The Dance Has Ended (Day 11 – May 16, 2013)

Dr. William Hudson
casts his vote.

The first task for our last day was to revisit our responses to the challenges we had developed and to turn in our final version to the Secretariat. It was a gentle and affirming morning’s work. After several days of struggling to find the right language, everything seemed to fall into place to the satisfaction of the thematic groups. These final versions were published on large sheet of paper and each delegate was given five colored dots to vote for those responses that he or she thought should have highest priority. 

In the afternoon each Region gathered to discuss the experience of IA 13. The RELAN delegates noted the joy of working together as a Region and the impact of sharing with so many committed Lasallians from all over the world. As we stated in the reflection we shared with the whole assembly:  “The chance to fully experience the kaleidoscope of our Lasallian Family will be something we will carry with us back to our Region, our Districts and our ministries.”  

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At the end of this session Brother Álvaro gave us his final presentation. And towards the end of his time he made a strong call in favor of our work with young people: “The world of the young needs more than theories, testimonies and signs that will unsettle them and open them to the transcendent. There is no doubt that the young people we teach today will need, above all, a word or gesture that reaches their heart, and it is there that they will find God and open themselves to their brothers and sisters in need.  The challenge is always to unite this warm and compassionate stance with a prophetic word and a kind of ant-establishment action, all of which will come from the same kind of love.”

Immediately following Brother Álvaro’s moving exhortation, the delegates moved in solemn procession to the Chapel for the final ceremony, where we were welcomed by a beautiful mobile of tongue of fire. We lived a celebration of our movement from the Babel of linguistic and cultural confusion to the commitment of Pentecost. Carrying the light of Christ, to the sound of throbbing drums and amidst a flurry of colored banners, we left the chapel singing “We Are Marching in the Light of God.”

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The evening continued with a social and picnic-style meal, lots of conversation and sincere good-byes. 

At the end of our time together, I believe that we all felt that we had accomplished what we came to do: to remember that we are Lasallians Associated for the Educational Service of the Poor: ONE FAMILY, ONE MISSION.

Brother Michael French
Midwest District