With joy and hope, within the framework of the Year of Lasallian Spirituality and coinciding with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of St. John Baptist de La Salle as Universal Patron of Educators, as well as the 125th anniversary of his canonisation, the Institute’s Office of Information and Communication, with the support of Brother Álvaro López, of the Arlep District, is beginning this May 7 the Digital Novena to our holy Founder, which will last until May 15, when we celebrate his feast day.
The initiative suggests a brief moment of prayer each day, guided by Brother Alvaro, who through a short video – in reel format – invites us to remember the presence of God and to follow a spiritual journey in a vocational way, enlightened by the Word of God, and appealing to signs and gestures to reflect on the call of all Lasallians to holiness.
At the end of each day, with the prayer to Saint John Baptist de La Salle, we ask the Lord to raise up in his Church “Brothers, associates and Lasallian partners who devote themselves generously to the human and Christian formation of children and the youth”.
“Those of us who are convinced that ‘this Institute is of the greatest need’ for our times, [also consider that] the Brother vocation is particularly significant in facing the challenges of the culture of indifference and in proposing an authentic culture of fraternity”. In this regard, “we are urged to use all the resources at our disposal that contribute to the greater glory of God”, remarks Brother Álvaro, who this year is living his missionary experience among the indigenous people of Costa Rica, in the Lasallian community of Amubri, while at the same time seeking to “promote and deploy the Institute’s proposal of the culture of vocations as a digital missionary on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube; under the name of Hermaestro: Brother and teacher, a suggestion of one of my first students”, he says.
As a young religious, Brother Alvaro is convinced that “it is necessary to adapt and adjust the proposals that have accompanied the Lasallian and ecclesial tradition to bring young people closer to the treasure of our faith: the encounter with Christ”, clarifying that “it is not a question of ‘inventing’ but of ‘reinventing’ and ‘reusing’” what we already have.
For this reason, with regard to the Digital Novena to Saint John Baptist de La Salle, “we wanted to take a very Christian initiative which is very present in our Lasallian history, such as the novenas, and update it, not only in language, but also in offer and presence”, explains the Spanish religious.
Each of the videos planned for the Digital Novena is between two and three minutes long and will be progressively available on the social networks of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (@lasalleorg) on Facebook, Instagram, X and Youtube. These are the themes planned for each day:
Day 1: Called to holiness.
Day 2: Saints on the move.
Day 3: Becoming Holy.
Day 4: Always Brothers.
Day 5: A Holy Gaze.
Day 6: Tools for Holiness.
Day 7: Supported by the Saint.
Day 8: Happiness up to Heaven.
Day 9: With a Saint’s Heart.
Join us in living and sharing the Digital Novena to Saint John Baptist de La Salle!
* Find other resources and initiatives to revitalise our spirituality on our Year of Lasallian Spirituality website.