As Jesus says, we are all pretty good at spotting the warning signs of an impending change in the weather (Lk 12.54-55), and we are usually smart enough to change our patterns of behaviour accordingly. You would have to be really thick-skinned not to notice the signs of the climate change that is taking place in our Lasallian world. The question is whether we are willing to do something about it. There are in fact a number of indications that we have already begun to do something. This 20th. issue of the LACE Magazine is an effort to record and reflect on those efforts.
What better place to start than the Lasallian Assembly that took place in Kintbury at the beginning of October? Representatives from the various Lasallian groups that exist in this country tried to pool their ideas on the theme "Announcing the Gospel in the 21st Century", which is another way of talking about the "Lasallian Mission". The report says it all, and we hope our readers give it the attention it deserves.
One thing is clear: LACE itself is at something of a turning point along with the rest of the Lasallian network. We cannot afford to stay behind, while the others move on. We have been in existence since 1991, initially as an association of teachers in Lasallian schools, which gradually widened to include teachers from other schools, who are in tune with the Lasallian approach to education. It is worth reminding ourselves of our own founding spirit by reading Bernard Wescott's account of the initial, inspirational meeting 12 years ago.
Where do we go from here? We have traditionally organised two LACE conferences each year. However, in recent years there has been a noticeable decline in attendance at the October conference. It may be a providential sign that a weekend in Kintbury is becoming available, just when the other groups of Lasallians are feeling the need for one. So Lasallian Assemblies look like becoming the norm for the October conference, while the May weekends will continue to be the traditional LACE gatherings of teachers. And a really interesting one is planned for next year.
The LACE Magazine is another of our established contributions to the Lasallian Network. It is in good health, but it could easily be developed into a vehicle for all the other Lasallian groups. These are springing up in Britain as they are in many countries, and the "Lasallian Mission" is becoming extremely diversified. That much is evident from the articles by Nicolas Cappelle and Manuel Magaz. It may well be that this is the last LACE Magazine in its traditional clothing, and that next year will see the birth of something new and exciting. We must be moving on, like those migrating swans.