To Associate or not...that is the question

We began our work in earnest today. Charlie Kitson distributed the results of the survey on “Association and Lasallian Family” that we had completed earlier. The context of this endeavor is important in order to understand the challenge we were asked to debate. Unique among religious orders, the Christian Brothers profess a vow of association – meaning that they commit themselves to support the Mission of the Institute (the “human and Christian education of the young, especially the poor”) wherever it sponsors ministries. This is more than “just” the vow of obedience, common to every religious order. The Christian Brothers commit themselves to supporting every school or ministry in their region not just the one they are assigned to. In this sense, it is not at all uncommon to hear the Brothers talk about “our” school in San Francisco or “our” school in Pasadena…as if they were assigned to that location. It’s a difficult concept to explain. What is not difficult is the deep emotional reservoir the concept of “Association” stirs up in the Brothers – it is (one of) their unique elements which distinguishes them from other religious communities and binds them together.

So, to talk about the concept of “Association” in a meeting of Lasallians in which half do not take on themselves the vow of “Association” is, to say the least, a challenge. The survey was an attempt to determine how this concept is understood in the various provinces around the world as they invite lay people to share the Mission ever more closely. Needless to say, the data was all over the place. It appeared that some regions have taken some steps towards including lay people under the umbrella of “Association” while others (the US/Toronto Region) have not. There was even greater diversity of opinion around the notion that some appropriate symbol of inclusion should be created so that lay people who feel so inspired by the charism of Saint John Baptist de La Salle would be offered, where appropriate. Good old practical Americans were largely of the opinion that things are fine the way they are now and that any notion of applying the Brothers’ concept of “Association” to lay people in our Region is best left to informal customs that make clear all are included in the Mission of the Institute.

I imagine this must seem very arcane and, in some ways, not unlike two bald men fighting over a comb. In reality, it is a very important issue and explains, in part, why we are spending a month together. The Brothers are very serious about “Sharing the Mission” and want to have confidence that, as we lay people become more responsible for the works entrusted to their care, the vision of De La Salle will remain steadfast now and in the future. This is all heady stuff – fortunately they have the custom of serving red wine at dinner (unfortunately, it comes in plastic pitchers).

* Ann and friend on the Piazza del Popolo