Rooted in the Lasallian Mission, Young Professionals Return to Ministry with Faith and Zeal After VEGA Conference

Twelve Young Lasallian Professionals from across the District gathered for the VEGA Conference hosted at Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY.

From July 25 – 30, these Lasallian educators were joined by Young Lasallian Council members, accompaniers, and presenters who took them on a formative journey to help them better understand the unique context that their ministries serve within the District and the broader Lasallian world. Throughout a week of learning, sharing, and association, friendships were grown.

In Their Own Words…

DENA VEGA participants share their experiences …

Daily Highlights

Day One, Monday

The conference started with prayer in the Chapel of De La Salle and his Brothers at Manhattan College. Julia Turner, Chair of the Young Lasallians Council, welcomed VEGA participants and shared the why of what we do as young Lasallian professionals and the meaning of the theme Rooted in the Lasallian Mission. Keane Palatino, Coordinator of Young Lasallians for the Institute shared a broad overview of the worldwide Young Lasallians movement. Through a Lasallian BINGO, participants shared a little about themselves, had some fun, and got to know their fellow participants. The Visitor’s welcome and presentation called participants to consider the Lasallian mission as God’s mission carried out through each of us–thanks to Brother Bob Schaefer for being with us!

Day Two, Tuesday

The focus for participants was on the history of the Lasallian educational mission and on each person’s vocation: to serve others. As a Lasallian family, it’s helpful to know how the roots of the mission took hold and how to continue that mission today by planting individual seeds of Lasallian vocation, answering the call to serve others. In the first session of the day, Br. JD Macioce explored the concept of vocation with the participants, posing to them the question: “Where is God calling me?” Br. Ernest Miller introduced the founding story to VEGA participants and asked what animates and will inspire them as they continue their Lasallian journey. VEGA participants got to touch the Lasallian history–a relic of the Founder, garments, and documents were presented by archivist Ms. Amy Surak who shared Lasallian history and invited participants to write theirs.

Day Three, Wednesday

Participants took deeper root in the Lasallian story, first in prayer, then following the life of the Founder through the beautiful works of stained glass that illuminate the Chapel of De La Salle and his Brothers on Manhattan College’s campus. Ms. Lois Harr continued cultivating the soil for participants by sharing how the Lasallian mission of Catholic social teaching can be lived out. Armed with this context, participants spent the afternoon in service throughout the Bronx community and returned to campus for reflection, sharing, and evening prayer.

Day Four, Thursday

Lasallian spirituality allows each person to step into faith and root themselves in the work of our Lasallian educational mission. La Salle University’s Br. John Crawford helped participants better understand that regardless of their personal faith tradition, through our charism we can stick to His call and our vocation. Through those eyes of faith, participants meet young people where they are. De La Salle and the first Brothers understood that their students came from troubled backgrounds and needed to be cared for educationally, physically, and spiritually. With a more scientific understanding of the brain and emotional development, it’s important to recognize the unique needs of those entrusted to their care. Dr. Camela Hughes shared how the Founder was ahead of his time in what we now call trauma-informed care, while Br. James Martino provided tips and tactics to add tools to the toolbelts of VEGA Lasallian educators.

Day Five, Friday

The final day of the Young Lasallians VEGA Conference was filled with skills, stories, and sharing. Thanks to President of the International Council for Association and the Lasallian Educational Mission, Ms. Alisa Macksey, participants began to understand how the Lasallian mission continues to evolve to meet the needs of young people, and how each of them can shape that future. She shared that the Lasallian mission is shaped by the ever-evolving needs of young people and that Lasallian educators, just like our VEGA participants, craft the response to those needs all over the globe.

Principal of La Salle Academy New York Ms. Kerry Conroy shared her step-by-step vocational journey that led her to her leadership role today and urged each participant to be open to saying yes just as they did to the VEGA invitation. She urged each participant to understand they are already leaders, and that leadership success  is not a straight path but a winding road with purpose-filled calls to serve.

In the final hours, VEGA concluded as it started . . . in prayer. In a warm and close-knit setting in the Chapel of De La Salle and his Brothers, the closing liturgy celebrated by Manhattan College Chaplain, Fr. Thomas Franks, OFM Cap., invited participants to be together one last time as a prayer community.

Of course, no formation program would be complete without food and fellowship. The closing banquet featured remarks from Br. Bob Schaefer, Justin Martineau, and Jim Logan.

Each of the VEGA participants was commissioned, sent out to be the next sowers of the Lasallian mission and armed with the Young Lasallians Creed–rooted in Faith, Service, and Community.

Let us pray in thanksgiving for the time that our fellow educators were able to have together, and now, rooted in the Lasallian mission, will be a living invitation to others, sowing new seeds of our educational work!

Blessings for our Participants

• Ms. Danielle Ashworth
• Mr. Aidan Campolettano
• Ms. Julie Cuomo
• Ms. Rebekah Galucki
• Mr. Christopher Kirby
• Ms. Vrinda Kumar
• Ms. Jacqueline Martin
• Mr. Erik Morrison
• Ms. Shayna Ortiz
• Mr. Matthew Pisaturo
• Ms. Cecelia Schrecengost
• Ms. Teresa Yoder

Let us pray in thanksgiving for the time that our fellow educators were able to have together, and now, rooted in the Lasallian mission, will be a living invitation to others, sowing new seeds of our educational work!

Blessings for our Participants

• Ms. Danielle Ashworth
• Mr. Aidan Campolettano
• Ms. Julie Cuomo
• Ms. Rebekah Galucki
• Mr. Christopher Kirby
• Ms. Vrinda Kumar
• Ms. Jacqueline Martin
• Mr. Erik Morrison
• Ms. Shayna Ortiz
• Mr. Matthew Pisaturo
• Ms. Cecelia Schrecengost
• Ms. Teresa Yoder

Thanks to our Accompaniers

• Mr. Skip Gaus, AFSC
• Ms. Kate Ward-Gaus
• Br. Brian Henderson, FSC

Thanks to our Presenters

• Ms. Kerry Conroy
• Br. John Crawford, FSC
• Ms. Lois Harr
• Dr. Camela Hughes
• Br. JD Macioce, FSC
• Ms. Alisa Macksey
• Br. James Martino, FSC
• Br. Ernest Miller, FSC
• Mr. Keane Palatino
• Br. Robert Schaefer, FSC
• Ms. Amy Surak

Celebrant

• Fr. Thomas Franks, OFM Cap.

And to all the Lasallians that created community with VEGA

• Br. Paul Avvento
• Br. Richard Galvin
• Br. Daniel Gardner
• Br. Lawrence Goyette
• Mr. James Logan
• Br. Kyle Mena
• Br. Edward Phelan
• Br. Edward Shields