Vocation
Starting right after the Commencement season ended, more than a half dozen of the young men in our Contact Program, discerning if the Brotherhood is God’s call in their lives, went to serve as teachers in our San Miguel Schools in Providence, RI, Freeport, NY, and Philadelphia, PA, as well as OceanTides School, our youth and family residential program in Narragansett, RI, and La Salle Academy, one of our high schools in New York City. Our Contacts interacted with students, acting as teachers, counselors, guides, and Brothers to those entrusted to their care, while living as community members with the Brothers accompanying them in their discernment. The young men concluded this summer discernment program during the Jubilee weekend in Lincroft, NJ, on August 8th, fully participating in Mass as members of the larger Brothers’ Community.
Celebration
Throughout the summer, our Brothers celebrated their Jubilarians, Brothers who have reached significant milestone years in their lifelong service to the Institute. “We were very proud to shine the spotlight on 32 of our Jubilarian Brothers with more than 1,700 combined years of witness, service, and forming community as educators in elementary, secondary, and university educations, youth and family services to young people, and in our overseas missions,” said Br. Dennis Malloy, FSC, Visitor of DENA. Celebrations were held at Christian Brothers Center, Narragansett, RI, on June 13th, La Salle College High School, Wyndmoor, PA, July 11th, Lorretto Abbey, Toronto, Canada, August 16th, and the District wide gathering the previous weekend in Lincroft, NJ on August 7th and 8th, honoring the senior Brothers at De La Salle Hall and the first promises and perpetual vows of two or young Brothers.
Firsts
Steven Barbaro formally asked for admittance to the Jeremy House Brothers’ Community, where young men train academically and spiritually to be Christian Brothers, and professed first promises, witnessed by all of the Brothers gathered for the Jubilee celebration in Lincroft, NJ, on August 8th. Br. Richard Buccina, FSC, happily accepted Steven into the community as its newest Postulant.
Reflection from Br. Steven
During this past winter and the spring months, as a Contact, I had the blessing of tutoring 5th graders at the De La Salle School in Freeport, N.Y. under the guidance of Brother Thomas Casey, FSC. While I was in DENA’s Contact program visiting different Lasallian schools and their respective communities around the Tri-State area I also had the opportunity to meet Brothers, fellow Contacts, lay teachers and students. What I found remarkable was that the Lasallian schools I visited, whether it was Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft, NJ, Saint Raymond’s Boys High School in the Bronx, NY or the De La Salle School in Long Island all shared our Lasallian charism of faith and zeal. As I reflect on that day of making my First Promises, I am thankful to God for guiding me to the Christian Brothers and helping me discern my vocation in educating and working with children and young adults.
Finals
Subsequently, Br. Peter Nguyen, FSC, declared perpetual vows the same day. Together with Brother Jubilarians, and young Brothers renewing their initial vows, Br. Peter vowed to be a permanent member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Surrounded by family, friends, and Brothers, the congregation gathered was overjoyed for Br. Peter! May God continue to bless the two men, and all of the Brothers in initial formation as they continue to live their vocation as a witness to God’s love!
