Fall 2010 P.O
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Brothers of the Christian Schools LASALLIAN District of Eastern North America N I G U M S F I D E I FALL 2010 P.O. Box 1710 Beltsville, MD 20704-1710 (301) 210-7444 www.fscdena.org VOL. 22 No. 1 Dear Friends, Welcome to this Fall edition of Lasallian Visions! In this Annual Report issue we rec- ognize and thank our many generous benefactors who have partnered with us financially in caring for our Senior Brothers, in supporting our educational mission to disadvantaged young people, and assisting in the education and religious formation of our young Broth- ers. Your generosity is a great affirmation of our life and ministry as well as a very real way of participating in the Lasallian mission of providing a “human and Christian education” (Brothers’ Rule) to young people. We are particularly grateful for your generous response to our appeal for support in the Brother Dennis Malloy, FSC expansion of our retirement facility in Ammendale, Maryland. Your support of our Service Provincial Awards Dinner in Philadelphia last fall, as well as our subsequent La Salle Hall Appeal helped significantly to offset the $1.3 million cost of the construction and furnishing of eight new bedrooms. With your help we are now able to provide a “senior friendly” community In this report... ? for thirty of our Brothers who have given so many years of service to the Church and the Lasallian educational mission. Thank you! If you have not already received word, this year’s Christian Brothers Service Awards Letter from the Provincial 1 Dinner will be held on Saturday, November 13, 2010, in the Ballroom of the Ben Franklin Remembering Brother John Owens 2 House in Philadelphia. We welcome this occasion to honor our Brother Jubilarians and to support our San Miguel Schools in Camden, Philadelphia, and the District of Columbia. Brother Kevin Dalmasse Concludes 3 These schools make a quality Catholic education available to middle school youngsters from Term as Director of Education very poor and struggling communities at little or no cost. This is truly an opportunity to Brothers Receive Religious Robes 3 help change young people’s lives through faith and education—those experiences that have made all the difference in our own lives. Congratulations Bishop McFadden 3 On September 9th we celebrated the first anniversary of our new District of Eastern North America (DENA ), our coming together for a revitalized mission in the former Dis- Remembering Br. James Kirkpatrick 4 tricts of Baltimore, Long Island/New England, and New York. This coming together as one Kropp and Miceli Celebrate 5 new District (DENA) has already been a rich source of grace and blessing. A vibrant sense of renewed energy surges among our Brothers and Partners for our educational and evangeliz- 50 Years Teaching at Calvert Hall ing mission to young people. Lasallian Youth Assembly Gathers 5 While the life of our ministries and of our Church is not without challenges, there are in Rhode Island many bright signs of hope and new life. I’m very happy to share with you the good news that we have four young men who will be making their novitiate this coming year; four others 2010 Christian Brother Jubilarians 6 who are in our postulancy program, and close to thirty recent graduates from our schools The San Miguel Schools 8 who are considering the possibility of a vocation to the Brothers’ life. So, my friends, God is good! We give thanks to him for the many ways he continues to Summer Means Service 9 bless us through your prayers, friendship, and support. Be assured of our daily remem- Jubilarians Honored at Ocean Rest 10 brance of you in our prayers. God be with you and bless you. Live Jesus in our hearts! St. Mary’s College Hosts 10 The Buttimer Institute Br. Dennis Malloy, FSC List of Donors 12 Provincial Letter from the Director of Development 22 2010 Annual Report 1 Brother John Owens, FSC Brother Kevin Dalmasse After five years of leadership and ded- Secondary School administrators in the 1917-2010 icated service, Brother Kevin Dalmasse country, this association has become an Served at West Catholic High School Concludes Term As is stepping down as Regional Director important forum for fostering the Lasal- and La Salle University for 61 Years Director Of Education of Education and returning to his alma lian mission and identity in the United mater, Central Catholic High School, States-Toronto region. “The following ‘one-book wonders’ report to detention in the A West student’s identifying the Pittsburgh, where he will teach religion Mr. Gery Short, current chairman of auditorium.” With Bro. John’s reading of the list of culprits, the right “Brother John,” (of three), led and government and coach the speech the Regional Education Board, believes school day at West Catholic ended. But the mystery remained. to “the handsome one” then “Hand- and debate team. we have all “benefitted greatly from How did he catch those guys plus guys cuffing cigarettes as some John.” It stuck. From 1939 to Leadership, vision and commitment Brother Kevin’s passion and vision for they walked around the track? Speculation ranged from win- 1962, as disciplinarian, vice-principal, to excellence are the hallmarks of Brother the Lasallian educational mission in dows overlooking Chestnut Street, to cars circling the block, and and principal at West Catholic, John Kevin’s time as our Regional Education the Region. Brother Kevin has worked el trains rumbling along Market Street. Nobody knew, but we educated students through pointed Director. These qualities were particular- tirelessly to assure that the services and missed the point. Bro. John saw, but more importantly, he knew. reminders and habitual encouragement. Bro. Arthur Bangs ’49 ly evident at the two major conferences programs of the regional office meet the From week one of freshman year, “Charlie, you should be in puts John’s achievements in perspective. “It took a giant of a man that were part of his responsibilities, The needs of educators and districts, and room 214 right now,” to commencement, John knew each of us…. to serve as principal for 2500 boys and simultaneously as reli- Huether Conference and the Lasallian that these services honor and advance and our parents, siblings, cars, moods, and aspirations. John was gious superior for 65 Brothers.“ Association of Secondary School Chief the great educational heritage handed the shepherd who knew the sheep that flocked to West and fell Clearly, John mastered time management and found mo- Administrators. Under his leadership on to us.” under his aegis. His audacious memory of students, faculty, ments for relaxing. As the number of athletes at John’s funeral the Huether Conference experienced un- On behalf of the Christian Brothers alumni, however was not mental gymnastics. La Salle President, attests, John, a sometimes baseball player, avidly followed West, precedented growth, annually welcom- Conference and Lasallians throughout Bro. Michael McGinniss references the motive. “Bro. John al- La Salle and the Phillies. He was also a fixture at class reunions, ing 300 or more participants. the Region we extend our sincere thanks ways displayed a great hospitality and openness towards young his introduction sparking spontaneous standing ovations. As In collaboration with several chief and appreciation for Brother Kevin’s people conveying that he trusted them to do the right things, no George Weir ’54 observes, “Our appreciation and admiration administrators, Brother Kevin estab- leadership and service. matter how different their lives and times might be from his.” deepened with the years.” Bob Devine, also ’54, cites a cause of lished the Lasallian Association of Sec- By Br. Robert Schieler, FSC, Among students, he generated growing respect. Advised by the allegiance. “I know this is true...a student went to a prep and ondary School Chief Administrators General Councilor an upperclassman that John would forget the detention he gave hated it so much that he ran away from home to NYC. Around (LASSCA). Perhaps the largest religious for the U.S.-Toronto Region us, I foolishly skipped it. The next day in the hallway, he asked Thanksgiving, he called his mom. He would not come home unless congregational association of Catholic if I remembered. “I do, I do, I do,” and I did. Never happened he could attend West. His father brought him there and they talked again; never mentioned again. That was John’s “do-the-right- to John...He told the student. ‘If you get out of line once, you will thing” message. Clear, unequivocal, with no malice. Rightly, we not spend another day at here.’ Long story short, the student gradu- never doubted his support. He once said, “When I hear that one ated, went to Villanova and later became Secretary of the Navy.” BROTHERS RECEIVE RELIGIOUS ROBES LEAVE FOR NOVITIATE of the Brothers’ boys or girls from West or La Salle is making it Stories of second chances abound, placing Br. John’s response in big, I light up inside. That the sort of news makes me feel that my the framework of an educator in the best Lasallian tradition. Brothers from the District of Eastern life has had some purpose, some meaning. But I always knew it For La Salle students, John was that “Brother with the Stogie” North America gathered at Christian would be that way. That’s why I became a Christian Brother.” at registration. Ray Ricci, WC ’62, and his former “boss” recalls Brothers Academy in Lincroft, New Jer- His nephew Dennis Owens recalls walking down Chestnut St. John’s impact. “For those who worked with him, he was BJO. sey, on July 9th for the conferring of the with his Uncle James.