MEL Network B Meets Online to Review Progress Since Paris
Members of the Lasallian Educational Mission (MEL) teams and councils from MEL Network B gathered online on 14th September to follow up on the MEL Network's first in-person meeting, held in Paris in April 2026. The network brings together four Districts/Delegation of the Lasallian Region of Europe and the Mediterranean (RELEM): Delegation of Belgium North, District of Central Europe, District of Poland, and District of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta.
The session had three aims: to review progress since the April meeting, to keep momentum and shared accountability, and to look together at the strategy emerging from the Network's work. Interpretation into Polish was provided throughout.
An Update on the Transition
Br. Joël Palud (General Councilor from RELEM) and Julia Mayer, members of the Transition Executive Committee, shared an update on the wider RELEM journey towards one District and three MEL Networks. The committee accompanies and coordinates the work of the emerging networks, supports communication across the Region, and ensures continuity with the work already carried out by the StAR Commission (April 2024 to March 2026).. A dedicated newsletter for Visitors and MEL Coordinators/Representatives from each District is in preparation to keep those leading the process informed at each step.
Looking Back at Paris
Iwona Arolska of Poland recalled the Paris meeting, where participants from the four Districts/Delegation gathered to lay the foundations for a shared voice. Participants were reminded that the Paris meeting combined group work, prayer, and dialogue. The dynamics chosen framed the process of change as an opportunity for transformation rather than an imposed restructuring. Participants discovered that a good deal of collaboration already exists between the four Districts/Delegation. The group left Paris with a draft strategic direction and shared commitments regarding the shared journey ahead.
Since April 2026, the MEL Network Coordination team has met on six occasions to continue to refine the strategic goals and set priorities, as well as to prepare for other Regional meetings and preparing for this “Progress” Meeting in September 2026.
The Emerging Strategy
Julia presented the emerging strategy for MEL Network B, a living document that has been refined several times since its inception in Paris. The strategy rests on the five core principles of Lasallian education and names a working culture for the network, including being present for one another's initiatives, sharing resources and lessons learned, and communicating openly.
Next Steps
The MEL teams of the four Central Europe, Belgium North, IGBM and Poland will meet in person in January 2027. There will be a number of reflections and discussions which you might be a part of and which will feed into the preparations for the next RELEM Conference in Poland in March 2027, which undoubtedly will be another milestone moment along this unfolding of this path of closer collaboration.