"Let us remember…that we are in the holy presence of God."

These familiar words echoed through the chapel at Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, spoken by nearly 140 delegates gathered for the welcoming liturgy that opened the first-ever San Francisco District Assembly on Mission on Sunday, July 28, 2002. Months of planning by the Preparatory Committee, miles of travel by delegates, reams of copy paper for reports and materials, all came together on a beautiful summer afternoon on the campus of the first of the Brothers' schools on the West Coast, the management of which brought them to California in 1868.

At the opening dinner following the liturgy, Brother David Brennan, Visitor, greeted the assembly delegates in his address to the historic gathering - Developing a Vision and Direction for the District of San Francisco's Lasallian Mission. "When I look about the room," said Brother David, "I see Brothers, laymen, lay women, all age groups, faculty, administrators, staff members, volunteers, people with different life journeys and faith experiences, graced with different gifts and talents, working in different ministries, serving in different geographical regions of the District." He continued, "But more importantly, I see and feel strength, confidence, and the courage to confront the challenges we must face together in planning for the future of our Lasallian mission."

The formal work of the assembly got underway on Monday morning, July 29, when the General Assembly formally adopted procedures, assembly leadership, and the members of its ten committees. Following these formalities, each member of the District Leadership Team gave a presentation on his responsibilities in the District administration, as well as a report on responses to the 1999 District Action Plan achieved over the past several years. Each discussed strengths and challenges in his particular area, and concluded with a question and answer period with delegates. The reports included: the Lasallian Education Corporation (LEC), presented by Brother Stanislaus Campbell, FSC; the Brothers' Role in the Educational Mission, Brother Thomas Jones, FSC; District services to educational apostolates provided by the Office of Education, Mr. Gery Short; finance, Mr. Steve Taylor; Lasallian school boards, Mr. Richard Sprague; and expansion and maintenance of facilities, Mr. Ron Tapper. Brother Craig Franz, FSC, President of Saint Mary's College of California, concluded the day's events with an address about the state of Saint Mary's College.  

On Monday evening, Bishop of Oakland, John Cummins, an affiliated member of the Brothers' Institute, celebrated the evening liturgy, and commended the Brothers and Partners for the work of Lasallian education in the District for nearly 135 years.

Coming up...Tuesday, July 30:

Address to the Assembly by Brother Claude Reinhardt, FSC, General Councillor, Rome.

Question and answer session with Brother Claude and Brother William Mann, FSC, Vicar General, Rome.

Work in committees.

Next update: Friday, August 2

Jeanne Gray Loughman
July 29, 2002
Moraga, California

Photos by Brother James Joost, FSC