Brothers of the Christian Schools (also called Christian Brothers) operate the College of Santa Fe and St.
Michael's High School in Santa Fe. Recruited by the first Bishop of Santa Fe, Rev. Jean-Baptiste Lamy, in his native France, they opened Colegio de San Miguel in 1859 next to San Miguel Church in Santa Fe. Invited by pastors and encouraged by the Bishop, they soon opened schools in Taos, Pecos, Las Vegas, and Bernalillo; all eventually closed. In 1947, they opened the College of Santa Fe and staffed West Las Vegas high school with Brothers as its first principal and teachers. Brothers are now on the staffs of the two schools in Santa Fe and in related parish and archdiocesan ministries. The Brothers' only ministry is education, pre-school to university. They sponsor and staff nearly 100 schools in the United States and over 1,000 worldwide, for nearly 1,000,000 students.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle, their founder and the first of 11 children in a devout, wealthy family, had his seminary studies in Paris interrupted and his ordination delayed by the death of both parents in his home town, Rheims. He was appointed the legal guardian of his minor brothers and sisters. After ordination he remained in the family home and his bishop did not assign him to a parish.
He had little opportunity to notice the poor boys living on the streets in other neighborhoods. But, a wealthy cousin living in a city nearby with her husband did. She had started and funded schools for the poor there, and saw that Rheims needed one too. She sent an experienced teacher to start it. De La Salle could hardly refuse to help. With his sharp mind, people skills, and family connections, he had three schools up and running in a few months.
After finishing his obligations to his family, he turned all of his time and energy to the schools. He knew what the poor needed. After much prayer and spiritual counseling, he was convinced God was calling him to a new direction in his life. Founding the Christian Brothers was his life's work. They would educate the poor not only in his own 17th century France but in the whole world in the 21st century. He was canonized in 1900 and declared patron of all teachers in 1951.
More at: www.brothersvocation.org and www.LasallianVolunteers.org
Email: grahmannjamesn@netzero.net |
