Core Values

LASALLIAN CORE VALUES

The Lasallian Formation Foundational Principles, Lasallian Education in the Philippines Principles, and Lasallian Social Development Principles are the result of an ongoing effort to define and clarify the nature of the Lasallian presence and mission in the country today. They are the direct result of resolutions passed during the First Lasallian Family Convocation in 2003, which called for a stronger sense of Lasallian identity and a deeper understanding of the Lasallian charism among individuals and institutions in the Philippine District. Each of these statements is based on three fundamental Lasallian values: The Spirit of Faith, Zeal for Service, and Communion in Mission.

THE ONE WHO STARTED IT ALL

On April 30, 1651, John Baptist de La Salle was born in Rheims, France. La Salle, an aristocratic family's son, received an excellent education and later received his priestly ordination. His career goal was to spend all of his time working with the affluent residents of his community. De La Salle's life unexpectedly underwent a significant change. De La Salle began his education after making a promise to a dying friend to help a group of Sisters in their work with orphan girls. His continued support of a friend who was opening a school for underprivileged boys in Rheims solidified his true calling as an educator, a pursuit that would take up his entire life.

After renunciating his own wealth and social status, De La Salle founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1684, a group of school administrators. The Institute quickly received approval from the Roman Catholic Church to become a legitimate Congregation of Religious. Serving the educational needs of society, especially those of the poor, was the Congregation's main goal.

He and his brothers were fervent advocates for education. He not only started schools in 22 places at the time of his death in 1719, but he also made a substantial contribution to the entire area of education with his writings and novel teaching methods. The Roman Catholic Church designated John Baptist de La Salle as a saint in 1900. John Baptist de La Salle was named the Patron Saint of Teachers fifty years later by Pope Pius XII. De La Salle, who discovered that "...not only is God so wonderful to have created us, but God intends all of us to come to the knowledge of the truth," laid the foundation for the Lasallian educational system.

The Lasallian tradition emphasizes the fact that all people, especially the young, have an inherent dignity which comes from their being created in the image of God. For Lasallian educators, education is a means of developing this dignity for the well-being of each student as well as for the well-being of our society. This is the heart of the Lasallian educational tradition.

Today, the work of Saint De La Salle is continued by the Christian Brothers, and by dedicated lay men and women and associated religious and priests, who bring a Lasallian distinctiveness to a myriad of educational works in 81 countries throughout the world.

THELASALLIAN COMMUNITY

The Lasallian Mission is an apostolic ministry of the Catholic Church that provides a human and Christian education to all youth, especially the poor and marginalized, in ministries conducted as places of salvation, by professionals acting together and by association for the sake of this mission.

Through your association with CBU, you become part of the global mission of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, the largest Roman Catholic order dedicated to teaching. The Lasallian educational mission provides transformative experiences that are innovative and holistic.

Lasallian Education centers on Catholic values and personal relationships, emphasizing academic excellence, faith formation, inclusion, respect for the individual, service and social justice. A Lasallian Education strives to enrich each student’s cultural, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development.

Since 1680 educational institutions in more than 80 countries have been influenced by the vision and innovative spirit of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (known today as the De La Salle Christian Brothers) and the patron saint of teachers. De La Salle transformed education by forming a community of educators with whom he developed a spirituality of teaching and learning, to give a human and Christian education to young people, especially the poor.

Today, the Lasallian Community, the ongoing home of De La Salle’s tradition and spirit, is alive and functioning in more than 1,000 educational institutions around the world. The De La Salle Christian Brothers, along with 100,000 Lasallian lay colleagues, serve more than 1,000,000 students and their families worldwide. Here in the United States, there are more than 100 Lasallian educational institutions. Christian Brothers University is one of the six Lasallian colleges.

The De La Salle Christian Brothers and their Lasallian Partners continue to respond to students through advancements in teaching, technology and scholarship.

In Lasallian communities, faculty and staff educate minds, touch hearts and cultivate leadership to prepare students for life, work, and service to society and the Church.

To be Lasallian means to be part of a strong spiritual community. We follow the morals of St John Baptist De La Salle and learn to touch the hearts of others and care for the least, the last, and the lost.

SPIRIT OF FAITH

The Lasallian school fosters faith in God's living presence in our world. Faith in the presence of God calls all students into a deeper awareness of their saving relationship with a caring and loving God and to see the world through the " eyes of faith." This core principle is reflected through this Lasallian expression of faith: "Let us remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God.

1 John 5:4 (NIV) tells us: “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

The Animosaic event is intended to be a joyful reunion of the Lasallian family.

The Feast Day of St. John Baptist De La Salle is a very important occasion. We will join together 'in solidarity' to experience and celebrate the ' presence '

Remember that God's presence, especially through Jesus, is a presence of love.

Paki-isa and/or Pagiging Isa Solidarity

The Philippine Lasallian Family has adopted the “I am La Salle” theme for our Tercentenary celebrations. Individually we can reflect and radiate the spirit of St. La Salle if we devote ourselves to the mission of “human and Christian education, especially for the youth at risk” In that way we can be the “faces” of De La Salle 300 years after his death, thus, “I am La Salle.” But remember that the Lasallian way is always “together and by association,” that is why, collectively we are the “humans of St. La Salle.”

Done in this light, our coming together for the human formation of his face is not an empty gesture, it is meaningful and purposeful. It is done in solidarity with one another and in solidarity with those in need of Lasallian education. The Lasallian Spirit in full display

WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE FAITH

Having faith is having trust. You have to trust with your entire being that God has your back that he will help you and take care of you. He knows what is best, but to truly embrace what he has planned for you, you have to fully trust. Our trust is not foolish, for our God is both faithful and good.

ZEAL OF SERVICE

The Lasallian mission is “human and Christian education, especially for the most in need.” St. La Salle fulfilled this by educating the poor children of his time. We continue his legacy by providing quality education to our students and by exerting efforts to make our brand/kind of education available to those who cannot afford quality education. This is our service, our way of putting our faith in action.

In John 10:27, Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ”

WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE FOR GOD

to serve God means to do His will and it includes doing what He commands us to do. It is not enough that we mentally recognize that there is a God, we must do what God commands us to do. In John 10:27, Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ”

COMMUNION IN MISSION

“Together and by association,” with those who dared to share in his dream of “human and Christian education,” St. La Salle answered the call of God. This is what we celebrate as we form the face of De La Salle. Remember that St. La Salle became the concrete and palpable presence of Jesus in his milieu (17th Century France) just as Jesus was the concrete “personal” presence of God in the world

JOHN 13:15

"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you, " Jesus says

Jesus gave God a recognizable “face” in his time. Through Him God became physically present for everyone to behold and witness. De La Salle, in his own unique way, became the “face” of Jesus to those he met, the poor children especially. This is the legacy and the challenge that he left to all of us who wish to carry his name, to be the “face” of Jesus in our own place and time. We can do this, if just like De La Salle, Jesus lives in our hearts at all times.

As we gather to symbolically form the face of De La Salle, we shall look at each other’s faces, and be, even just for a brief moment, the face of Jesus to one another. We celebrate the joyful occasion of the Tercentenary of our Founder’s entry into heaven by radiating the presence of Jesus as individuals and as a community. Together and by association, we can continue the dream of Jesus of a world permeated by the presence of God. We can continue to create possibilities to make the mission of St. John Baptist De La Salle a reality in our time. Together and by association, we can confidently say, “I am La Salle.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR MISSION

Hearing and believing God's word is important for salvation, which means having our sins forgiven, our relationship with God restored, and a promise of eternal life with Jesus. God wants everyone to hear the Word and be saved, and we have a part in spreading that word.

PRAYER

LET US REMEMBER THAT WE ARE IN THE MOST HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD.

I WILL CONTINUE, OH MY GOD, TO DO ALL MY ACTIONS FOR THE LOVE OF YOU.

ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE

PRAY FOR US

“LIVE, JESUS, IN OUR HEARTS

FOREVER!