Brother Visitor's Letter
By Brother David Brennan, FSC
Photography by Steve Taylor

In his book, The Fifth Discipline, MIT Professor Peter Senge observes that vision is simply an answer to the question, "What do we want to create?" Senge says that shared vision is not an idea, but a force in peoples' hearts.

Shared visions derive their power from common caring by a group of people who want to see a vision realized. They bring energy, passion, and excitement, and work together to create a future consistent with their mission. Senge says that many organizations fail to realize their visions because the individuals who are the organization don't fully grasp how much commitment, perseverance, and hard work are needed to achieve implementation.

In the District of San Francisco, we have worked together to establish the vision for the future we want to create. Shared vision has energized our Convocations of the past two autumns. Our commitment to the future of the Lasallian educational mission is our greatest strength and will provide the power to achieve the implementation of our Action Plan.

In December, Brothers and Partners from around the world concluded a series of scenario-planning workshops sponsored by the District and held at Mont La Salle. Participants worked on specific projects addressing underlying issues, trends, and values affecting the life and mission of the District and the Institute over the next ten years -- the association of Brothers and Partners; the education of rich and poor in the Lasallian context; Lasallian leadership for the future; and the distinctive role of the Brothers' vocation in the Lasallian mission. Through our work, we seek to further assure that the Institute remains a vital force in the Church and in the world.

Partnership among regions and districts of the International Institute continues to increase. Photos on these opening pages depict scenes from the Sub-district of Pakistan, with which the District of San Francisco is "twinned" to provide mutual support and assistance. Such partnership provides greater understanding of the importance of our educational service to young people, particularly those in greatest need of hearing the good news of the Gospel.

In December, I traveled to the District of the Philippines at the invitation of the Brothers in Bacolod, to collaborate with them about some of the educational works in their area. In response to the invitation of the Brothers of the Pacific Asia Region (PARC), and the Latin American Lasallian Region (RELAL), I will visit both provinces in February. I have been asked to attend the PARC annual regional meeting and to share the knowledge we have gained here in our District through our work concerning the future. I have also been invited to participate in the upcoming meeting of Latin American Visitors and Chapter delegates to exchange ideas about topics of mutual interest and concerns to be addressed at the Brothers' 43rd General Chapter in Rome in April, and also to discuss collaborative projects of educational service of poor Latin American youth in both the Latin American and U.S./Toronto regions. Brothers and Partners from both PARC and RELAL attended our District Convocations and workshops at Mont La Salle. Their participation in creating the direction for our District's future will be of benefit as their regions engage in similar processes.

Here at home, our future is taking shape -- local action plans are being developed in each District educational community, and the District will soon welcome new members of the Lasallian family in North Portland, Oregon, and in San Francisco.

• In November 1999, an agreement between the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon and the District of San Francisco provided for a new coeducational high school for underserved and marginalized youth in the inner city of North Portland. This new educational project is anticipated to begin in September 2000.
• In San Francisco, progress continues on plans to serve the young people of the economically depressed Tenderloin area with a new coeducational Lasallian junior high school.
• Last November 10 in Yakima, Washington, Brothers, Partners, students, families, and friends broke ground for new facilities at La Salle High School. Completion of classroom facilities for 225 students and a gymnasium are expected by fall 2000.
• At Saint Mary's College, the District is providing significant funding for the first two years of the new CILSA program -- Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action -- whose program outline was developed with assistance from the District Office of Education.

Our future will be shaped by the vision that we hold. Peter Senge concludes that implementing a vision requires a genuine personal commitment to making that vision a reality, rather than simple compliance with what is expected.

We Brothers and Partners of the District of San Francisco will not simply be compliant. Our commitment to the call of the Gospel, the Church, and the International Institute is too important and too deeply-rooted in the legacy of Saint John Baptist de La Salle that remains vibrant throughout the world. "The need for this Institute is very great," says our Rule. This is something we have known for 320 years, something that the young, the poor, and the universal Church have confirmed again and again. We know that we are doing things right, and yet we are always looking for ways to do things better. The Gospel will allow for nothing less; simple compliance is not part of the equation. The vision in which we take part is one that calls for the same kind of personal commitment that led De La Salle and Brothers through the centuries to reach out to the hearts and minds of the young, especially the poor. Our vision today, our commitment today, our students today deserve nothing less.