Faculty and staff at Saint Mary’s College High School, Berkeley, in a "Lunch with La Salle" session facilitated by Brother George Van Grieken, FSC.

How often does one get to have lunch with a saint?

At Saint Mary's College High School in Berkeley, California, the answer is – fairly regularly. The saint in question is the patron saint of teachers and the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, John Baptist de La Salle. “Lunch with La Salle” is series of on-campus formation sessions for faculty and staff, using Lasallian readings, with a guest presenter, and including a buffet lunch served in the Brothers’ Community residence.
The program was the brainchild of Brother Victor-Kenneth, director of the Brothers' Community at the school. Says Brother Kenneth, "I knew how important it could be to have our Brothers’ Community contribute to the Lasallian formation of our own faculty and staff. At the same time, I wanted to make certain that what was done would be held during the school day."

With an enthusiastic response to his proposal from the Brothers' Community, and with the invaluable assistance of Brother Michael Sanderl, FSC, of Saint Mary's College and Lawrence Puck, director of admissions, alumni, and communication at Saint Mary’s College High School, Brother Kenneth shaped a series of luncheon sessions, sent out invitations, and waited. Twenty-five people attended the first “Lunch with La Salle” in October 2006, and there have never been fewer than fifteen in attendance since.

Presentations have included the following:

• "Meet Saint John Baptist De LaSalle" -- an overview of the Founder and his life;
  
• "The Founder's Charism in Action Today" and the Brothers' lives and work in the schools;
  
• "Live Jesus in Our Hearts" -- the deeper meaning of this prayer and how that applies to our work in education;
  
• "Touching Hearts" -- a look at the book by Brother George Van Grieken and its practical applications in the work of a faculty today;
  
• "Vocation" -- the general and specific meanings of vocation, and how teachers and staff play an important role in fostering vocation among the young people in our schools.

Presenters have included Brother Stan Sobczyk, Brother Michael Sanderl, Brother Michael Meister, Brother Dominic Berardelli, and Brother George Van Grieken.

Scheduled future presenters include Brother Stanislaus Campbell and Brother Camillus Chavez.

Brother Kenneth was inspired by a successful program initiated in 1994 at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga. Called "Soup and Substance," it has a similar format and is an opportunity for Brothers, colleagues, and students to share a reading and a meal and to learn more about the charism of the Christian Brothers and the shared Lasallian mission. "I am very much indebted to the Brothers of Saint Mary's College for placing themselves at the forefront of this formation program," says Brother Kenneth. "They were wonderful presenters and were much appreciated by our faculty and staff members here."

Brother Kenneth hopes to shape a similar program to include parents of the school’s students.

"This foray into formation of our Lasallian colleagues has been successful on many different levels and for many different reasons. One thing is certain – there is a 'hunger' out there for more of why and how we do what we do."

Saint Mary’s College High School is one of the schools sponsored by the District of San Francisco. For complete information on the school, visit the web site at www.stmaryschs.org. For information on the “Lunch with La Salle” Program, contact Brother Victor-Kenneth at brotherkenneth@stmchs.org. For those interested in pursuing Lasallian readings on their own, many sorts of documents are generously supplied on the web site of the International Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Go to www.lasalle.org and browse under “RESOURCES.” (Note: the documents are available in four languages: English, Spanish, French, and Italian.)