Making a Difference: Lasallians in Solidarity with Youth

“If one member suffers, all suffer together…you are the body of Christ”   (1 Cor 12: 27)

We are told by community development to think globally, and act locally; that empathy and ‘standing with’ those marginalised or disadvantaged is the right way to act. It is natural for human beings, and as Lasallians, and Christians, to bring compassion to, and  ‘be in solidarity’ with those beyond our own boundaries. There are a multitude of avenues in today’s world to ‘prefer the poor’, a major tenet of education in the Lasallian Institute.

The Lasallian Youth Commission in Rome asks us to share our stories in this year’s Lasallian Days of Peace (21 Sept -20 Oct).

Br Mark at Bethlehem University 

One outstanding example beyond the District is the work at Bethlehem University, 7 kilometres from Jerusalem, where Br Mark McKeon has worked for some years. Started with Pope Pau VI’s  request in the 1970’s, the institution in the West Bank educates and serves over 3,500 Palestinian students with 420 faculty /employees. Mark writes that “it aspires to be a safe haven for all who come onto the campus. Solidarity (means)… mutual support and care we give one another”.

Mark’s role, in co-ordinating Christian values (incl. Lasallian) involves a prominent “pastoral presence to students, faculty and staff”. In his words, he is a rover around the campus, listening and interacting with people. He facilitates orientation programs, outreach through faith formation for the 22% Christian students, Catholic Masses, and general conversation and prayer on Lasallian themes with interested faculty. The university is currently developing opportunities for Muslim-Christian dialogue. The context is crucial.

“Expressions of solidarity are much needed in a context where human dignity is curtailed by the oppressive apartheid policies of the Israel government.   Injustices abound throughout the West Bank where I live; restriction of movement, deliberate destruction of infrastructure, such as roads and water mains by the Israeli Defense Force. Added to this is the constant threat of indiscriminate attacks by Israeli settlers aided by the IDF and the monitoring of social platforms”.

Students personally must often negotiate and deal with Israeli checkpoints to get to university, the humiliation by Israeli soldiers, increased travel time, higher levels of general fear, and sometimes nightly incursions into their villages.

The university, with seven Brothers of 6 nationalities, and dedicated Palestinian teachers, gives the future possibility of “opening doors”, as Mark notes, for careers in the professions, and for development in leadership, as committed citizens.

If one takes a wider view, in terms of initiatives that make a difference in the Holy Land, Mark mentions:

Caritas Jerusalem: with a goal of empowerment of Christians and other Palestinians, aiming at sustainable development in health services, social welfare with food security, micro-credit loans, advocacy, and emergency intervention.

United Nations Relief & Works Agency (UNRWA): education, health, relief & social services in the 20 refugee camps (West Bank) & 8 others in Gaza

Koe Evangelista at De La Salle College, Revesby and De La Salle College, Caringbah

How is solidarity shown in Lasallian youth ministry? The District’s sixteen young adults employed as Youth Ministers in our schools, day by day, stand with youth, and show concern for their wider non-classroom needs. Koe Evangelista has been active in this way for three years now. He talks about challenging , prayer promotion, and leadership and life skills.

Koe, who hails from Liverpool, in south-western Sydney, was enriched as a Catholic through the Antioch movement (a strong breeding ground for young Christians that regrettably is quite rare now). One of his goals as a campus minister is “to invest time into the students and getting to know them more”.

At De La Salle College, Revesby there is a weekly Monday meeting with a focus on “prayer, asceticism and accountability”. Open to all grades, students take up the challenge to look to action in the following week, to work on giving time to a personal holistic development – “to come to terms with their humanness”. Each is invited to be ‘accountable’ and report on progress. Four teachers also participate. The interaction at De La Salle College, Caringbah has an emphasis on personal growth  for leadership. 

Both Lasallian schools already have social justice incorporated in school life. As youth minister, Koe supports the service programs which create a sense of solidarity for disadvantaged beyond their community. He sees ‘service of the poor’ enacted in the student’s own life, or in the surrounding society – wherever more fulfilment is needed.

What benefits does his work have for the colleges? As he says: “most schools (have personnel who are)…not hired solely for the purpose of developing student spirituality”. He sees himself as trying “to be a mirror for God” on campus.

Charlotte Newey and Benedict Lauofo: Volunteers at Luurnpa Balgo Hills

Charlotte, a graduate of Oakhill College in 2023, believes that solidarity means “standing with the youth” of Wirrimanu indigenous community in the Luurnpa School, and “giving a safe place to learn and (provide)…opportunities”. Benedict, coming from De La Salle College, Mangere East, puts it succinctly: “by educating them - showing them the basics” in his Year 2 and 3 charges. Both are committing to a year’s Lasallian service.

They happily offer basics in a bi-lingual environment - providing apple snacks and healthy drinks for breakfasts, handing out toothbrushes, filling up water bottles, and finding spare clothing for the young learners. Benedict is also the general grounds-man, and janitor-cleaner of the bathrooms. He sees himself as a multi-tasker – the maintenance man, as well as assistant in the classroom. Charlotte mentions how they work to slot in to community activities, e.g. working with the ‘Fitness Mob’ who come to promote health at Wirrimanu.

Service and solidarity have their challenges. Distance from home, keeping “an open mind and heart” in another culture, as well as the language barrier. As for supports, Benedict sees the youth give Volunteers an identity; Charlotte finds talking through issues with Fiona, an indigenous Assistant Teacher, as important. They have dinner together at night, and with Br Rick Gaffney, there is good pastoral support; there are regular calls from Lydia, the District program manager.

The benefits are multiple. They get to know the Wirrimanu community, as well as the church activities with Br Rick. Benedict mentions, he believes that “the experience will make us stronger” and it “helps me grow as a person and as an adult”. Charlotte says “it is a special thing to bring peace and safety” to people; older community members have called her a grand-daughter and given her own skin name. Solidarity is a two-way street, it seems.

Lasallian Foundation Partnering St Solomon’s School, Ahmedabad

The work of the District Lasallian Foundation advertises and raises monies in solidarity with needier parts of the District. Often, our schools act in the social justice domain. One such instance is the building and refurbishment at the elementary school outside Multan in Pakistan.

The colony, where the school is situated, is somewhat remote, with poor access. It is very poor, working-class, housing sweepers and low-paid day-wage workers; most are illiterate. Currently, St Solomon’s has 335 children, mainly Christian boys and girls. Thirteen teaching staff educate from Play Group to Grade 7. As the present Principal Br. Waseem says, more parents are clamouring for admission of their children, with a strong desire to upgrade the school to Matriculation (Year 10).

In 2004, to answer the needs of the disadvantaged, the Brothers had employed Mrs Sohail to tutor children in late afternoons. Br Damian supervised it. Five years on, Br Zafar Daud, Principal at Multan, started a small primary school. Br Peter came as on-site principal in 2016, with a roll of 200 students.

Now, the Lasallian Foundation, is standing up in solidarity. With the help of Lasallian schools and organisation in Australia and New Zealand, the Lasallian Foundation has helped fund several projects in Pakistan and Papua New Guinea. Click read more about the Pakistan and Papua New Guinea Projects.

As part of the Church in the world, Lasallians are active and effective. One key support is Catholic “social teaching”. It cane be summarily expressed as:

‘Solidarity’ is important for economic, political, or social justice and peace for all. It is based on belief in universal human dignity, the ‘common good’ of society, and acting at the local level for the world beyond.

The four instances above are just a few examples of being in solidarity and service where it counts.

Source: Br Gary Wilson