Link: https://lasallian.info/huether-2024-joins-lasallian-educators-together-and-by-association/
From: La Salle Relan
Date: 26/11/2024
Over 275 Lasallian educators gathered for the 51st annual Huether Lasallian Conference, themed “Lasallian Education Today: Integral, Spiritual, Transformational,” in Baltimore, Maryland, November 21-23, 2024. The conference welcomed 150 first-time attendees.
Prior to the main conference, an athletics pre-conference and higher education colloquy opened on November 20. Led by Joey Mahmood, associate athletic director at Mullen High School in Denver, Colorado, the pre-conference addressed how Lasallians in athletics live out the mission, the spirituality of sport, and best practices. Facilitated by Dr. Carol Ann Gittens from Saint Mary’s College of California and Dr. Michael Hahn of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, the 2024 higher education colloquy allowed educators from Lasallian colleges and universities to reflect on their educational vocation and pedagogical foundations.
On the main conference’s first night, participants gathered for an Opening Mass followed by an awards ceremony recognizing six Distinguished Lasallian Educators — Brother Daniel Aubin, FSC, Teresa Diamond, William Leahy, Cheri Broadhead, Emily Vogel and Chris Giangregorio. The reception following the awards featured music from the jazz ensemble at Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore.
Friday morning highlighted Dr. Ann Garrido, associate professor of homiletics at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri, whose keynote address considered how to engage in discussions of truth as Lasallian educators. Her presentation offered a nuanced approach to these difficult conversations, providing points to consider and pause for perspective.
Tom Eichwald, vice president of mission and ministry at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, Missouri, commented on Dr. Garrido’s talk, “I think it was really helpful to kind of get the perspective on how we can focus on truth intentionally and take it seriously. That’s the tradition we have, that’s the Gospel.” He continued to note the importance of telling the truth clearly and intentionally.
Saturday morning’s keynote speaker Brother Hernán Santos González, FSC, vice chancellor of Bethlehem University, examined what the Lasallian education mission looks like in the Holy Land. His presentation delivered a closer look at the daily implications of Bethlehem University students and how Lasallians are called to support them amid the challenges.
“I’m inspired by the Brothers, because they seem to be bringing hope and peace and love and engagement,” Elisabeth Roman, director of partnerships and communications at Instituto Fe y Via in Romeoville, Illinois, reflected on Brother Hernán’s address. “They seem to be bridge builders between the Palestinians and the Christians and then to some point even the Jews. So I see them as light and as a beacon of hope in an area that is suffering.”
Throughout the conference, nine general breakout sessions offered opportunities for participants to delve deeper into particular topics of interest. These sessions included: reflecting on vocational journeys; linking sport and Lasallian spirituality; building diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom; supporting LGBTQIA students; unpacking data on Lasallian student research from Springtide Research Institute; incorporating service programs; highlighting concentration programs; discussing Lasallian pedagogy; and discovering the peace circle process.
In addition to a general track, the conference also featured an academic, school and college counselors track and association for mission track. New to 2024, the counselors track, facilitated by Michelle Gould and Brother Michael Phipps, FSC, contained sessions on the impact of counseling staff at Lasallian communities, research on how to best support Lasallian students, and creating a wellness plan of reflection and action. The association for mission track discussed the Lasallian charism, its transformation, and ways to continue deepening association. This second track was led by and included presentations by Kate Ward Gaus, Brother Robert Schieler, FSC, and Tom Southard.
Saturday’s panel discussed “Lasallian Education Today” with Roxanna De Peña-Elder from The De La Salle School in Freeport, New York, Chris George from La Salle Catholic College Preparatory in Milwaukie, Oregon, Nicole Nastari from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California and Erika Whitehead from Catalyst Circle Rock in Chicago, Illinois. This time also allowed for small groups to discuss and share their experiences from their own ministries.
Elissa Pensa-Cerros, arts faculty at La Salle Academy in Providence, Rhode Island, shared a sentiment that was often echoed throughout the duration of the conference: “The charism is living and requires community and is ever changing. The biggest thing was that charism doesn’t live alone. The charism lives in community.”
The conference concluded with an optional post-conference discussion led by Brother Ernest Miller, FSC, director of the District of Eastern North America’s Adrien Nyel Project. Titled “The Vocation to Teach ‘to the Ends of the Earth’: The Lasallian Pedagogical Vision,” the discussion created space for participants to contemplate their own vocation journeys and recognize the ways they have influenced the Lasallian mission.
The next Huether Lasallian Conference will be held November 20-22, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri.