Lewiston, NY – Way up north where the Niagara River seperates the United States from Canada lies Niagara University, this year’s host for the Lasallian Youth Summer Assembly. 12 of our Lasallian ministries and parish group, with a little more than 1oo students and moderators gathered for friendship, faith, and formation July 17-22.
Living in faith, service, and community, and reflecting on the theme of mercy, in light of the Pope’s Jubilee Year of Mercy, Lasallian students engaged in community service projects throughout western New York, in the cities of Buffalo, Lewiston, and Niagara Falls. Home improvement projects to help the urban poor, befriending senior citizens in assisted care, accompanying children in summer day camp for the economically challenged, beautification and increased access to natural park lands for local schools and families; all part of our Lasallian students’ service while at the assembly.
During times of community and prayer, facilitated by students, and a special workshop from recent CBA Syracuse and Peer Ministry grads, while pondering presentations of vocation and God’s call in their lives, Lasallians engaged in poignant conversations relating to the discourse happening in today’s world. Coming from different ethnic, religious, and societal backgrounds, the rich tapestry of students created opportunities of deep reflection and prayer, and displayed that this generation of Lasallians is keenly aware of what is happening in the world around them, and how they want to be agents of mercy and change.
Participants in the Youth Assembly:
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School
Calvert Hall College High School
Central Catholic High School
Christian Brothers Academy, Albany
Christian Brothers Academy, Syracuse
La Salle Academy, Providence
De La Salle “Oaklands” Toronto, Canada
San Giuseppe, Rome, Italy
St. John’s College High School
St. Joseph’s Collegiate High School
St. Mary Magdalene Parish, NY
St. Peter’s Boys High School
For plenty of photos, check out our Google Photos album >
Evangelization and Catechesis: There is an urgency today to “set on fire” the Lasallian Catholic evangelical mission within each of our educational communities to do as Jesus did by joyfully announcing the radical Good News that God loves us all and calls us to cooperate in building God’s Kingdom. (Directional Statements from the 2015 Mission Assembly and District Chapter Resolutions)