RESPONDING TO THE TIMES: THE LASALLIAN MISSION IN A PANDEMIC BY ELIZABETH MOORS JODICE
COVID-19 HAS CHANGED THE LASALLIAN MISSION. In March 2020, the pandemic forced most Lasallian ministries to close their doors and all to make unprecedented changes. Educators and students quickly pivoted to online learning. Youth and family service agencies devised creative ways to continue to serve youth, including keeping those in residential programs healthy. Brothers’ communities adapted everyday life to keep vulnerable Brothers safe. In-person formation programs ground to a halt. Despite these swift, drastic changes, something remarkable—and perhaps, expected—happened: The Lasallian mission responded to the needs of the day, as it has done since the days of Saint John Baptist de La Salle. Brothers and Lasallian Partners took a step back, assessed the situation and came up with new ways to support young people and each other—and continued to adapt as the situation continued to change. Young people stepped up, embracing their new online learning, showing appreciation for their teachers and helping their communities.
FROM CLASSROOMS TO COMPUTERS As school doors closed in the spring, laptops opened. For some schools, the transition to
online learning was easier than others since they already had the platforms in place. For all, maintaining their personal connections called for creativity. Justin-Siena High School in Napa, California, was one that relied on technology to keep up connections. In addition to online learning, the school moved a number of activities online, such as prayer services and a talent show, and held Wellness Fridays to provide opportunities for rest and to connect with counselors. “ People wonder what the best aspect of Justin-Siena is, and one of my first responses is always that the teachers care so so much about their students,” Eleanor Meyers, Justin-Siena student, wrote in the District of San Francisco New Orleans Dateline District, Spring-Summer 2020 issue. “I believe COVID-19 didn’t change that, but rather, proved it to the fullest extent. All of my teachers put in unimaginable time and effort into our learning, from daily check-ins to flexible schedules that accommodated our stress. But most importantly, they did it out of love.”
8 | DE LA SALLE TODAY SPRING-AUTUMN 2020
