A LASALLIAN LENT

La Salle Academy continues its celebration of the Lasallian Tercentary through its Lenten activities.  It has planned a series of events to help mark both the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the death of its Founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle, and the season of Lent leading up to the celebration of the death and resurrection of the Lord.

Ash Wednesday:  The entire school community attended two Masses during which ashes were distributed.  At the end of the school day the faculty gathered for a Prayer Service in which all present reflected on the call to conversion, i.e. to recommit to our Lasallian Mission.  This was done through readings, through guided meditation, through shared prayer,  through a reflective slide show, and through music.  In addition, Lenten-themed Morning Prayers are being offered and faculty/staff are receiving weekly Lasallian Reflections on the readings for Ash Wednesday and each Sunday of Lent.  Also during Lent faculty and staff are sharing in Lasallian Reflection #4 Lasallians: Hearts on Fire---Our Hearts Are Buring Within Us---as a way of journeying with the Lord and fellow Lasallians through Lent and culminating with Easter, as did the early disciples of Jesus.

First Week of Lent: The high school held Poverty Awareness Week, a yearly opportunity each Lent to explore issues of poverty from a single disciplinary and inter-disciplinary focus.  Each class was encouraged to address some aspect of poverty during the week.  The library prepared a special Poverty Awareness Library Guide to assist in the efforts.
      On Monday afternoon the faculty Community-Building Committee and Campus Ministry hosted a student-organized Agape Latte---the inaugural faith and social gathering for students and teachers together.  Music, food, and faith-sharing by Mr. Ciccone highlighted the event.
      During this week daily Masses for Religion classes began, as did opportunities for the Sacrament of Penance (offered by school chaplain, Father Woodhouse, and visiting priests).  The Chapel in the Brothers' House has been a very busy place!
      On Friday the high school held a "Dress-Down" Day for students--monies designated for our twinned Lasallian school (Rongai Agricultural and Technical School) in Kenya.  Also the symbol "Solidarity" was added to our Lasallian Tercentenary clock!
      In conjunction with the De La Salle Middle School production of Willy Wonka, Middle School students conducted a Tree Emporium (bake sale) for the play attendees.  The proceeds were used to purchase school supplies for the young people in the Lasallian Tides Family Services agency.

Second Week of Lent:  Mass and confessions continue throughout the week.
      Best Buddies group promotes an inclusive community in dealing with the physically and intellectually challenged.  We live our Lasallian "solidarity" not only with the economically poor but others who are looked down upon in our culture.
      The De La Salle Middle School students, as part of a homeroom activity, are collecting toiletries and other needed goods for the homeless who will be served at Friday's Breadlines (families donate food and faculty, students, and parents serve outside of the Cathedral).  This is a concrete way of standing in Solidarity with those who have less!

Third Week of Lent: The De La Salle Middle School conducted Lenten Prayer Services during the week and Masses and confessions continued for the High School students.  Campus Ministry held two Christian Service Retreats as the last groups of Seniors ready themselves for their 4th marking period Christian Service.

Fourth Week of Lent:  The Lasallian Ministry Team continued to provide Lenten resources for faculty and staff: Lasallian Reflections for each Sunday of Lent and a series of readings from Lasallian Reflection #4---Lasallians: Hearts on Fire--Our Hearts are Burning Within Us (a reflection piece provided by the worldwide Institute as a part of the Tercentenary Celebration).
          We continute our "twinning" efforts for our brother Lasallian school in Rongai, Kenya: collections continue each Wednesday in homerooms with a special push this week, and each Wednesday at lunch faculty and staff are encouraged to share in a "Soup and Bread" lunch (soup and bread prepared by faculty and staff and the $5.00 offering added to our twinning efforts)
          Forty students are participants/leaders in the third Kairos Retreat of the year.  They are joined by 9 adult leaders.  This is a wonderful Lenten opportunity to come to a greater realization of God's loving mercy.

Fifth Week of Lent:  On Monday morning members of the baseball team helped to make sandwiches and to bag lunches available for those who cannot afford lunch.  They will continue to do this service each Monday for the rest of the school year.
         On Wednesday evening 25 students and 3 faculty members ran an Easter Party for children from McAuley Village.  The party---with games, egg-coloring, and the appearance of the Easter Bunny---was organized by Lasallian Youth and Campus Ministry and sponsored by the Boys' Tennis Team as their team service project.
         On Friday the 8th grade staged a Living Stations of the Cross for the De La Salle Middle School.
         Next week a group of 12 students accompanied by two faculty members will spend a week of service during their Spring vacation in rural Tennessee with the Glenmary Missionaries.

Lent 2019 has been a rich period of Lasallian commitment to service through prayer and action.