Op-Ed

In the past 30 years, change has dramatically altered the Lasallian Project in the USA/Toronto region. The most radical change has been and continues to be the “Return to the Poor.” It moves at an ever-increasing pace.

Today, as a Lasallian in the third half of my life, you and I are lovers.

Building strong and connected families among our neighbors is the passion of women and men who share their lives in the extensive Bedford Park Community of the Bronx.

During Covid-19, “sheltering in place” is my opportunity to discover what is growing in my heart. Retirement for me is all about falling in love.

A reflective exploration of “association” as a deeply relational, almost feminine way of being, this piece invites us to move beyond individualism toward a more contemplative, interconnected life rooted in love, presence, and shared mission.

A heartfelt response to the needs of vulnerable families and to the God who calls through them. Initially felt within us, this call links us with many others as a family — the Lasallian Family.

A meditation on how small actions—often unnoticed—carry a ripple effect far beyond our immediate awareness, shaping lives, relationships, and mission in ways both subtle and profound.

Drawing from lived experience “on the street,” revealing how moments of connection, resilience, and unexpected grace can emerge in the most difficult environments — reminding us that change often begins in small, human encounters.

On February 9, 2015 news outlets across the world announced the death of Kayla Jean Mueller, 26, at the hands of her ISIS militant captors in Syria.

Some people seem to arrive exactly when they’re needed—offering support, clarity, or simply presence. A reflection on those “Lasallian angels” and the quiet ways they shape lives and community.

A look at the slow, lifelong work happening beneath the surface—where something within us is being formed, growing into a light meant to be shared with others.

“Blue blood” once meant status and privilege—but here it takes on a different meaning, grounded in service, community, and the values that truly define who we are.

Exploring a leadership planning retreat centered on a critical question about a changing world — inviting reflection on how teams must evolve in mindset, structure, and shared mission to remain meaningful and effective.

Even in the places we’d rather avoid—confusion, struggle, uncertainty—there’s something steady and present, holding it all and refusing to let the darkness win.

Some challenges are too big to solve individually. This piece leans into the idea that real progress begins when we stop working in isolation and start working together.

A look at how connection fuels the mission—linking people across regions, cultures, and communities in a shared commitment to serve, support, and grow together.

The role of women is expanding—bringing new energy, perspective, and leadership. A look at how that shift is changing both the mission and the people within it.

From the smallest particles to the human heart, there’s something holding it all together. A look at how science and faith begin to meet in that deeper, unseen presence.

We all have “dragons” we’d rather avoid. But what if the path forward isn’t conquering them, but learning to live alongside them?

Not just about reaching more people, but going deeper with the ones already in front of us, holding both breadth and depth as essential to the mission.

A look at how diverse voices and experiences can come together in a shared mission, moving beyond division toward something more whole, connected, and life-giving.

Life doesn’t move in straight lines. A look at how what we’ve lived continues to echo, shaping what comes next in ways we don’t always see.

We all have a shadow — the hidden attitudes and patterns we don’t easily see. A look at what happens when we stop ignoring it and start learning from it.

It’s not just about what volunteers do, but what happens within them. How stepping into service begins to change how they see the world, and their place in it.

Not everyone seeks leadership, but sometimes it finds us. A look at how being called to lead often begins with willingness, not certainty.

For some time, Lasallians have published statements and chapter documents beginning with the words: “We Lasallians, Brothers and Partners...”

This year, alumni of the Lasallian Volunteers have married each other in record breaking numbers: four couples in as many months.

Over 25 years, the story of Lasallian Volunteers has been one of steady change. Adapting, growing, and responding to the needs of the time while staying rooted in its core mission.

Challenging us to move beyond passive expectation and actively imagine a future rooted in purpose — one where our choices today begin to shape the world we hope to see tomorrow.