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De La Salle's Seminary Experience

De La Salle spent only 18 months at the seminary at St. Sulpice in preparation for religious life, but it had a lasting effect on him. De La Salle’s daily schedule at St. Sulpice included classes all morning, followed by the spiritual exercise of the Particular Examen, then lunch, singing practice, the Rosary, and free time for study and a spiritual reading before supper. He followed up the courses in morals at the seminary with courses in theology at the Sorbonne.

Importance of Lasallian Formation

Lasallian Formation, preparation for a spiritual life, is of the utmost importance for the continuation and dissemination of the Lasallian mission. Its goal is to develop the virtues and charism of brotherhood and sisterhood, a lively intellectual life, leadership, and a missionary spirit. It builds collaboration, openness, cultural competency, a spirit of fraternity with other Lasallians, knowledge of the local Church, and a sense of responsible stewardship for the spiritual and temporal goods of the Church.

The Lasallian Formation Program is an effort to be intentional about the development of Lasallian Catholic culture. That means engagement of the whole person: academically, socially, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is difficult to ask students to take a journey into their intellect and their heart if the adult guides have not done that for themselves. The Formation program is an outreach to all adults who work with students, inviting them to take a journey into their own minds and hearts.

Formation Structure

The Christian Brothers Lasallian Formation Program includes five separate and unique experiences: the Brother John Johnston Institute (JJI) of Contemporary Practice, the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies, the Lasallian Social Justice Institute (LSJI), Online Formation Program, and the International Lasallian Center (CIL). Each year, more than 2,100 individuals benefit from attending these programs.

In addition to these regional programs, the Midwest District has created an online Formation program that runs in a six-year cycle. Each year represents a unique moment and a turning point in the life of St. John Baptist de La Salle. The online Formation program allows the ministries to invite administrators, faculty and staff to a deeper understanding of their work as vocation and ministry.

When you walk into a Lasallian school you can feel it in your bones, see it in the students, read it on the walls, and witness it in the relationships that exist among faculty and staff and between adults and students. This is the result of Formation.