150 Celebrations

During this academic, year 2005 - 2006, Lasallians through out Great Britain will be celebrating 150 years of Lasallian presence in this country. It was on 1st August 1855 that nine De La Salle Brothers opened their first school in Clapham, South London, which after many moves became St. Joseph's College, Beulah Hill, - which still exists today. However the Brothers did not want to just celebrate the initial seed or the subsequent tree, but instead wanted to make this coming academic year a celebration of the fruits, i.e. the pupils and staff of the Lasallian schools and all those associated through various projects connected to the Brothers - what is known today as the Lasallian Family.

This year of celebration will begin with four regional celebrations, South East & London, Wales, the South Coast, and the North. For example the Northern celebration was at Salford Cathedral on Friday 23rd September at 1.30pm. During this celebration various Lasallians from 11 to 60 years old told their story in between music and song from the various schools in the Lasallian Network (North).

The year will end with a national celebration in Liverpool Cathedral on Monday July 3rd 2006 at 2.00pm. Please note that this is an earlier time than which was previously mentioned on this web page. Tickets are available from Mrs S. Grant, St. Joseph's College, Birkfield, Ipswich. IP2 9DR

During this year of Celebration the main souvenir will be a prayer book written by the pupils themselves and distributed to every school in the network.

Over the past 150 years the Lasallian Mission, i.e. the service of the poor through education has grown beyond the Brothers to include teachers, retreat workers, governors, parents, ex-Brothers and any educator who has felt inspired by the story St. John Baptist De La Salle; this today is known as the Lasallian Family. In recognition of this expansion, the Lasallian Assembly last March set up a Council for the Lasallian Mission. The aim of this Council is to carry forward the Lasallian Mission here in Britain for the next 150 years.

The Lasallian Network is a dynamic multifaceted group that quietly works in the field of education through schools, retreat work and educational projects in the developing countries such as India, Kenya and Ghana. It holds various meeting ranging from National Assemblies to regional head teachers conferences. It is particularly known for its work at its retreat Centre, St. Cassian's , Kintbury, and for its pioneering Catechetical work in Catholic schools around Bristol, carried out by the LAMB Community, (Lasallian Mission in Bristol).

150th Celebrations of Lasallian Presence in GB