Youth & Vocations

Serving and reaching out to the peripheries continues, especially during this CHRISTmas season.

The Lasallian Volunteers Batch 25 participated in their Mid-Year Activity-Program Management, which took place from December 11-14, 2024, at Sitio Mclen Ville, Malabon City. This immersion activity was organized by the De La Salle Brothers, Inc. – Social Action Unit

A total of 125 simple Noche Buena packages were distributed to the residents by the volunteers as a gesture of gratitude to the community.

The activity not only opened the hearts and minds of the volunteers to the realities that exist beyond what we usually see, but it also highlighted the importance of service. A special thanks to individuals like Nanay Alma, the President of SMV Homeowners Association, who is dedicated and always willing to go the extra mile in serving her community. May her commitment inspire us all to fulfill our roles and responsibilities as active members of our own communities.

#lasallianvolunteers #lsvp25
 

From November 17th to 23rd, the Grade 10 Lasallian Catholic Youth students of St. Joseph’s Institution International (SJI International), Singapore, embarked on their first mission trip to La Salle Bamboo School in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand. This journey was a remarkable opportunity for students to connect with fellow Lasallians, witness the Lasallian educational mission in action, and reflect on their roles as members of a global Lasallian family.

The trip’s purpose was multifaceted. It aimed to help students build meaningful relationships with other Lasallians, understand and respond to the real needs of the community, and experience firsthand the mission of providing quality human and Christian education, especially to those on the peripheries. Additionally, it encouraged participants to grow in self-awareness, deepen their relationship with God, and witness His presence in their encounters.

By the end of the mission trip, students were tasked with creating a service learning plan and proposing a long-term partnership between La Salle Bamboo School and SJI International to ensure the continuation of learning and service. 

Here’s a heartfelt reflection from one of the student participants, Marie Kinze, which beautifully encapsulates the spirit of this transformative experience.

During the Bamboo School Mission Trip, I learned and experienced so many things—about service, resilience and the Lasallian mission. Yet, what stood out to me the most was the love shared by the children at the Bamboo School in Sangkhlaburi. Their warmth and joy, despite the challenges they face, left a lasting impact on me and reshaped my understanding of connection, gratitude and community.

From the moment we arrived, the children greeted us with an openness that was nothing short of extraordinary. Despite the language barrier, they were eager to express their love—through never-ending hugs, jumping on us, putting flowers in our hair, covering our faces in stickers and offering us whatever they had. Their genuine excitement to connect with us reminded me that love is a universal language, transcending all boundaries. It didn’t matter that we came from different backgrounds or spoke different languages; in their eyes, we were family, brought together by the shared values of faith, service and community that define the Lasallian spirit.

The children’s enthusiasm during our activities—whether it was the mushroom project, playing games, or simply spending time together—showed their hunger for connection and their readiness to give so much of themselves. Every hug, every laugh and every attempt to communicate reinforced the truth that we are called to see one another as brothers and sisters in the Lasallian spirit.

Their openness inspired me to reflect on myself. Before this trip, I often found it difficult to open up to others, keeping my emotions and thoughts to myself. However, the children’s ability to give and receive love so freely encouraged me to do the same. Slowly, I found myself opening up—not only to my peers on the trip but also to God. Through our nightly reflections and quiet moments of prayer, I felt my faith deepening. I began to see God’s presence in the love the children shared, in the support of my peers, and in the simple yet profound joy of being part of this mission.

Even in moments of stillness, like sitting together after playing around or walking with them through their village to their home, I was struck by their openness and generosity. They reminded me that love is not about material possessions or perfect circumstances; it’s about sharing your heart with others. They lived out the Lasallian value of community in a way that was pure and unfiltered, creating a space where we could all feel connected and cared for.

This trip was a powerful reflection of the Lasallian mission in action—a mission to touch hearts, build relationships, and foster a sense of belonging. The children’s capacity for love reminded me that we are never alone. As Lasallians, we are one global family, united in our shared purpose of bringing light and hope into the world.

I return from the Bamboo School not just with memories, but with a renewed sense of what it means to live out the Lasallian values in my own life. This experience has inspired me to approach the world with greater compassion, gratitude, and openness, and to continue deepening my faith and commitment to serving others.

Reflection by Hayden Yu (St. Joseph's College)

I think all the events throughout the camp were truly impressive; I can’t pick which one was the best.

Each event offered different types of leadership skills for us to discover.

For city tracing, it really helped boost the friendship within our team and allowed us to understand more about working with teammates we weren’t familiar with.

The lifeline activity provided us with a great opportunity to reflect on what we learned that day. It helped us realize that there may not always be people to support us in our lives, but we could gradually learn to tackle problems on our own. Meanwhile, it also taught us that we need to cherish those who assist us along the way.

Additionally, Day 2’s mass games further enhanced our leadership skills, allowing us to work as a team instead of as individuals. We engaged in discussions and applied various skills introduced throughout the camp.

Last but not least, the talks by the Brothers were surely very inspiring and valuable to our lives. Their introduction to Lasallian Spirituality helped us understand how we should approach life – as the Brothers mentioned, it can become a part of our lifestyle. The “5 roles of being a leader” also inspired me to become a better person in general on top of being a leader.

Overall, I really enjoyed the camp. It brought together student representatives from different schools, allowing us to make new friends and gain a better understanding of their cultures.

It was truly inspiring and meaningful, helping me grow into a better person for the future. It’s a great pleasure to have been a part of this camp, and I thank you for this wonderful opportunity!

The Christian Brothers’ Schools Leadership Camp 2024 was held on 19-20 October 2024 at La Salle College. This two-day camp provided participants with a valuable opportunity for interaction and communication among Lasallian students.

Last 22-23 October 2024, the members of the International Commission on Youth, as well as the Office of Vocations and Volunteers, visited the Philippine Sector to visit and engage with student leaders and Lasallian partners from different schools and ministries. 

The visit is focused on strengthening the network of Young Lasallians and Partners, understanding the needs, concerns, and the challenges and difficulties facing the youth movement, and identifying potential collaborative programs that could benefit youth across the district and region.

The group had meetings with the Social Action Units from De La Salle University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde as well as check-in conversations with student leaders from different organizations. On their second day, the group also met with the Lasallian Mission Services of the De La Salle Philippines- Central House Administration, the Social Action Unit of the De La Salle Brothers, and postulants from the Lasallian Formation Center. 

The three-day visit centered on conversations and ideations that fuel the future of the youth movement in the Sector and District. We are hopeful that this will bear fruit that will encourage our Young Lasallians to take the lead! 
 

This October, five Brothers Communities in LEAD hosted inspiring Brothers Live-In Programs, welcoming young men from Hong Kong and the Philippines to experience community life for five days. We pray for an increase in Lasallian Vocations, especially among the Brothers. 

HK: St. Joseph's College Brothers Community
9-13 October 2024

PH: De La Salle Brothers Bacolod Community
9-13 October 2024

PH: De La Salle Brothers Ozamiz Community
9-13 October 2024

PH: Lasallian Formation Center
16-20 October 2024

PH: De La Salle Lipa - Brothers Community
16-20 October 2024

If you know a young man interested in the Brothers’ way of life, contact br.jeano@delasalle.ph.

#YesBro #LasallianVocations

The District's Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) and the Youth and Vocations (Y&V) Committees co-organized the LEAD for Peace closing ritual in celebration of the International Lasallian Days for Peace last October 19, 2024. The virtual gathering was entitled Day of Solidarity Prayers to Act with Courage and Vision, recognizing the diverse faith traditions and highlighting the various experiences promoting peace and justice in the District.

The prayer started with a reflection on Nelson Mandela for young people, inviting them to act with courage and vision to overcome injustices and poverty. This was followed by participants' reflections on their experiences in building peace, solidarity, and promoting justice. They shared their reflections on a pallet (link here: LEADforPeaceReflections), identifying persons and experiences that had an impact on their lives. 

Young people from the sector of Malaysia shared their service learning projects. They highlighted how their experiences in the refugee education centers exposed them to local communities' diverse realities and needs. At an international school, they shared that students come from comfortable backgrounds, and service learning instills a sense of social justice, deepens awareness of societal inequalities, and inspires action to contribute to a more just and equitable world.

Br Mico de Leon FSC, Vocations Director for the Sector of Malaysia, gave the closing remarks encouraging the members of the Lasallian community, especially the young people, to reach out and look for those who are in the peripheries and take the lead in creating new responses to address their needs. 

The closing ritual was also followed the LEAD for Peace launch and  gathering last August 29 which also featured experiences and initiatives of young people in the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Myanmar.

Here is the link to the Zoom Recording of LEAD for PEACE: http://bit.ly/3DiE9jF (Passcode: 2O$SM=5k)

From the De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia Facebook page

The De La Salle Brothers of Malaysia organized a series of inspiring sessions for the student leaders and Catholic students of SMK St. Francis Institution on 14-15 October 2024. Led by Brothers Carlo (SG), Collin (SG), Jeano (PH), and Mico (MY), the sessions focused on the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle and deepened the students’ understanding of Lasallian identity.

On Day 1, the Catholic students participated in a session centered around Vocation. The Brothers shared their personal vocation journeys, offering reflections on faith and service, alongside the inspiring life of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The session sparked meaningful and thought-provoking conversations, encouraging students to explore their own sense of purpose and calling.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Lee and the school administrators of SFI for warmly welcoming us and making this visit possible.

Stay tuned for more photos of the other sessions!

#FSCvocations #BecomingBrothers

by Paulo Luis Gabriel De Guzman and Kyra Cho

On the 2nd of October 2024, Lasallians from across the Lasallian East Asian District participated in the 2nd iteration of Lasallian Connect, hosted by Saint Joseph's Institution International in Singapore. This unique online gathering, held in celebration of International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP), allowed student leaders to come together to celebrate the wide range of initiatives and activities from their schools or institutions. Lasallian Connect served as a platform for these young leaders to learn from one another, exchange ideas, and foster a sense of unity across borders, where nearly 50 students, teachers and Brothers from Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan participated in this year’s call. 

The discussions this year centred around the theme of ILDP this year, One La Salle: Our Pilgrimage Towards Peace, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) providing the framework for these conversations. The call was divided into breakout rooms, with each group discussing one of the five SDG pillars: peace, prosperity, people, partnerships, and planet. In each room, students explored how their respective institutions embrace and embody Lasallian values from the lens of the pillar.

The discussions were lively and reflective of the strong Lasallian spirit. Students eagerly shared examples of how they and their schools contribute to the SDGs by integrating Lasallian values into projects focused on social justice, environmental protection, and community service. The breakout rooms provided a space for students to engage in more personal and detailed conversations, enabling them to dive deeper into the specific ways their schools work toward the SDG goals .In the "Peace" group for instance, students and brothers shared how their schools promote student wellbeing through programs designed to emphasise the importance of checking in on fellow students. 

One of the highlights of the call was where students collaborated using a shared whiteboard to design artwork that captured the essence of their discussions. Each group presented their final piece, reflecting and learning from other groups. 

As the call concluded, the energy of collaboration and shared purpose resonated among the participants, leaving them inspired to bring these discussions back to their schools and continue their work. For students in SJII, Lasallian connect is merely one of a number of opportunities held during the month of ILDP, with other initiatives including schoolwide weekly morning reflections on how Lasallians strive to achieve peace through the various pillars, and the sale of custom Lasallian T-shirts with funds being used to support school charities.  

Due to the success of the event, the hope is to make Lasallian Connect a lasting tradition, held annually on the Wednesday of the second week of ILDP, ensuring students from across the region have a regular opportunity to exchange ideas, celebrate Lasallian values, and collaborate on a global level. 

Lasallian Connect 2024 was more than just a virtual meeting - it was an opportunity to forge bonds between students across Asia and inspire collaboration. Through their conversations, students shared insights into how their schools contribute to the global Lasallian mission, highlighting the tangible ways in which Lasallian values are being acknowledged in schools. This sense of unity and common purpose reinforces the message that all Lasallians, despite their diverse backgrounds, are collectively contributing to a more peaceful world.

by Danielle Anne Arellano (Grade 12 student), Managing Editor of The Hilarian from St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan

“Peace is not just about the absence of war, but also the presence of justice."

On 02 October 2024, the Horacio Cebrero Hall, Central House Administration became a room for resilience as various La Salle schools across the Philippines gathered either through face-to-face or via online meetings for the International Lasallian Days for Peace (ILDP) 2024. With the title, “Kwentong Lipat: Moving Stories of Displacement and Hope,” the event celebrated the power of storytelling and fostering compassion despite adversity.

DLSP hosted the ILDP 2024 in line with the Lasallian East Asia District's LEAD for Peace campaign and the Philippines’ celebration of Human Rights and Democracy Month.

TRANSCENDING BORDERS

“It does not mean that it does not happen to you, it does not happen at all."

Stories from the refugees have captured the hearts and minds of the Lasallian community. Their narratives of war and displacement showed the harsh realities that other people face. Their testimonies as refugees reminded everyone of the struggles that they faced, one that is sometimes forgotten by others. Their struggles and hardships in transcending physical and emotional borders emphasized the need for a just government and the significance of freedom to a human being.

SPARKING CONVERSATIONS

Even if we are not the light, we can be the spark! The event attendees engaged in discussions and explored ways in which Lasallians can be agents of peace. During the small group discussions, the Lasallian community was encouraged to take steps towards peace.

“The part that really struck me was the speech of the Founder of Little Gaza kitchen, I’m touched na may mga tao pa pala na handang tumulong kahit hindi sila sigurado kung hanggang kailan nila kayang tulungan ang mga refugee[s]. Thus, as a student journalist, we must be a leader, models of values of peace, service, and empathy in our own schools,” Nathalie Malang, a Grade 12 student from St. Jaime Hilario School - De La Salle Bataan said in an interview.

Hearing and imagining these stories from other people was indeed difficult to imagine. However, that day, gratitude filled the air as ILDP became a safe space to share stories, encouraging the Lasallian family to take a stand and be the change. 

Mr. Gladstone Cuarteros, the Lasallian Justice and Peace Office, National Coordinator gave his synthesis. He concluded that we must always embrace peace and help from the heart, reflecting this belief in the phrase, “pagtulong na galing sa puso.” “If only we could change mindsets and become more open[-minded], we would have a better world,” he added.

With hearts full of empathy, the Lasallians were reminded that the change begins within. Thus, as Lasallians, let us start the change we want to see, the change that begins in us.
 

By Raphael Chua (4th year BS Industrial Engineering Student; Contact of the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines)

Having entered the Brothers Live in Program (BLIP), I had the unique opportunity to immerse myself in a transformative experience that helped me reinforce my faith, service, and communion with the help of De La Salle Brothers. This is a program where we have discussions and learnings that can spark a passion for social justice. Most importantly, it is where the teachings of St. John Baptist de La Salle feel ever present. 

From the moment I first arrived, the Brothers were all welcoming, and I immediately had a sense of belonging to the community. Initially, I had misconceptions about the Brothers being strict but it was quite the opposite. They cracked all sorts of jokes, shared their journey, and were genuinely supportive of whatever challenges we were facing in our lives. Living alongside the Brothers allowed me to witness firsthand their dedication to education and service.

Our day starts with a communal prayer, and during this time, I reflect on the blessings in my life and the opportunities that lie ahead. During the evenings, there were informal gatherings in the common area just so everyone could catch up on their day. We share our triumphs and frustrations throughout the day. The sessions that we have helped me learn more about the brothers' vocation. What struck me the most in one of our sessions was Brother Kino telling us that vocation is not just a calling but also responding to the call. It talks about recognizing our purpose and taking the necessary actions to fulfill it. 

To any young man considering joining BLIP, I advise you to join the program to have an opportunity to discover your potential and have the opportunity to awaken for a higher purpose. You will live and breathe the Lasallian traditions and carry them forward to the world. 

The bonds that I have formed throughout my journey will last a lifetime. It made me into a more thoughtful individual ready to face the challenges of the world, exemplifying our core values of faith, service, and communion. 

#YesBro #FSCvocations

By Jose Miguel Villegas (2nd Year BS Legal Management Student; Aspirant of the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines)

Questions answered, curiosities quenched, and new paths illuminated — these were the shared experiences of the young men who participated in the Becoming Brothers Manila event.

The National Lasallian Vocations Team of De La Salle Philippines, in partnership with the Lasallian Vocations Team of De La Salle University, hosted the Becoming Brothers last 28 September at the Jose Pardo AFSC Hall. Around 17 De La Salle Brothers and three postulants shared their vocation stories with curious students and young professionals. Unique in its own way, the journey of the invited De La Salle Brothers from schools in Luzon has inspired those present to reflect and seek their own mission — their vocation. Many questions were raised, but the frequent concern of participants was whether becoming a De La Salle Brother would force them to leave their profession. In one of the tables, Br. John David Ong FSC, Director of the Lasallian Formation Center, shared that one can still practice his profession as a De La Salle Brother. He continues to explain that one’s current work is a vocation that can be adopted and practiced in ways aligned with the ministries of a Lasalle Brother.

As the event concludes, the community of De La Salle Brothers in Manila and the entire Philippines remains hopeful. They hope that the theme of the event, 'Seeking One's Vocation,' will continue to resonate with the audience, inspiring them to consider the invitation to serve a life similar to that of the founder, St. John Baptist de la Salle.

#YesBro #FSCvocations

Members of the National Lasallian Vocations Team (NLVT) spent two days (6-7 September 2024) with the De La Salle Andres Soriano Memorial College community!

The team conducted a recollection for all personnel, provided leadership training for aspiring Lasallian leaders, led a session on disaster and risk reduction management, and promoted various Lasallian vocations.

The two-day engagement concluded with a plenary reflection involving both students and partners, who affirmed that the three words encapsulating their greatest takeaways were: love, meaning, and community.

The NLVT extends its gratitude to the school administrators and partners who made the visit possible!

#YesBro #LasallianVocations

“Beautiful life”—this is how Br. Vic Franco FSC has described his 60 years as a De La Salle Brother. He shared this reflection with around 40 young men who were eager to learn more about the Brothers' way of life during the "Becoming Brothers" event. Br. Vic was joined by 24 other Brothers and 3 Postulants from the Lasallian East Asia District.

This vocation promotions activity was hosted by the De La Salle Brothers of the Philippines and took place via Zoom on 30 August 2024.

A special thanks to Ms. Chelsea Catli, the Lasallian Youth Coordinator of De La Salle Philippines, for moderating the insightful discussion.

#YesBro #FSCvocations