The De La Salle Christian Brothers have sponsored Lewis University since 1960. They are an international Roman Catholic Institute dedicated to education that was founded by Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the patron saint of educators. He transformed education by developing a spirituality of “teaching and learning.” In his time, he opened schools to students regardless of their social class, especially the poor and the underserved.
Today the Brothers work with 100,000 lay partners and sponsor about 1,000 educational centers in 80 countries around the world as part of the Lasallian network that benefits around one million students. In the United States and Canada the Brothers sponsor about 100 schools, universities, and other ministries.
Sponsorship
Bishop Martin D. McNamara of the Diocese of Joliet invited the De La Salle Christian Brothers to assume the ownership and administration of Lewis College in 1960. Continuing the vision of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the Brothers brought a new tradition of Lasallian values to an active partnership with the dedicated administrators, faculty, and staff already on campus.
The first group of seven founding Brothers combined their dedicated, professional and enthusiastic efforts on campus with those of their colleagues, formed a strong Lasallian partnership, and inaugurated a comprehensive system of improvements. Among those initiatives were securing nationally recognized accreditation and constructing numerous new facilities. Those changes led to significant growth. Since those beginnings, more than 115 Christian Brothers have served at Lewis at different times.
Christian Brothers continue to serve at Lewis in the classroom, in the library, and in other forms of ministry, and Brothers are members of the Board of Trustees. The Brothers continue to dedicate themselves to university life to enhance the quality and commitment to fidelity, service, and social justice.
The Official Name
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is the official name of the Brothers’ congregation. The Brothers call themselves De La Salle Christian Brothers in ordinary conversation to retain the connection with their Founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle. The initials FSC for Fratres Scholarum Christianarum, the Latin name of the Institute, are placed at the end of each Brother’s name. In 1725 Pope Benedict XIII granted formal/official approval of the Institute. The educational mission of the Brothers, however, began when De La Salle formed a community of dedicated teachers to provide a human and Christian education to young people, especially the poor and disadvantaged. He encouraged a spirituality centered on mission and promoted teaching as a vocation oriented to the students’ overall development. The Christian Brothers have transformed lives through Lasallian education since 1680, and for many of those years with their dedicated Lasallian partners.
The Christian Brothers serve as the eyes, the ears, and the heart of God in our world – a world that needs brotherhood so desperately. They are called to see the oppression of the least privileged of our world, to hear their cry, to feel their anguish, and to participate in their liberation. Saint John Baptist de La Salle, their founder, taught the Brothers to experience life as a process of affective, intellectual, moral and spiritual conversion which increasingly draws them to address the causes of injustice and poverty. The brothers seek to be one with those who suffer injustice and the impact of poverty, and they offer a quality education as the foundation for a better life.
The De La Salle Christian Brothers are here to carry on the mission of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and invite all members of the Lewis University community, as Lasallians, to join them in this mission.
If you are interested in learning more about the Brothers vocation or are discerning becoming a Brother and would like to speak with someone about your journey, contact Brother Rob, Veselsky, FSC at veselsro@lewisu.edu.
Brothers Vocation Video
La Salle House
La Salle House is the residence of the De La Salle Christian Brothers living on campus at Lewis. Constructed in 2015-2016, La Salle House currently has 17 Brothers in residence there and seven guest rooms. La Salle House also features a beautiful lower lounge where the Brothers host the entire faculty and staff of the University for the Christmas Holiday Wine and Cheese celebration, an annual tradition for more than 45 years. This new residence was built after the Brothers had lived in the building that is currently the Admission Welcome Center for two decades. Upon their arrival on Lewis’ campus in 1960, the Brothers initially lived in Stritch and McNamara Halls.