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5. THE RICH DIVERSITY OF OUR GROUPS

Respect for differences

Laying down general guidelines to show the way forward, as we have just done, does not imply on our part a wish to impose uniformity, nor does it mean we are trying to brush to one side the great differences that characterise those for whom this letter is meant. It is rather an attempt to put all we are doing together into a single context.

These guidelines are meant at the same time - and yet not indiscriminately - for groups and associations of young people, adults, men and women, religious of both sexes, priests and lay people, single and married Christians, as well as committed men and women of other faiths.

Other factors to take into account are great differences in language, culture and civilisation, in economic and political situations, in educational systems and in scope for action. This is, in real terms, the situation of those who belong to the Lasallian Family, or who work in Lasallian communities or establishments. To find unity in this diversity, we count on the strength of the bonds that bind us all to Dc La Salle, and lead us to work together.

A great many different groups

Having referred to the great number of different Lasallian groups, we should now like to say something special to each one of them. What we say is intended to serve to identify these groups and to offer encouragement. We realise that all these groups are called to grow to the extent they are able, and to draw closer to one another.

1. The Brothers. By vocation, by choice, by consecration, as the Rule says, they have a specific role to play: they must deepen understanding of the Lasallian message, adapt it to the present day and spread it abroad, because, nowadays more than ever, the words of the Founder ring true: '~There is a great need for this Institute". Young people, the poor and the Church need the ministry of the Brothers. We call upon the Brothers to encourage, in as many ways as possible, the vigorous ~rowth of the Lasallian Family and its sense of unity. By their very situation and by the work they do, Brothers' communities are, by the nature of things, in contact with the whole spectrum of groups belonging to the Lasallian Family. They are in a central position. They must be quite clear about their responsibility in this matter, and become places where people meet. As religious communities, seeking to be welcoming, prayerful and apostolically minded, they must open their doors tq lay people. As partners in the work of educational communities, they must contribute their availability, their creativity, their willingness to share positions of responsibility and to offer help in promoting growth on a human, professional and Lasallian plane. This is how Brothers will be able to respond to the call to conversion contained in the Message of the General Chapter and in the Rule. What is being called for here is a change of mentality and of attitude towards lay people: it is a response to the call of the Holy Spirit at the present time.

2. Educators, teachers, catechists, people in posts of responsibility, all members of educational communities. All these share directly with the Brothers the apostolate of the Institute to educate and evangelise. We are very much aware of the extent to which their work with us is competent, energetic, creative, and of their willingness to help. We are pleased to see an increasing number of them willing to occupy positions of responsibility for the sake of continuity and the good of the school. Their presence in the school and their work are a constant source of enrichment for us. The Institute, in its turn, is conscious of its responsibility towards them in the matter of training and guidance, tasks already undertaken by a number of Brothers.

We encourage all our co-workers to pursue what they are doing, with the full realisation that, in this rapidly changing world, their work teaching children and inculcating human and Christian values, is very urgent indeed. In this way, they will be able to play a full part in the Church, available to all and at the service of the Gospel.

3. Women's groups, formed of girls and young teachers who have decided to lead a consecrated life inspired by the spirit of De La Salle. For the last 20 or 30 years, communities of ~Lasallian Sisters" have been springing up. We welcome this sign of growth inspired by the Spirit. We take care to provide help and guidance for these groups, because we believe that a female form of Lasallian consecrated life is very important for the Church, for Christian education and for the Lasallian Family.

4. Groups inspired by the Founder. Among Lasallian teachers and their friends, there are those who, inspired by the Founder, wish to make a special commitment. They express this through vows or promises and a community style of life which is different from that of Brothers or Sisters.

Heading the list of these are the members of the Union of Jesus Crucified and Mary Immaculate, a secular Institute founded in Turin, and which received episcopal approval in 1949. Other new forms of Lasallian commitment are springing up in various countries, such as the Signum Fidei Association and the Lasallian Third Order.

By their various commitments, these men and women bear witness to the fundamental choice they have made to spread the Gospel, and to the diversity of vocations and states of'life in the Church and in the Lasallian Family. We follow the apostolic work they do with interest, and are glad to see their numbers increasing.

5. Young Lasallians. These are present pupils, young former students, young volunteer workers, boys and girls, who feel they are called to live their vocation as Christians according to the spirit of the Lasallian Family. With their commitment, they bring a breath of fresh air, enthusiasm and generosity inspired by the evangelical total gift of self which they recognise in the life of De La Salle, and in his work for young people, the poor and the Church. By welcoming the contribution of these young people, by showing interest and by encouraging them, we will find that they will be a source of increased crc' ativity and change, and a challenge to show greater generosity.

6. Pupils' parents. Pupils' parents have a special part to play in the school community, either because they are active supporters of the school's educational plan; or because they find that the school helps them to realise that they are "the first and principal educators of their children"; or because the school offers them the opportunity to experience, as part of a community, various forms of continuing formation, and to show solidarity with individuals or groups in need of material or spiritual help.

We are very grateful to parents for all the generous support they offer. Our invitation to them is that, through their work in school or outside, they should try to promote justice, peace and spiritual values, taking their inspiration from John Baptist de La Salle and his Institute.

And for those who are more closely involved in educational communities, especially those who run groups or organise class councils, courses for parents, fund raising or religious renewal groups, and so on, our invitation is that they should strive tirelessly to form real communities of faith.

7. Former students. We consider these as an integral part of Lasallian educational communities. Many of them already share in our work as parents of pupils, teachers, catechists, Brothers or members of associated groups. They represent for us the fruit of our work, as well as being co-workers in the task of our schools to educate and evangelise.

We invite them to become a part of the process the Institute has begun to renew its schools and to infuse new life into groups belonging to the Lasallian Family. This they can do in particular by a study of the spirit of St. John Baptist de La Salle, God's gift to the Church and society of today. We call upon them to support their school, and in their everyday lives and work, to defend Christian education and Gospel values.

8. Friends of our schools, parents and relatives of Brol hers, benefactors, affiliated members, active supporters of the Inslilute. The Lasallian Family is not confined to educational establishments: it extends also to all the above. The long time they have been connected with the Brothers; the numerous links they have forged with the Institute on a local or regional level; the innumerable ways in which they prove their attachment, all this shows the interest they take in its work in the Church and throughout the world. They will always be, and ever more so, the yeast of the Gospel among the people they come into contact with, and exemplary living witnesses to the values they profess. They must be able to obtain from the Brothers all the help they need to strengthen their Lasallian character, and to promote the spiritual renewal of their groups and associations.

There exist also other organisations which draw their members from the various Lasallian groups we have mentioned. These have our full support. Our support and encouragement go also to national and District Lasallian federations as well as to the Lasallian World Federation.

Welcome in the broadest sense

It is possible that the way we have been speaking gives the impression our words are addressed only to Christians. That is why we should like to mention once again all those working in Lasallian establishments who belong to other faiths.

To them we should like to say clearly how much we appreciate their contribution to the smooth running, vigour and success of the Lasallian establishments or associations with which they are connected.

We look upon them, of course, as members of our Lasallian Family, members with their own specific spirituality. We deeply respect their personal beliefs and convictions in a true spirit of occumenism. We recognise that their presence, their witness, their questioning are a stimulus for us and an incentive to insist more on high standards in our ministry. We warmly invite them to share, by their personal qualities and professional expertise, in our work of educating the individual and of promoting values.

All working together

We are convinced that it is possible for us all to join together and work in harmony at a task which is concerned with man as a whole, with all the personal, social and spiritual aspects of his bemg. The values that ideally go to make up a person are not the exclusive property of Christians or Lasallians, but belong to the whole of mankind. We know that a person has to develop all his potential qualities in order to achieve a loving relationship with God in all its fullness.

This is why spiritual growth is helped by education. The spiritual dimension that every child and human being carries within himself as a seed and as a power needs the teacher to awaken it and enable it to flourish. It is exactly this that we seek to do in our educational establishments, so that they can become living communities, presenting the Word of God, and developing an interior life that leads to contemplation.

It seems quite clear to us that we can all contribute effectively to the spiritual growth of the young people and adults in our care. We rejoice with you in the knowledge that in an atmosphere of freedom, tolerance and frusting cooperation, people of different races, culture, convictions and beliefs, can find in our schools the possibility of working together and thus drawing closer to one another.

And so, the areas where collaboration is possible are numerous. They include, for example, the various aspects of teaching, education, catechesis, pastoral work, prayer, personal and community witness. We do not think everyone should attempt to do everything, since each person has his own gifts, opportunities and personal choices. In any case, differences in walks of life, profession and commitment are something we are very happy with. This internal pluralism can become a source of mutual enricliment, can complement what is being done elsewhere and lead to greater success, provided that we accept a common goal. In all that has been said, the Brothers' Institute, like Vatican II, insists on the great respect that must be shown for liberty of conscience.