Celebrating a Successful Year: Highlights of Lasallian Mission Services in 2024

The year 2024 has been a highly successful one for Lasallian Mission Services.

Providing ninety- nine (99) retreats and reflection days for 7283 students from the west coast to the eastern seaboard, and in between, Adelaide and our regional schools in Orange, Inverell, and Lithgow. 

LMS’s quality programs served schools, both Lasallian and others, including twenty- four (24) events at a wide range of non- Lasallian schools. They included schools in regional NSW, in Queensland, and in Sydney: Warriewood, Strathfield, Bathurst, Kenthurst, Sunshine Coast, Young, Ryde, Moree, Mudgee, Maryong, Miranda, and Paddington. 

LMS’s leadership of thirty-one adult formation events in 2024 reinforced the valuable contribution offered to school staffs, both Lasallian and others, together with inservices at yourtown and in Catholic Education Offices.

The year commenced with training of Lasallian Youth Ministers conducted in early January’s searing heat at Wisewman’s Ferry and was immediately followed by the annual Lasallian Student Leaders Gathering at Collaroy. Staff and student formation programs soon began, and March saw another highly successful Lasallian Leaders Gathering (LLG) in Adelaide. Br Peter Ryan, former Director of Formation, regarded this LLG as one of the best- ever held.

As the year unfolded, programs such as Together for Mission, Heritage, and Compass were provided in the adult formation arena, while yourtown continued with its utilisation of Lasallian services. As one Deputy Principal commented after a staff inservice: “Today was tremendous. Such positive feedback from all staff. Everything I had hoped for was  delivered". Her assessment was a consistent one made of LMS programs. 

The De La Salle Community Association Network (DLSCAN) was launched as a new initiative to enhance association among current and former members of the Lasallian family. It is hoped that as DLSCAN matures, it will build community and mutual support among Lasallians in all our works.      

Success in any team structure is largely dependent on the personal and professional abilities of the staff who comprise it.  The recruitment of two wonderful young people in Oliver Bautista and Emilia Nicholas added greatly to the provision of quality Young Lasallian programs which were refreshed and overseen by Lydia Avia- Aumua.  Long- standing colleague Damian Khoury continued with his valuable work in this area. Adult formation continued under the direction of Br John Cantwel, assisted by Phillippe Dulawan for the first half of 2024, and then by Lydia in the second semester. Br Raymond Khan provided project and administration assistance while Br John Pill completed another part-time Brother in Residence program at Adelaide, Caringbah and Cronulla. In addition to his LMS duties, Br John Cantwell similarly served at Ashfield. 

Julie Alibrandi was invited to the PARC Visitors’ Conference held in April in the Philippines and was subsequently appointed to serve in several roles: as the PARC Executive Committee Secretary and Chair of the PARC Lasallian Studies Program. She also supported the work of the three Sector Mission Councils: New Zealand, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea. The Pakistan role included important development of school policies and a strategic plan for the Sector.  

After years of LMS service, Philippe (currently on leave) and Damian will conclude their employment with LMS in January and March, respectively. We thank both men for their energy, commitment and longevity of service to the mission and wish them well as they move to the next chapters of their lives.   

At all times, when proudly promoting the Lasallian charism, LMS sought to encourage human flourishing of participants' spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional wellbeing. The consistently high evaluations from stakeholders gave evidence of the team’s success in achieving its mission.

By any measure, 2024 was a highly successful year and the team looks forward to serving communities again in 2025.

Source: Julie Alibrandi, Director of Operations, Lasallian Mission Services