Bronx, NY – This year’s Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies took place June 24 – July 7 at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York, with 40 participants in Buttimer I, 35 in Buttimer II and 32 in Buttimer III. Buttimer brings together participants for two weeks each summer for three consecutive summers to study the life and work of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the origins of the Lasallian mission.
Buttimer II participant Colleen Dunne, director of Campus Ministry at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, called it an “incredible experience” to gather with participants from different countries, types of institutions and roles who are excited about the Lasallian mission.
“The energy of the participants to share their own stories and the stories of what they do in their schools and universities is inspiring,” said Dunne. “This group also took to heart the relational aspect of Lasallian ministry by investing in one another during our time together and supporting each other’s learning, affirming experiences, and giving encouragement for the work ahead. The greatest blessing of the second year class is the community we have formed with one another that goes beyond our two weeks in New York.”
Matt Michaud, associate principal for academics and student affairs at La Salle Institute in Troy, New York, completed his final year at Buttimer and shared, “The last three years has been transformational, I can honestly say that my life is forever changed because of the experience of Buttimer. There was a common theme that became increasingly more prevalent for me as Buttimer pressed on. What occurred as a result was a clarity and resulting peace that filled my heart. An amazing thing happens to you when you realize exactly what you were born to do.”
This is the second year in a row that Buttimer was held at Manhattan College, where it first took place in 1984. Prior to last year, Buttimer took place at Saint Mary’s College of California in Moraga for 25 years.
Buttimer, a program of the Office for Lasallian Education at Christian Brothers Conference, is named in honor of Brother Charles Henry Buttimer, FSC, (1909-1982), the first American Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (1966-1976).
Click here for more on Buttimer Institute.
Romeoville, IL – Participants of the second cohort of the Brother John Johnston Institute of Contemporary Lasallian Practice gathered for a Regional gathering July 9-13 at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. The previous three Johnston gatherings have taken place by District, and this was the first time the group met as a Regional group.
“I think that the Regional group further reinforces the strength of the value of Lasallian mission across borders,” said John Wolf, executive director of The San Miguel School of Providence in Rhode Island. “Being able to interchange ideas and get advice from folks 3,000 miles from my home that will benefit the students we serve is very cool.”
Participants will gather by District again in October 2018. They will complete their experience in the Johnston Institute with District gatherings in March 2019. The third cohort of the Johnston Institute will start in the summer of 2019.