Rediscovering Faith, Fraternity, and Service in Lasallian Leadership
At the beginning of October 2025, Lasallian leaders from across Europe gathered at Casa La Salle in Rome for the ASSEDIL Formation Programme, a week dedicated to reflection, connection, and renewal.
Representing the District of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta, Caroline Grech Mallia (De La Salle Junior School, Malta), Romina Borg Psalia (Stella Maris Junior School, Malta), and Áine Best (De La Salle College Belfast).
The week offered rare space to step back from the immediacy of school life and to reflect on leadership through the Lasallian pillars of Faith, Fraternity, and Service, and it proved be a wonderful experience that was both restorative and inspiring.
The conference is another example of the opportunities available in our District to participate in Formation programmes that inspire educators for the ultimate benefit of all those entrusted to our care.
It also highlights the value of belonging to an international network that provides the opportunity to share with and learn from Lasallians across Europe.
It was a very inspiring five days for Caroline, Romina and Áine who reflected on the memorable and productive conference on their return, encouraging others to take the opportunity in the future.
Áine Best, De La Salle College Belfast, reflects on her experience at the formation programme:
As a relatively new Lasallian leader, the week in Rome was an invaluable experience, an opportunity to pause, reconnect, and reflect on what it truly means to lead through the Lasallian values of faith, fraternity, and service.
At first, I was conscious of how busy school life is and how hard it can feel to step away for five days, but this experience reminded me why it matters. Taking time to reconnect with the Lasallian mission re-energised me for the work back home. It gave fresh perspective on what truly sustains our schools: faith in each other, fraternity among colleagues, and service lived out daily.”
The programme reaffirmed that, although the challenges facing Lasallian schools are remarkably similar across Europe, the shared spirit of faith, fraternity, and service continues to provide a hopeful and unifying response.
What struck me most was the sense of belonging, realising that we are part of something much larger than our own school community. Whether speaking with colleagues from Malta, Greece, Belgium, or Spain, it became clear that our experiences are remarkably similar: sustaining morale, nurturing hope, and keeping faith visible amid the pressures of school life. Yet there was also great optimism, a shared belief that the Lasallian charism continues to offer a deeply relevant and restorative response.
Coming home, I tried to capture the essence of that week for staff through three simple takeaways:
1. Faith through presence – being calm, authentic, and hopeful with pupils and colleagues.
2. Fraternity through community – recognising that everyone contributes to the tone and spirit of the school.
3. Service through hope in action – the small daily gestures that sustain culture and remind us who we are.
These themes have helped me view formation less as an additional task, and more as a way of being present, in how we teach, support one another, and serve our community.
In thinking about how we might build on the Rome experience across the Ireland, Great Britain and Malta District, I was struck by the power of connection. Simply sharing space and conversation with others who understand the same mission was both grounding and energising.
Participants returned home eager to share their learning and warmly encourage other Lasallian educators to consider joining next year’s formation programme, a unique opportunity to pause, reconnect, and renew commitment to our shared mission of transforming lives together and by association.
Romina Borg, Stella Maris Junior School Malta, outlined how the programme helped deepen the connection with the Lasallian charism.
The Assedil experience is a journey of community, faith, and shared growth that brings together educators and Lasallians from different backgrounds to reflect on their mission and deepen their connection to the Lasallian charism.
It offers participants a meaningful opportunity to pause, share personal stories, and explore how their vocation as educators extends beyond the classroom into the heart of human and spiritual development.
Through dialogue, discussions, prayer, collaborative activities and social activities, the Assedil experience fosters a renewed sense of belonging and commitment to the Lasallian family, inspiring participants to return to their schools with greater purpose, creativity, and compassion in their service to others.
Being a five-day course helped participants to build positive relationships and form connections. The presentations were very interesting and thought provoking.
Caroline Grech Mallia, De La Salle Junior School, explained the many benefits of the week in Rome.
During the first week of October, I attended the Formation Course for Directors of RELEM, organised by ASSEDIL. The experience provided valuable insights into the purpose and mission of ASSEDIL, as well as an opportunity to connect with other Lasallian leaders across diverse educational contexts.
Through the sessions, I gained a deeper understanding of ASSEDIL’s role in supporting Lasallian schools across Europe and the Mediterranean region. Its primary purpose is to promote collaboration, formation, and shared reflection among Lasallian leaders, ensuring that the mission of Saint John Baptist de La Salle continues to thrive in today’s educational landscape.
One of my main reflections centred on the future of Lasallian schools. The course brought together participants from very different realities—ranging from highly secular environments to schools where Catholic influence remains strong. Common themes emerged, including:
The growing secularism and loss of influence of the Catholic Church in society.
The decrease in the number of Brothers.
The increasing role of women in the Lasallian world and in leadership.
Despite these differences, a unifying factor among all participants was the strong sense of belonging to the Lasallian family and the shared desire to preserve and strengthen this spirit.
A significant insight from the course was the reminder that, as leaders, we must discern between what is urgent and what is important in our schools. It prompted me to reflect on our Lasallian identity—how central it is to our vision and how we prioritise it amidst daily demands.
A quote shared during the course deeply resonated with me:
“The best moment to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best moment is today.”
Br. Paco Chiva posed a profound question: “How will our Lasallians be in 2051, 400 years after the birth of St. John Baptist de La Salle?”
This question led me to reflect further:
Who are the Lasallians today?
What is our educational mission for the future?
How can we nurture a sense of belonging?
How can we accompany educators in their professional journey while also providing space for their spiritual growth?
To sustain our Lasallian mission, we must create time and space for people to gather, share experiences, and grow spiritually. These spaces should include all educators and leaders, fostering Lasallian communities within schools, across the country, the District, and beyond. Walking this journey together will strengthen our collective identity and mission.
In her session, Ms. Joke Maex offered a powerful reminder that leadership is not about power, but presence—about building communities of shared responsibility. As leaders, we must have the courage to persevere when things are difficult, exercising moral leadership that touches hearts.
True Lasallian leadership calls us to create a better future through commitment, hope, and mission—to lead not by authority, but by inspiring others to journey together in faith and service.
The following are some practical and forward-looking initiatives that could help us further strengthen Lasallian identity, leadership, and community across our District, inspired by reflections and insights from the RELEM Formation Course.
1. Lasallian Leadership Circle
Establish a small, ongoing forum for school leaders and Deputy Heads across the District to meet either virtually or in person.
Purpose: To reflect together on leadership, share good practices, and explore key themes such as the distinction between what is urgent and what is important, moral leadership, and the sense of belonging.
Meetings could include short spiritual reflections and case studies drawn from different school contexts to foster shared learning and growth.
2. District Formation Programme for Educators
Develop a tiered formation pathway (introductory, intermediate, and advanced) designed for all educators in Lasallian schools.
Focus areas could include:
Lasallian identity and mission
Spiritual accompaniment
Leadership through presence
The programme could combine online modules with in-person retreats, ideally co-facilitated by experienced Lasallians from across the District.
Formation opportunities should be open not only to newly recruited educators but also to all staff members, reigniting the sense of purpose and mission among those who have served in Lasallian schools for many years.
3. “The Lasallian Star journey” eTwinning Project within the District
Launch a District-wide reflective project inviting educators and students to explore the question: Who are the Lasallians today?
Participants could express their reflections through art, writing, or digital storytelling, deepening their understanding of Lasallian identity while celebrating the diversity and vitality of Lasallian life.
The project could culminate in a District exhibition or digital publication showcasing contributions from different schools.
4. Accompaniment and Mentorship for Educators
Introduce a mentorship programme pairing new or emerging leaders with experienced Lasallian mentors for a year-long accompaniment journey.
The focus would be on fostering both professional growth and spiritual development, inspired by the principle of leadership through presence.
This initiative would strengthen relationships across schools and promote a culture of mutual support and lifelong formation.
5. Lasallian Future Vision Forum – 2051 and Beyond
Organise a District visioning event inspired by Br. Paco Chiva’s question:
“How will our Lasallian schools be in 2051?”Bring together representatives from schools—including leaders, educators, students, and parents—to reflect on the future of Lasallian education in our context.
The forum could result in a shared statement of mission or a vision document outlining priorities and aspirations for the next 25 years, ensuring that our Lasallian mission continues to grow in relevance and vitality
