1. Essential Characteristics (Core Principles) of Lasallian Ministries
There are many different ways to summarize our mission as Lasallian schools. It is important for us as teachers to keep our mission clearly in front of us so that it may guide our work and our decisions.
I would like to spend a few minutes with you today sharing with you the “Essential Characteristics of Lasallian Ministries” – these are fundamental characteristics that one should be able to identify at any Lasallian school – the particular way they are present may be different from school to school, but all five principles should be present in one way or another.
The question for you as new teachers, staff and administrators is this: In what ways will you address these goals in your work this year?
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2. Core Principles are part of our curriculum, not above and beyond
Core Principles are part of our curriculum, not above and beyond. These aspects must be included in the areas of the mission.
As “Essential Characteristics of Lasallian Ministries,” these five are at the center of all we do in our schools.
Everything the school does should aim toward the strengthening of these characteristics.
Our knowledge of and commitment to these characteristics form the spokes that connect our programs to these central outcomes. The stronger our knowledge and commitment, the stronger the connection.
We hold these characteristics before us as a way of checking ourselves – monitoring ourselves – are we truly a Lasallian school?
As I walk through these 5 characteristics with you, ask yourself: “Which one is mine to really attend to this year?”

3. Let’s Look at the Core Principles!
Heads up!
How do you identify with these Core Principles?
How are you challenged by these Core Principles?
To be a real Spartan is to live these principles and to teach others to live them.

4. Faith in the Presence of God
Let us remember…
Why are we reminded? Because sometimes we forget: crisis, challenges, distractions…
Made in the Image and Likeness of God
No one can take away our nature
Each person is a sign of God’s presence
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God… This is the foundational characteristic of our work as Lasallians. It drives everything else we do
Imago Dei: From the beginning – in our Creation Story in the Book of Genesis – we have believed that we were created “in the image and likeness of God”
This is part of our very nature – and thus there is nothing we can do to lose this. As we will see, the Catholic Church has had to intentionally weigh in on this in response to challenges from reformers and from popular movements that sought to diminish temporal realities while raising up spiritual realities (Gnosticism, Jansenism, Protestant Reformation, etc.)
What does it mean for us to live up to our nature?
All of us have dignity and value
We are to treat all people accordingly –
We must do all we can to affirm life and to work against structures and realities that diminish life
Realistic Optimism: “Ah yes,” you say, “but what about all the evil things people do in the world?” We cannot be naïve to the troubles and pain and evil in the world. People can choose to act against their nature. And yet Catholicism has long held fast to the belief that our nature – our “Godness” – is stronger than anything that may militate against it. The great theologian Bernard Lonergan refers to this as Realistic Optimism – emphasis on the optimism, but recognizing the reality of sin, sickness, violence, etc. Put another way (I like this): Original Grace trumps Original Sin!
We are the Body of Christ: In recent years, especially since Vatican II, the Catholic Church has reaffirmed the blessing and calling and responsibility of all the baptized to play a role in the Church as members of the one “Body of Christ” – this has had tremendous benefits for lay men and women, many of whom have assumed significant leadership positions both in Catholic schools and in Catholic parishes. We continue to wrestle with the implications of this for lay leadership in the Church. See 1Corinthians 13 (the analogy of the body)

5. 1. Faith in the Presence of God (continued)
Realistic Optimism
Rooted in reality
God is present in our midst through Jesus

6. Faith in the Presence of God (your turn)
How do you see God’s presence in your life?
How does what we learn in religion re-enforce (or challenge) our faith?
How do we “hear” God in today’s world?
Reflect and jot down some insights

7. Concern for Those in Poverty and for Social Justice
Fullness of Life for All
John 10:10: “I’ve come that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
Special Consideration Given to Those in Greatest Need
Concern extends beyond the school community
Both Social Action and Social Change are values (that’s why we have Service Learning at DLS)
Fullness of Life for All: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10: 10)
Jesus came that all may have life – and have it in abundance.
If we are in relationship with God, then we too work that all may have life and have it in abundance!
We have a responsibility to act as we can when we encounter those who do not have access to the fullness of life… “especially the poor” in our mission statement
Special Consideration Given to Those Most in Need: Our concern especially goes to those who have life the least – those who are poor, those who are marginalized, those who are forgotten by society
Concern Extends Beyond the School Community: Our concern goes beyond the four walls of the school – we are certainly about building a concerned, supportive, welcoming, inclusive, healing community at the school, but we are but one chapter in the lives of the young people “entrusted to our care” – so what is our responsibility for preparing them for adulthood? Part of our responsibility lies in opening their eyes to the poverty and need within the broader local community at least – if not the community beyond the local – to the nation, to the world…
Both Social Service and Social Justice are values: it is important to be active in addressing real needs right here and now in our communities – food drives, book drives, working in soup kitchens, etc. It is also important to consider the systemic forces that result in large groups of people going hungry, being homeless, getting imprisoned – and to begin to address issues from this vantage point as well. Social action and social justice…both are important!
“I was hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, a stranger, a prisoner…”

8. Concern for Those in Poverty and for Social Justice (your turn)
Who would you consider most in need?
What are some ways others would need social justice?
How can we be more attentive to those in need? In our class? At De La Salle?

9. Respect for All Persons
Respect is not earned
We are respected and loved because we are created in God’s image
Responsibilities
We are accountable for our actions and relationships
Respect is not earned: it is our call and our responsibility to respect students before we even meet them! They are made in the image and likeness of God, and therefore are ALL deserving of our respect.
This also means that there is nothing they can do to LOSE our respect
We set the example – it is true that we must earn their respect, but we set the example of unconditional respect for them – POWERFUL!
Respect is a verb: we don’t just SAY our respect, we SHOW our respect. How?
Students are active agents, not passive recipients: part of our respect for students is treating them as intelligent, capable individuals – by providing an education that challenges and engages them.
Educating for Life, p. 85 – Catholic Christian view of persons says they possess the ability to decide, to chart their own course, to make a difference in the world – as opposed to believing that they are passive recipients of knowledge, rules, etc.
Catholicism has long upheld the belief that we have the capacity to make our own lives better, to make the lives of others better, to uphold the common good – these are not only capacities but responsibilities
Rights and Responsibilities: It is a commonly-held belief among Catholics that Jesus came to free us from our sins – the story of Salvation History is filled with examples of God freeing God’s people from slavery, from death, from imprisonment.
This freedom is not only freedom from things – it is also freedom for things – in particular, for living in right relationship with God, self, others, and creation. Thus, with the freedom comes responsibilities – to build loving relationships, to stand up for the oppressed and marginalized, to use the treasures of the earth to the benefit of all, not just for the benefit of self or a select few.

10. 3. Respect for All Persons (your turn)
How do you show respect to others?
Peers?
Adults?
Strangers?
Why are we responsible for our relationships with others?

11. Quality Education
Holistic Education: “To have a life as well as make a living”
This is not limited to academics; it includes our minds, hearts, souls and bodies.
A challenging environment
To go beyond our “comfort zone”.
Education for Life
We learn and apply the learning to our life decisions.
Holistic Education: to have a life as well as make a living”
We tend to the head, the heart, the soul, the interpersonal
Why? Not just so they can get a job (that is important) – but also and more importantly so that they can be loving, caring, generous, responsible human beings – QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SELF AND FOR ALL
Education for Life:
Lending the resources and aptitude for life-long learning (Groome)
When they return to your school for their 25-year reunion, what do you want them to say about the impact you (individually and collectively) had on them?
A challenging environment
Because we love them, because we believe in them, we challenge them
They deserve nothing less for forming their character

12. 4. Quality Education (your turn)
Give some examples of how you have experienced education beyond the academic. (It doesn’t have to be within the school setting.)
What things have you learned which have influenced decisions in your life?

13. Inclusive Community “catholic” (universal) Everyone Finds a Place
All Are Welcome!
Everyone Finds a Place
We need to be inclusive
Hospitality for All
Who is our neighbor? Everyone!
Focus on Quality Relationships
Quality relations lead to quality education
We are here for each other.
The word catholic comes from the combination of two Greek terms – kata (including, every) and holos (whole – different elements working together)
Jesus certainly modeled inclusivity – he welcomed the stranger, the sinner, the sick, the imprisoned, the outcast – and was criticized roundly and persecuted for it.
Again, I quote Thomas Groome (What Makes Us Catholic, pp ):
“Saint Augustine used catholicity as an argument against the Donatists. They were a group of overly ardent Christians in North Africa who claimed that they alone were the true church and that only saints could belong. Augustine – knowing a little of both sin and sanctity – argued that the true Church of Christ must welcome saints and sinners alike. Further, the Donatists could not be the true Church because they were limited to one geographic area, having severed communion with the universal Church. Augustine also added the fascinating truth that catholicity requires Christians to be open to the truth wherever it can be found. In other words, to be catholic includes having open minds as well as open hearts and hands.”
Our goal is to look for ways to include persons in the community rather than exclude persons from the community
Everyone Finds a Place: Focus on welcoming, encouraging, inviting…
Hospitality for All
Who is our neighbor? Everyone!
Focus on Quality Relationships: De La Salle understood the power of relationships to foster education in all its facets: intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual
De La Salle discovered this very early in his experience with the schools: It is in community that we are most effective
De La Salle believed that we are stronger and wiser as a group than any of us are as individuals.
Why? Not for our own benefit…but because these young people are better served by our shared ministry.

14. 5. Inclusive Community (your turn)
What are some groups within our school community?
How can we show a welcoming attitude with others within our class?
In what ways do our relationships influence our decisions?
How do our friends influence our attitudes with others?

15. Core Principles Remembering the Presence of God
Special Concern for those in Poverty
Respect for All Persons
Quality Education
Inclusive Community
Summary Slide
Once again, pose the question: “Which one is mine to really attend to this year?”
Before giving quiet time to process that question, move to the next slide and introduce the video.

16. Core Principles (our turn)
We are invited to integrate these principles in our lives.
What are some concrete suggestions you might have for our class? For our school?
List a couple of suggestions for each Core Principle. Make them practical and give a reason for each suggestion.

17. Stop and Reflect I learned… I was surprised… I’m beginning to wonder…
I’m getting clearer about…
I rediscovered…
I have a question about…