2008 Lasallian Student Leadership Workshop Expands Scope

(The participants of the workshop gather for a group photograph.)

Philadelphia, PA – The 2008 Lasallian Student Leadership Workshop once again was held at La Salle University from 16-18 June with an expanded focus.  Over its history the primary focus of the workshop was to bring members of Baltimore District ministry student councils to improve their work.  This year the focus was expanded to cover leadership on a broader level.  Schools were invited to bring leaders from across the spectrum from student council to service program leadership.  Sessions were centered on a more general view of leadership for the twenty-five students from the five district schools that attended.

The workshop kept its usual length of an evening opening followed by a full day and the following morning structure but added new themes to the workshop.  The first evening focused on how leaders are to be models of Signum Fidei or Signs of Faith with a session led by Br. Brian Henderson, FSC.  The morning workshop challenged the young leaders to examine the theory, practice and purpose of leadership under the direction of Dr. John DiLulio, Frederick Fox Leadership Professor, of the University of Pennsylvania.  After some unstructured community time in the afternoon the group gathered for a discussion led by Central Catholic High School graduate, Mr. Connor Lamb, currently of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, who guided the young leaders in conversation on Christian service and social justice.  This discussion was followed by a session led by Br. Robert Schaefer, FSC, Assistant Principal – Student Affairs at Central Catholic High School, that zeroed in on leadership that fosters Christian brotherhood and sisterhood.  The Workshop sessions were caped off with current Georgetown University student and Central Catholic High School graduate, Mr. James Kelly, giving the students a chance to hear perspectives on how to use the tools that they gathered at the workshop in their high schools. 

As usual the workshop had opportunities for sharing faith, service and community.  Each evening ended with prayer followed by a social and each morning began with prayer.  The gathering came to a close with students being challenged by Br. Ernest Miller, FSC, Director of the Office of Education and Mission Formation, to see beyond the student council or club that they are in to be in service to the whole school and the community beyond.