Looking Back and Forward

Lasallians Unfiltered – Br. Edward Adams, FSC – St. Jane de Chantal Parish
(shared by the Fisher and McGregor families)

To have been a De La Salle Christian Brother for more than 70 years is my greatest strength, treasure and bliss.

Br. Edward Adams, FSC – 70 years a Brother

It is rewarding to me to look back over intense years of Lasallian formation and being a member of the largest teaching institute in the world, imbued with the spirituality of St. John Baptist de La Salle, universal Patron of Christian Teachers.

I was studying in Rome at the outset of the Second Vatican Council, inspired by the breaking Good News of Evangelization and the universal call of the laity to holiness. After 35 years of teaching and Administration at St John’s College I responded to a call from Cardinal Baum to work with the Paulist Fathers in opening their National Office for Evangelization, which led to the NCCB and National Council of Christian Churches. Afterwards, I went on to CARA, the Church Research Center, and then to evangelization roles at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Looking ahead, while I see a drop off in numbers of nominal Catholics who pay, pray, and obey and occasionally go to Mass, I now see in the Church, including de Chantal parish, the emergence of lay people responding to the New Evangelization by truly living their faith. They are bringing the Good News into our culture in their spheres of influence, demonstrating their genuine love for God and neighbor.

It makes a huge difference to see our clergy encouraging and empowering rather than controlling the laity. The role of the laity in the media, television (EWTN), Radio (1160 AM), on the Internet, and in special places such as the Basilica and the Ratner Museum fosters further education and dramatic growth ahead for the Church. I foresee more lively member interaction where love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable. When we see God in our neighbor we are in communion and become one in Christ’s body. The Good News is that nothing except deliberate sin can separate us from the loving presence of God wherever we are, or wherever we go. This message of living in God’s presence continues to resound in Lasallian schools worldwide to millions of students and is a reminder to billions of Lasallian alumni globally.

Recognition from the St. Jane de Chantal Parish in their bulletin.