers, July 6, 2003

05:30pm          Social and Dinner with HFC and Provincialate Communities (HFC Living Rm. and Dining Rm.)

Overnight at MLS

07:15am          Mass with Provincialate and Novitiate Communities (Provincialate Chapel)

7:40am             Breakfast with Provincialate Community (Provincialate Community Dining Rm.)

10:00am          Meeting with District Leadership Team (Education Conference Room)

12:00pm          Lunch with Leadership Team (Citrus Dining Rm.)

04:30pm          Meeting with Novitiate Community (Novitiate Living Rm.)

05:30pm          Evening Prayer, Social, Dinner with Novitiate Community (Novitiate Chapel, Living Rm., Dining Rm.)

Overnight at MLS

Tuesday, February 1

7:15 – 7:40 a.m. Mass with Provincialate and Novitiate Communities (Novitiate Chapel)

7:40 a.m. Breakfast with Provincialate Community (Provincialate Community Dining Rm.)

9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Tour of De La Salle Institute offices with Brothers Stanislaus and Thomas; informal meetings with staff

9:45 a.m. Brother Stanislaus, Brother Thomas, and Steve Taylor accompany Brothers Superior and Miguel to Justin-Siena High School, Napa (15 minute travel time)

10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Meeting with Justin-Siena administration and students

11:00am          To Saint Mary’s College High School, Berkeley

01:00pm          Lunch with Saint Mary’s College High School administration and student leaders followed by tour of the school

Theme: In process

04:00pm          To Lasallian Educational Opportunities (LEO), Oakland

04:30pm          Tour of LEO, informal meetings with Brothers, Lasallian Volunteers, students

Theme: Challenges and successes for the LEO Center.

06:00pm           Dinner with Saint Mary’s College High School and St. La Salle Communities at LEO

07:00pm           To Brothers’ Community at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Brothers Álvaro, Miguel, Stanislaus, and Thomas overnight at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory

Time ?               To San Francisco airport for departure to New Orleans-Santa Fe District