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In
October 2000, I was privileged to attend the dedication of the first classroom
building on the new campus of La Salle High School in Washington. Only
two years ago, La Salle Yakima and Saint Joseph in Sunnyside had the distinction
of being the newest members of the District family. The fact that this
distinction now applies to two more new schools that will open this fall
– De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland, and De Marillac
Middle School in San Francisco – is a matter of great pride and great
blessing for the District, because it means that Lasallian education is
thriving. It means, too, that we are fulfilling our commitment to expand
the Lasallian mission in our District. Like La Salle and Saint Joseph's,
De La Salle and De Marillac will fulfill a need for Catholic education
where such opportunity has been lacking, but more specifically, educational
opportunities for young people whose family, social, and economic circumstances
can easily result in their defeat, spiritually, intellectually, and all
too often, physically.
This
new year most certainly holds great promise:
•
Construction is taking place on virtually every District campus to
improve the educational experiences of our students, from renovation at
the sites of our two newest schools in Portland and San Francisco, to
new classroom facilities at our two oldest District schools – Saint
Mary's College in Moraga and Saint Mary's College High School in Berkeley.
•
Local Action Plans were completed by District schools last fall, demonstrating
the commitment and efforts of school leaders to support and participate
enthusiastically in the direction set by the District Chapter of 1999
and the District Action Plan.
•
The District Leadership Team has tied the Acts of the 43rd General
Chapter to our existing District Action Plan. Many Chapter Acts are already
being fulfilled by initiatives set forth in the Action Plan, and new items
have been written to fulfill Chapter Acts not yet addressed by our District.
•
Our newest non-traditional educational initiative – Rancho de
Los Hermanos – is providing economically disadvantaged youngsters
from the Napa Valley opportunities for 4-H involvement in a working ranch
setting at Mont La Salle.
We
speak frequently about the Lasallian family. It is a phrase that has come
to identify increasingly close connections between the dreams, goals,
and hard work in the District of San Francisco, and the dreams, goals,
and hard work of thousands of others around the world who are inspired
by the life and vision of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. We are a family
that continues to act with purpose to fulfill a mission that is at the
same time collective and deeply personal, reaching out to those most in
need.
The
stories in this issue of Signs of Faith testify to the importance
of the Lasallian educational mission in our world, and the ways in which
we touch the hearts of our brothers and sisters whose lives intersect
with our own, providentially or by design. The work we do and the love
and care we show can deeply affect those lives.
In
this new year, filled with hope, promise, and hard work, let us together
continue to respond to the challenge, the responsibility, and the
opportunity to
support this important adventure we share.
Visitor's
Letter | Brothers
From North Mexico
The
Dying of Dino Zarate |
Spirit on the Move
| Sister Helen Prejean
Learn in Freedom, Without
Fear
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