2001 News Archive

On September 26, 2001, the Principal of Mont-Benilde, a Lasallian high school in Quebec, Canada, sent a letter of good will concerning the September 11th terrorist attacks. The letter was sent to all the Lasallian schools, universities, colleges, service centers and Brothers communities in the United States.

On receiving the letter, Skip Gaus, Director of De La Salle in Towne, offered to share it with one of his teacher’s classes. When they heard the letter, several students in Joe Barbuto’s class suggested that they write back to Br. Florent to thank him. (Joe teaches and mentors a student in the photo above.)

The result was a moving, heartfelt correspondence between two Lasallian schools over 600 miles apart, but linked closely together by the 9/11 tragedy and their Lasallian spirit.

Click here to look at the original letter from Canada.

Click here to look at De La Salle in Towne’s response.

Permalink

Nearly 100 Brothers gathered at La Salle High School, Philadelphia on Saturday, October 27, 2001, for the Baltimore District’s annual General Assembly of the District. This year’s theme was Building a Strategic Plan for our Future. The gathering was the first action taken following the approval by the 11th Baltimore District Chapter in August to create a strategic plan for accomplishing the Lasallian mission in the coming decade and inviting young men to join that exciting mission. Brother Robert Schieler, Visitor, delivered the morning keynote address inviting the Brothers, through their prayer and reading of Scripture, to see their vocation and dream as part of God’s dream and plan for us in His saving plan for humanity. Following his presentation Marisa Guerin, management consultant, explained the elements of an effective strategic plan. Participants then broke into small groups to share how they saw the future of the District and their feelings and expectations about that future. A prayer service and lunch concluded the morning activities.

The afternoon session began with Brothers Martin Zewe and Brendan Garwood sharing their reflections on the District Chapter experience. An afternoon breakout session asked participants to react to the future trends and challenges identified by the Chapter delegates as the most necessary to pursue and what the implications might be for the District. All the information gathered from the day will by analyzed and discussed by the District council during their November 9-10 workshop.

The day concluded with a liturgy and dinner. During the liturgy Bradley Flint (New York District) and Michael Kimble (Baltimore District) made first promises and were formally welcomed to the scholastic residency at Jeremy House.

Permalink

From October 15th to the 17th faculty members from four schools in the district (Calvert Hall College, La Salle College High School, St. Frances Academy, and West Philadelphia Catholic High School) gathered at the bucolic setting of the Christian Brothers Spiritual Center in Adamstown, Maryland for the 15th Lasallian Educator Workshop.

This intimate group of seven participants was inspired by several presentations from Br. Jeffrey Calligan, FSC, the U.S./Toronto Region’s Director of Religious Life Studies. Tapping into the research on De La Salle and the beginning of the Institute and into the richness of the Conduct of Schools, Br. Jeff linked the original intentions of the mission to today’s mission of a human and Christian education for the young, especially the poor.

The participants were treated to a visual feast of Power Point presentations and were charged with reflecting on the teacher as a “life-giving force,” as an older brother or sister to the students, and as agents of God bringing our students closer to completeness. The experience was, naturally, enhanced by shared prayer and meals, and time for much-needed relaxation and enjoyable socials.

Permalink

Br. Gerard Molyneaux Receives District Award

Congratulations to each of the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award winners for the academic year 2001-02! Each year the schools and institutions of the Baltimore District are invited to select a faculty member to receive this award and this year’s class is as impressive as ever.

Special recognition goes out to La Salle University’s Br. Gerard Molyneaux, who was named the honoree for the entire Baltimore District. Br. Gerry is currently the Chair of La Salle University’s Communication Department, a position he has held since 1985. He is also widely recognized for his teaching excellence as a professor in both the Communication and English Departments, his accomplishments as a writer and researcher on American film, and his incredible involvement in many different aspects of campus life.

Br. Gerry was recently recognized along with the five other honorees from the five other districts in the U.S./Toronto Region at the annual Huether Conference held in Chicago in November. In this photo Br. Robert Schieler, Visitor, and Br. Kevin Dalmasse, Auxiliary Visitor, congratulate Br. Gerry after having received the award.

The other 2001-02 Distinguished Lasallian Educators from the Baltimore District are:

John Ames, Teacher of Mathematics, The Cardinal Gibbons School, Baltimore, MD

Dennis Bloh, Teacher of English, La Salle College High School, Wyndmoor, PA

Vincent Buccina, Teacher of English and Religion, Central Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, PA

Mary DeMasi, Teacher of History, West Philadelphia Catholic High School, Philadelphia, PA

Jennifer Hendershot, Teacher of Literature/Language Arts, BishopWalsh Middle/High School, Cumberland, MD

Stephen Hooper, Teacher of English, Calvert Hall College, Baltimore, MD

Lisa Koury, Director of Treatment, De La Salle Vocational, Bensalem, PA

Katherine Manning, Reading Specialist, De La Salle in Towne, Philadelphia, PA

Sara Lynne Rodgers, Chair of the Math Department, St. John’s College High School, Washington, D.C.

Permalink

On Saturday, September 15, 2001, Brother Mark Brown, FSC, a teacher of social studies and religion at West Catholic HS in Philadelphia, celebrated his profession of perpetual commitment as a Brother of the Christian Schools. This very special event took place during a joyful Eucharistic Liturgy held at St. Louis Catholic Church in Yeadon, PA and was attended by many of Brother Mark’s family, friends, colleagues, and fellow Christian Brothers from the Baltimore District. Fr. Richard Hilgartner, a priest from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a high school classmate of Brother Mark’s, presided at the Mass. Brother Robert Schieler, FSC, provincial of the Baltimore District, expressed gratitude and praise for Mark’s dedication, faith, and zeal.

 Brother Mark graduated from Calvert Hall College in 1986 and from Towson State University in 1990. He received the Habit of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in the autumn of 1990 and began his teaching career in the Baltimore District at both La Salle College High School in Wyndmoor, PA and Archbishop Carroll HS in Radnor, PA. Following his year-long novitiate in Skaneateles, NY, Brother Mark served for three years at Central Catholic in Pittsburgh before moving to his current apostolate at West Catholic.

Permalink

Two Christian Brothers of the Baltimore District recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of their religious consecration. Brother Martin Simpson’s jubilee was held on Saturday, September 29, 2001 at La Salle University in Philadelphia. Fr. David Beebe, the University’s chaplain, presided at the Liturgy attended by many of Marty’s confreres, colleagues, and family, including his mother. Brother Andrew Bartley served as master of ceremonies at the reception and dinner that followed, and did a fine job highlighting the pivotal moments of Brother Martin’s storied career that began as a classroom teacher in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and which drew him to service as a missionary in the Philippine Islands for over thirty years. Brother Martin remained two weeks in the U.S. after his jubilee before returning to the Philippines.

Brother Philip Whitman celebrated his golden jubilee on Saturday, October 6, 2001 at Calvert Hall College in Baltimore, his alma mater. Presiding at the Eucharistic Liturgy was Bishop William Newman, the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a high school classmate of Brother Phil’s. Brother Richard Kestler, president of West Catholic, served as the master of ceremonies, and Brother Patrick Ellis, director of development for the Baltimore District, offered a series of lighthearted reflections on Brother Philip’s religious “tour of duty”, including his many years at La Salle College, the St. La Salle Auxiliary, St. Gabriel’s Hall, and, most recently, his days of “active retirement” spent in Ammendale.

Permalink

Visit our ‘Resources’ page to find five links to useful websites. The first was created by St. Mary’s Press and contains prayers, articles, teaching units, and more. The second is the U.S. Department of Education site. It includes suggestions for adults and educators, letters to elementary, middle and high school students from Laura Bush, and many other websites for additional resources. The third is a 25-page curriculum put together by the Education Development Center, Inc. and sponsored by The Justice Project and the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation. The fourth is the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It has numerous statements, prayer and liturgical resources, and much more. The fifth connects you to the National Catholic Educational Association site where there are many additional links and resource materials

Also available for downloading is a reflection by Br. Victor Franco, FSC, one of the six General Councilors of the Institute.

Click here to go directly to the Resources page. Then, scroll down to “Resources Outside the District.”

the participants claimed to have learned quite a bit and were very grateful to have had the opportunity to probe the minds of some mentors, to meet colleagues from around the district and beyond, to get to know other new teachers at their own schools, and, perhaps most importantly, to begin preparing themselves for the upcoming challenges they will face this year. These new teachers are bound to make quite an impact on their school communities as they share their enthusiasm, talents, wisdom and desire to serve young people. The Baltimore District is fortunate and excited to welcome them aboard.

Permalink

See below to download a copy of keynote speeches by

• Br. John Johnston, FSC
• Mr. Jonah Edelman
• Ms. Audrey Kitagawa

Over the course of three days (November 15-17, 2001), approximately 225 Lasallians were informed, challenged and inspired by the presentations and dialog sessions at the 29th annual Huether Workshop in Chicago. A diverse group of speakers and participants consistently drummed an urgent message throughout the workshop: it is time for advocacy and action to protect and promote the rights of the children in our schools, communities, nation and world.

Setting the tone with a charge of initiating a “culture of action”, Br. John Johnston, FSC, Director of Education for the U.S./Toronto Region, summoned the group to find the “spiritual will to unite and work together and by association to improve the lives of children at home and abroad.” He implored us, as Lasallians, “to open our eyes wide and SEE children as Jesus and our Founder did. Like them we have to feel the indignation when injustice blocks children from being children. Like them we have to ACT.”
(Click here to download a copy of Br. John Johnston’s address.)

In the second keynote address, Jonah Edelman, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Stand For Children (www.stand.org), shared personally evocative biblical passages of faith-filled people taking risks and action to do God’s work and the remarkable story of the founding and current operation of Stand For Children, America’s only national grassroots voice for children.(Click here to download a copy of Mr. Edelman’s address.)

Ms. Audrey Kitagawa, advisor to the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict at the United Nations, delivered the final keynote address. She effectively explained the profoundly disturbing ramifications of involving children in armed conflict. She also suggested a detailed list of actions, such as creating school projects to heighten awareness and consciousness, strengthening our teaching of ethics, values, spirituality and love, and getting young people interested in and in touch with children in other cultures.
(Click here to download a copy of Ms. Audrey Kitagawa’s address.)

As a complement to the stellar keynote presentations, the twelve breakout sessions provided additional, diverse perspectives and often equally inspirational dialog. The twelve themes covered were: land mines, child soldiers, child labor, young refugees, hungry and starving children, the juvenile justice system, sexual orientation, mental health, gang violence, sexual exploitation of children and youth, literacy, and responses to the September 11th tragedies.

An infectious prayerful spirit summed up into the phrase “we can do all things through Christ” pervaded the workshop from the opening prayer service all the way to the closing Distinguished Lasallian Educator Awards banquet. If the following prophetic words or phrases, offered by the participants of workshop, are any indication, then this year’s experience is bound to result in action:

Also, as is the tradition at the Huether Workshop, the Distinguished Lasallian Educators from each of the districts in the region were honored. Below is a photo of the awardees, in the front row, and of a representative of each district standing behing them. From left to right: San Francisco District - Mr. Greg Vanderzanden and Mr. Gerry Bitz; New Orleans-Santa Fe - Br. Amedy Esquibel; New York District - Ms. Dana Voorhees; Midwest District - Br. Edward Siderewicz; Long Island-New England District - Br. Michael Reis (not present at Huether, but represented by a Brother from his district); and Baltimore District - Br. Gerry Molyneaux

Permalink

August 6-9, 2001 at La Salle University

The second New Teachers Institute was held at La Salle University this August. The Institute, with over twenty more participants than last year, reached just about full capacity. During the four-day program, 24 teachers - teachers new to the profession or experienced teachers new to Lasallian schools - gathered along with 23 Lasallian Volunteers, those who will be serving in school settings, to be introduced to the Lasallian heritage and infused with some sound pedagogical training. Of the 47 total participants, the 24 who will serve in the Baltimore District will do so at Calvert Hall College, Cardinal Gibbons School, La Salle College High School, St. John’s College High School, West Philadelphia Catholic High School or the San Miguel School in Camden. The main presenters - Br. James Butler, FSC (Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs, Hudson Catholic High School), Br. Kevin Dalmasse, FSC (Auxiliary Visitor, Baltimore District), Mrs. Julia Maher (Assistant Principal Student Affairs, La Salle College High School), Br. Fred Mueller, FSC (Director of Education, LI-NE District), Br. Joe Wilkowski, FSC (Principal, La Salle Academy, New York City, New York District), and Br. Patrick Cassidy, FSC (Teacher, San Miguel in Camden) - passed along valuable practical advice and techniques to this most attentive group.

Overall, the participants claimed to have learned quite a bit and were very grateful to have had the opportunity to probe the minds of some mentors, to meet colleagues from around the district and beyond, to get to know other new teachers at their own schools, and, perhaps most importantly, to begin preparing themselves for the upcoming challenges they will face this year. These new teachers are bound to make quite an impact on their school communities as they share their enthusiasm, talents, wisdom and desire to serve young

Permalink

August 1-4, 2001 at La Salle University

The 11th Baltimore District Chapter, held at La Salle University from August 1-4, 2001, was unlike any other chapter in our district’s history. First, seventeen lay colleagues joined with approximately forty Brothers for the first two days at the university to assist in the task of “evaluating the life of the District in all its aspects (Rule 128).” Second, this chapter was historic because it resulted in the approval of only one final resolution: the proposal for a District Strategic Plan. The plan was discussed, debated, and unanimously approved.

The participants at the chapter benefited from assistance of two talented facilitators: Br. Thomas Johnson, FSC, the recently appointed Regional Director and former Visitor of the Midwest District and Dr. Marisa Guerin, the president of Guerin Management Consulting Inc.

As a symbol of their unity and dedication to the Lasallian Mission, the Brothers and their lay colleagues signed a pledge of renewal.

Permalink

August 2-9, 2001 at La Salle University

The directors of the Lasallian Volunteers, Cathy Gillaspie (Clark) and David Kasievich, successfully kicked off their program with an intense and meaningful orientation at La Salle University in August. This nine-day program was filled with prayer, team-building exercises, site-specific training, sessions on living in community and on the Lasallian charism, and much more. Brother Jim Joost, FSC from the San Francisco District and Greg Kopra also from the San Francisco District delivered several of the main presentations. However, three people from the Baltimore District were also tapped to share their expertise and perspectives: Br. Bob Kinzler, FSC, Jim Logan of De La Salle Vocational and Lynn Trocky of De La Salle Aftercare.

This year the orientation was directly coordinated with the New Teachers Institute. After the first four days, the 24 volunteers who will serve primarily in classrooms spent four days fully participating in the New Teachers Institute while the other ten volunteers, who will work in social service agencies, benefited from a separate training. Once the New Teachers Institute concluded, all the volunteers reconvened for some final preparations and an inspirational sendoff emphasizing their beginning “the Lasallian calling with Faith and Zeal.”

Permalink

Biking for Family Literacy Rolled through the District.

The riders on the “Spoke-N-Word” 2001 Bike Ride, a national grassroots event to promote family literacy, completed the sixty day trek across America on August 10, 2001. Beginning in Portland, Oregon on June 12, 2001, the riders arrived 4000 miles later in Providence, Rhode Island, incredibly, right on schedule. The bike ride was sponsored by the Lasallian Partners for the Economically Poor and others concerned about the state of literacy. The riders rolled through the Baltimore District from July 28th through August 6th, stopping in Pittsburgh, Reels Corners, Chambersburg, York, Valley Forge, and Camden.

Permalink

The San Francisco District of the De La Salle Christian Brothers has opened up two of its summer programs to participants from around the U.S./Toronto Region.

• Vandu Paaru (“Come and See”) - International Immersion Programs for Brothers and Lasallian Partners to India, Sri Lanka or Thailand - June 14- July11, 2003

This four-week immersion experience, taking place from June 14-July 11, offers one of the most profound means of Lasallian formation available, through direct work with the poor in the spirit of the Lasallian tradition. This summer four sites will welcome up to six participants from the United States.

Site 1: St. Joseph’s Boys Village - Batlagunda, South India

Provides residential facilities for parentless youth ages 6-14. Project: Painting and roofing, providing recreation opportunities for the youth and some teaching of English

Site 2: St. Joseph’s-La Salle - Keezhamudiman, South India

Provides traditional education to village children ages 12-18. Project: The continued construction of a new classroom building began by volunteers in the summer of 2002. In addition, providing recreation opportunities to students and some teaching of English.

Site 3: St. Xavier’s School - Mannar, Sri Lanka

Village School for grades 1-12 in addition to a bordering school and welding training center. Project: Refurbishing of classrooms and training center and teaching of English.

Site 4: La Salle Scholasticate - Sampran, Thailand

De La Salle Christian Brothers Community that houses Postulants (those considering the Brothers as a vocation). Project: Teaching English to the Postulants to prepare them for their teaching assignments.

The registration deadline is March 1, 2003. For more information, contact Robert Jordan at the San Francisco District Education Office (rjordan@dlsi.org). Additional details are available at http://www.delasalle.org/the-work-we-do/support-services/education/lasallian_summer_Immersions_2000.htm or by contacting Nicholas Coggins (Coggins@FSCbaltimore.org) at the Baltimore District Education Office.

• The Religious Studies Institute at St. Mary’s College of CA - June 15-20, 2003

The Religious Studies Institute, a program co-sponsored by St. Mary’s College of California and the Office of Education of the District of San Francisco, is designed to support the work of religious education in Lasallian secondary schools by providing academic preparation and updating pedagogical training for experienced, novice and prospective teachers of religious studies and faith development experiences.

The third annual Religious Studies Institute will take place from June 15-20, 2003 at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA. The course offered will be Building Your Own Conscience: Teaching Morality in the Catholic Secondary School. Fr. William O’Malley, SJ, noted author, presenter and teacher, will teach the course. Graduate credits and continuing education units have been approved from St. Mary’s College.

For more information, contact Greg Kopra at the San Francisco District Education Office (gkopra@dlsi.org) or Nicholas Coggins (Coggins@FSCbaltimore.org) at the Baltimore District Education Office.

Permalink