YOUNG MEN interested in experiencing the life of the De La Salle brothers are being invited to attend the ‘Challenge Program’ to be held in the remote town of Balgo in September.
The order’s director of vocations Br Tony Cummins will lead the program which is aimed at giving participants a chance to take part in every aspect of the brothers’ life.
Attendees will live and work with the brothers in the school and parish in Balgo, a small Aboriginal community in the State’s north.
Four De La Salle brothers are based in Balgo, where the order has been present for more than 25 years.
Br Tony said the program would incorporate the three main elements of the brothers’ lives – faith, service and community.
“The three things go very much hand-in-hand for us,” he said. “It’s something that goes back to our founder… he didn’t divorce the work the brothers were doing from their prayer life.”
Unlike a retreat or a conference, the program is more hands-on, according to Br Tony.
“They have an opportunity to do the work, to be involved in ministry, and they live in a brother’s community, so it’s probably more well-rounded than just making a retreat,” he said.
The brothers have held three Challenge Programs previously, including one in Balgo last year, which Br Tony said was very successful.
“The guys that came got a very clear insight into the work of the brothers and the community life of the brothers,” he said.
“For them it was quite a big eye-opener, I think.”
Br Tony, a De La Salle brother for more than 30 years, said those who take part in the program will not only make a difference to the lives of others, but they themselves will be touched by those with whom they work.
“You don’t plan on having your heart touched, but it happens,” he said.
“And vice versa, the stuff that they do you can see really makes an impact and affects the lives of young people.”
The De La Salle brothers were founded by St John Baptist de la Salle, a French priest who lived in the 1600s.
He is the patron saint of teachers, and as such the order has a strong focus on education.
“[St John Baptist de la Salle] recognised the need… to educate young people who were on the streets, the poor and the needy, those whom society was neglecting,” Br Tony said.
“He started a community of brothers to teach the poor and, since that time, the brothers have moved to 80 countries throughout the world.”
The order arrived in Australia in 1906 and has since expanded its Asia/Oceania province to include New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan.
The Challenge Program runs from September 1-13 and is for men between 20 and 35 years old. Registrations close on August 5.
For more information, or to register, contact Br Tony: anthonycummins@delasalle.org.au.