Q1. What is the difference between a Religious Brother and a Priest?

A religious Brother consecrates himself as a lay person, pronounces vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and belongs to an Institute or Order. Generally speaking, Brothers are involved in the educational or social field.

A priest is ordained by the Church to offer sacrifice to God in the Mass, to dispense the sacraments and is generally involved in pastoral works.

Q2. What are the "steps" to becoming a Brother?

If you express an interest in becoming a Brother you will discuss the matter with a Brother and your family will be consulted. You may then be asked to enter the "Postulancy" stage, a time of waiting and discernment lasting usually 6 months to a year.

If all goes well, you will be admitted to the "Novitiate" a place where you will focus on your personal spiritual development. This will last for one to two years. After the Novitiate you move to the "Scholasticate" a place where you will pursue your studies, usually to degree level. On completion of the Scholasticate you will be placed in a "Community" of Brothers to carry out your educational mission either in schools/universities or in other educational initiatives. As St. La Salle put it "the need for this Institute is very great."

Anyone with an interest in the religious life expecially of the Brotherhood, is very welcome to contact the Brother Director of La Salle College.

Who?

We are followers of Christ

who seek to be elder brothers

to young people of all faiths

and especially to the need

Why?

because we see Jesus

as the WAY

the TRUTH

and the LIFE

calling us to a life

of meaning

and responsibility

and compassion

in a world

troubled by division

a sense of futility

and a loss of human dignity

How?

We do this

by a conscious process

of personal

consecration to God

by being brothers to each other

in mutual affection and support

by a total giving of self

to this community

in remaining single

sharing what we have in common

in a simple life style

and by seeking God's will

through shared discernment

The La Salle Brothers Today

It all began in 1680 in France with John Baptist de La Salle
a man in a hurry
fresh from university
gifted with youth, wealth and noble birth

Touched by the crowds of children roaming the streets
without education
he surrendered all
in order to devote his talents to the education of youth
especially the poor
He was prepared to go where others could not
or would not, go.

He created many educational works,
opened educational centres in poor areas,
organised cathechetical programmes and composed texts,
set up technical schools
opened hostels,
provided remedial education for troubled students,
produced texts on politeness and civility for students
and manuals for teacher trainees

His main focus was the teacher
For him, the teacher was to be a brother to his fellow teachers,
even more,
a brother to the youth he sought to serve

God blessed his pioneering enterprise
His pupils, schools and Brothers
multiplied all over France
and, later, spread to other countries

Today
we serve in all continents
In Asia we run a variety of educational works
extending from projects for street children
to running universities in countries
ranging from Japan to Papua New Guinea,
from the Philippines to Paskistan

As Brothers we are committed to education
in particular to those in greatest need

The needs have never been so many
The demand for Brothers never so great

EVER THOUGHT OF BECOMING A DE LA SALLE BROTHER?
LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT OUR LIFE AND WORK?
Be courageous, be bold, take the first step.

• Contact any Brother whom you know and talk about your feelings.
• Send an e-mail to [email protected]
  or
  Write to
  Brother Director
  La Salle College
  18, La Salle Road
  Kowloon, Hong Kong

The Brother Director will arrange a meeting with you.

St. John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!