LASALLIAN
NOTES
BR OTHE R S OF THE C H RIS T IA N S CH OOLS
DISTRICT OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
Spring 2020 • VOL. 7
Retirement? What is That? by Patrick Donahue - Director of Advancement, District of Eastern North America
COVID-19 Crisis Message: During this uncertain and strenuous time, we would like to assure you that our senior communities have been taking every precaution to ensure the safety of their residents. At the date of this writing, there is only one Brother (not from a senior community) who is being treated for the virus. We ask your prayers for his full recovery. I have received dozens of requests for specific prayer intentions from members of our Lasallian family in recent weeks, which have been sent to all communities to place at their altars and in their prayers. If you, too, have a specific intention, please forward it to donahue@fscdena.org to be added to the Brothers’ prayers. In conversations with donors and friends of the Brothers, it is so easy for me as a development professional to fall back on a standard term like, “Thank you for supporting our retired Brothers.” However, the dictionary says that retirement is, “the action or fact of leaving one’s job or ceasing to work.” In the five years I have been working with this amazing group of men, I have realized that words describing our normal understanding of aging, retirement, leisure years, etc., do little to justify the reality of the lives of these servants of God. These Brothers—who have committed their lives to serving others—do not have the same understanding of the term “retirement” as do you and I. From the time they leave Novitiate, they serve throughout our schools and programs in teaching, counseling, administrative, and leadership roles. When the rules say that they are “officially” retired, most still continue active ministries, sometimes multiple ministries. I have found that it is not unusual to witness a Brother whom the world would consider of retirement age teaching at one school, on the Board of another, and sitting on one of our District oversight councils (and possibly helping out at a local soup kitchen in his spare time). As time takes
a toll on their physical abilities, they may move from teaching to mentoring or tutoring. When the time comes that they may need more intensive care, they still continue to pray daily for the intentions of each of our Lasallian friends. While the District provides many vital services for the Brothers and for our thirtytwo ministries in eastern North America, one of the most rewarding is ensuring that these fine men receive the care they deserve when the time comes that they themselves need help. The District of Eastern North America (DENA) assists all retired Brothers, but in a special way, those who need particular support. DENA operates two assisted living communities, La Salle Hall in Beltsville MD, and Christian Brothers Center in Narragansett RI. We also support several of our Brothers from Ontario residing at Presentation Manor, an assisted-living facility in Toronto run by a cooperative of religious orders for their members. In addition, a few years ago we opened (continued on page 4)
Above: Octogenarian Br. Thomas Dunn, FSC, at Christian Brothers Center; Narragansett RI, is up for a bit of blarney on St. Patrick’s Day. Left: Br. Martin Fahey, FSC, enjoys getting spiffied up by the visiting barber at De La Salle Hall. Center: Superior General, Br. Robert Schieler, FSC, (left) with the Brothers at Presentation Manor.