Early in the spring of 1978 Bill Fecteau and I met on a street corner in the South Bronx to evaluate our efforts to refound a Lasallian community in that neighborhood.
Our long standing community at St. Augustine School had closed a year earlier, and a new mission was developing around adults who wanted to begin college-level courses in their neighborhood. We soon realized it would be the raison d’etre for a new community.
Earlier that day we had toured an old frame house on 150th Street that once was Panza Funeral Home and had recently been a convent. It needed a lot of work but the location and size was perfect. At 29 and 38 respectively, Bill and I had the vision and energy to pull together a new community.
On the street corner that day we both had only one fear: other Lasallians might not be attracted to living in this house in a neighborhood struggling with crime and drugs in the poorest congressional district in the country. We could end up a community of only two Brothers, and that would not be community to us.
Gift from God*
Neither of us realized at the time the power of the new mission to attract Lasallians. Reaching out to struggling families was the modern equivalent of the founding charism. We spread the invitation net wide to Lasallians with interests in adult education, graduate study, school planning, volunteering, or just being retired in the South Bronx.
In March of that year the New York District Council affirmed our efforts, and on July 10 they unanimously approved the project by a written resolution. It called for the community to open in September 1978.
We were three Brothers on opening day and within a year were a community of eight men and women: Lasallians, Partners, Brothers, a graduate student and even a high school student.
In the years since, members have changed and the community location has moved. Even the specifics of mission have changed, but the human and Christian education of youth and their families remains constant. Over the years more than 90 Lasallians have participated–young and old, men and women, some for now and some forever.
In hindsight, it is so clear to me that the creativity and energy to build that community was the Spirit of the Living God welling up within us to serve the families who lived in that Melrose neighborhood. We were many vocations under one Baptismal vow, one charism, and one mission.
The Purpose is Being Strengthened*
That same spirit is alive and well today in Jamaica, the newest community of the Lasallian District of Eastern North America (DENA). Two Brothers and one lay partner have started the community at St. Vincent Strambe School.
In the past few months, a young Passionist Volunteer named Brian Clark–a graduate of St. Peters High School on Staten Island–heard about the work while on assignment with the Passionists in Jamaica. He offered to help during the past year and, at this point, Clark will be a card-carrying member of their community next year and will work full time with the boys and girls of St. Vincent. Furthermore, Brother Gus Nicoletti is inviting retired Lasallians to join them at St. Vincent to add depth and strength to their new community.
The communities at St. Peters High School and St. Raymond’s in the Bronx are both looking forward to expanding their service to young adults in the coming year by inviting Lasallian Volunteers into their communities.
Promote the Lay Vocation in the Church*
Other communities (often with fewer or aging members) are fragile and would do well in imitating the efforts in the Bronx, Staten Island and Jamaica–especially if their mission is compelling, vibrant and viable.
Former Superior General of the Christian Brothers Álvaro Rodríguez Echeverría hopes we give “all that we are and have in service of the urgent needs of so many children and young people today who are on the peripheries.”
Some communities unwilling or unable to adjust their members or mission may simply end their work or migrate into larger communities–the fate of hundreds over history.
Authentic Evangelical Vocation Inspired by Our Charism*
The future growth of our communities for mission is about invitation to the whole Lasallian family.
The need is very great. Our mission demands it.
The Spirit is behind it.
*Brother Álvaro’s Words
The former Superior General of the Christian Brothers seemed to have these communities in mind in his Song of Hope to the Brothers at the 45th General Chapter in Rome, where he said:
“Today the grace is sharing our mission and opening association for the educational service of the poor with the laity. We said yes to this. We should see this reality as gift from God and live it without the fear of losing power or diluting our vocation. The reality is that the mission and the purpose of the Institute is being strengthened. The Declaration invited us to promote the lay vocation in the Church. As we face this new and exciting reality today, we can state that there is no crisis of vocations depending upon how you look at it. If we limit ourselves only to the Brothers, then yes, but if our program includes also supporting the lay vocation in the Church and in the world we would help a great number of men and women to discover and to live an authentic evangelical vocation inspired by our charism.”
Brother Ed Phelan has lived with men and women Lasallians for over 30 years in the Bronx. Iin Brother Álvaro’s words Together they have “lived an authentic evangelical vocation inspired by our charism.” Together they have helped families break the cycle of poverty. build community and personal assets and bridge to a better life.
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