As he became aware, by God’s grace, of the human and spiritual distress of the

children of the artisans and the poor, John Baptist de La Salle devoted himself to

forming schoolmasters totally dedicated to teaching and to Christian education. He brought these teachers together in a

community and subsequently founded with them the Institute of the Brothers of the

Christian Schools. . . . The purpose of this Institute is to give a human and Christian

education to the young, especially the poor, according to the ministry which the Church

entrusted to it.

- The Rule of the Brothers of the Christian Schools 1,3

To give a human and Christian education

especially in schools,

with the service of the poor as a priority

in order to evangelize and catechize,

to promote peace and justice,

accomplished together as

a “shared mission”.

From their beginnings, the Brothers of the Christian Schools have regarded their work as a collaborative ministry. Their vow of association binds them to God and to one another for the educational service of youth and the poor. In the Lasallian experience, mission generates bonds of mutuality and interdependence. Mission leads to communion and communion is for mission.

What has changed is the ever-increasing role played by lay partners in the mission of the Institute.

In the face of the many challenges in today’s world, it is no longer conceivable that

the Brothers can guarantee by themselves the continuation and vitality of the Lasallian

mission. Thus, the worldwide Institute today often speaks of

Lasallian mission as a “shared mission.”

From the late 70’s to the late 90’s, there arose groups and individuals hungry for a deeper sharing in the spirituality and mission of De La Salle.

• The new emphasis on Lasallian formation.

• General Chapter of 1986 speaks of “shared mission.”

• Initiatives like LASSA, youth & educator’s congresses, etc.

• Letter to the Lasallian Family (1989).

• Lasallian mission redefined in “A Shared Mission” (1997).

• General Chapter of 1976 speaks of the “Lasallian Family.”

• Signum Fidei and SHARE begin in 1981.

. . . from sharing in the Brothers’ mission to the one mission in which faculty, staff, alumni, parents and young people and Brothers all share.

The first Lasallian District Synod in 1999 effectively marked a paradigm shift in the way of thinking about shared mission in the Philippines. . .

“Lay people take their place as ‘full partners’ – and we Brothers gladly associate with them in our mission. We accept that from now on our schools will not be ‘Brothers’ schools’, animated by the Brothers’ community with the secondary collaboration of lay teachers, parents, students. They will be instead, ‘Lasallian schools’ , animated by Lasallian educative communities of faith, within which the apostolic activity of the Brothers’ community takes place.” - Quoted in The Lasallian Mission of Human and

Christian Education: A Shared Mission 3.1.1

For the Brothers: this change in mentality implies that they will no longer consider themselves the only trustees or proprietors of the Lasallian charism in education. It is their duty to believe in the vocation of lay people, to support it and encourage it . . .”

For lay people: the change in mentality allows them to consider the Lasallian task in which they work as something which is proper to them and not something for which the Brothers alone are responsible. It means they should accept their place and responsibilities in the Lasallian educational plan and feel that they are co-responsible in the common mission.” - The Lasallian Mission of Human and Christian Education: A Shared Mission 3.1.2

The ideal of shared mission would be. . . the formation of a ministerial community among those who share the Lasallian mission. This new ministerial community has to be for the

Lasallian school the sign that the Kingdom of God is present

and grows in this place.

- The Lasallian Mission of Human and Christian Education: A Shared Mission 3.3.3

Aladdin Antiqueňo

The Brothers, original “owners” of the mission . . .

. . . share their mission with the lay faculty and staff.

This is a paternalistic understanding of shared mission.

HOW DO WE

UNDERSTAND

SHARED MISSION

TODAY ?

Everyone actively committed to the

Lasallian vision and mission.

CO - RESPONSIBLECO - RESPONSIBLE

“Shared mission. . . demands a process of growth in unity, in communion between persons who share the same mission. This process of communion requires the development of links of unity, of communication, unified objectives, common actions, and good personal relationships in the same Lasallian tradition which brought the Brothers to make a vow of association among themselves. . .” - The Lasallian Mission of Human and

Christian Education: A Shared Mission 3.3.1

* MISSION* MISSION

* LASALLIAN* LASALLIAN

SPIRITUALITYSPIRITUALITY

RELATIONSHIP OF COLLEAGUES AND BROTHERS IN THE SHARED MISSION

Different degrees and Different degrees and levels of commitment and levels of commitment and

sharing.sharing.

Something new is being born . . .

Lay partners enabled to exercise a more deliberative role in determining the directions and conduct of the Lasallian mission.

Increased opportunities for new and creative types of apostolates.

Evolve new structures and learn skills to facilitate lay-FSC collaboration.

Greater collaboration, sharing and interdependence among institutions.

Need to guarantee the dynamic vitality and continuity of the Lasallian heritage in all institutions.

Creation of structures that facilitate a more concerted and unified approach to the Lasallian mission.

Evolve new forms of association geared to a deeper sharing in the Lasallian mission.

Develop a new, richer understanding of the Lasallian charism.

Develop a more “lay-centered” Lasallian spirituality.

Dissemination of Lasallian spirituality/ charism beyond the Lasallian Family.

STRUCTURES

OF GOVERNANCE

The Lasallian Family Convocation is the new forum for legislating directions for the Lasallian mission in the Philippines.

SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS

NEW FORMS OF ASSOCIATION

EMPLOYEE WELLBEING PROGRAMS

CENTERS FOR LIVELIHOOD

PROMOTION & DEV’T.

INCREASING STUDY GRANTS

COMMON SOCIAL

DEV’T. FRAMEWORK

SPIRITUAL ACCOMPANIMENT

IN SCHOOLS

COMMON FRAMEWORK

FOR LASALLIAN FORMATION

Partnership in mission involves not just a consultative role for lay Lasallians in

determining apostolic directions but a deliberative one. The Holy Spirit works and

speaks through men and women of faith who gather to discern God’s will for the shared

mission. This holds true for the laity as much as the religious.

•FAITH

• REVITALIZATION

•ASSOCIATION

•TRUST IN PROVIDENCE

• belief in a loving God who wants to bring the means of integral human and Christian development within reach of youth and the

poor

•belief that we are called and gifted by God to help realize this goal

• belief that we are called to realize this through the ministry of Christian

education

• generate creative ways of serving youth- at-risk

• attend to the promotion of justice, peace and integrity of creation

• attend to evangelization/pastoral action in and out of our institutions

• educational innovation in the service of the integral human/Christian development of students

• formation of Lasallian educators who share in the spirituality and mission of the Founder

• internalize the same vision, values and spirit

• explore new forms and structures of collaboration

• realize all involved in this ministry are gifted and that we need to identify, release and utilize their

gifts

• need to create genuine ministerial communities where gifts can be affirmed, released and utilized

for the sake of the mission

• realize that we cannot accomplish this mission alone

• realize that we must place our trust in God through prayer

• take risks, act boldly; if it is God’s work, it will bear fruit in its own time