download - Christian Brothers of the Midwest

study Spanish in Guatemala, and serve in several Lasallian ministries of the District. When they graduate, we
are prepared to offer them a teaching opportunity in one of our schools, and one, Tony Elfering, asked to join the
Brothers and is in our initial formation program
Another major development of the past decade was the establishment of the Mission and Ministry Council
which incorporated some of our Partners into the decision making process of the District. In response to the 43rd
General Chapter and the Midwest District Chapter of 2000, the Mission & Ministry Council was created in 2002.
Its function was to assist and support the Brother Visitor in his duties with respect to the Lasallian Educational
Mission in the existing and future ministries of the District. In the intervening years, this Council has fulfilled
its purpose in the areas of the mission, Lasallian formation, service to the poor, sponsorship and evangelization.
In fact, it has worked so well that we will soon reconstitute it as the Lasallian Mission Council, and it will play
a much more significant role in areas of oversight and stewardship related to the mission in our District. The
District Council of the Christian Brothers will hold some reserved powers.
(l-r) Brothers John Blease, Frank Carr, Mark Snodgrass, Larry Schatz and
Tom Johnson. During the Intercapitular Meetings, Midwest Brothers had lunch
between sessions at a nearby restaurant called Gustodivino (Divine Taste).
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In view of the aging of our Brothers we created
the position of Director of Senior Brothers,
filled by a Brother whose task it is to visit the
Brothers who are sixty-five and over once each
year, assist them with planning for retirement
or moving to a retirement center or skilled care
facility, providing support for a spirituality of
aging, and serving them in any other ways
necessary. In addition, we hired four District
Nurses to serve the Brothers in the locations
where we have large groups of Brothers –
Memphis, Chicago, Winona and the Twin
Cities. These women take Brothers for doctor’s
appointments, visit with them regularly,
attend to any who are hospitalized, and act as
advocates for the Brothers with various health
care professionals. They also keep in contact
with the Brothers in distant states.
During the past decade I was faced with the
deaths of sixty-three Brothers. Many of these men had a major impact on the lives of the Brothers and on the
education of the students in our schools and universities. Their deaths point to the aging of men religious that
is happening in the Church, and we need to continue our prayers that new members will listen to God’s call to
religious life. Perhaps the one deceased Brother with the most significant impact was Brother John Johnston,
former Superior General, a Lasallian scholar, a visionary, and a Brother and friend to all. I valued his insights and
his fraternal support on many occasions.
Clearly, the past ten years in the Midwest District have seen more developments and transitions than what I have
summarized here. But these stand out in my mind as I look back over my years as Visitor. And the conclusion that
I draw is that the mission of St. John Baptist de La Salle is alive and well among us. Our Brothers and Partners,
our administrators and faculty members, our alumni and students, and our many benefactors can see that their
donations of time, treasure and talent invested in our Lasallian mission continue to flourish with the result of
producing well educated students for the future. And for that, we are all grateful.
Live, Jesus in our hearts. Forever!
Brother Francis Carr, FSC