A s 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

T o 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 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 - 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 * LASALLIAN * LASALLIAN SPIRITUALITY SPIRITUALITY RELATIONSHIP OF COLLEAGUES AND BROTHERS IN THE SHARED MISSION Different degrees and levels of commitment and 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