2010-05-02 22:39:51

The honor of almost being a Christian Brother (web exclusive)

1. The honor of almost being a Christian Brother (web exclusive)

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Written by Collegian Editor Kaitlyn Linsner

Christian Brother postulant Tony Elfering reached into his backpack and pulled out a small green book titled The Rule of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and began to leaf through the pages

“Here, this says it,” said Elfering as he pointed to a section of chapter 10 titled “Vitality.”       

“The Institute sees the existence of the various Lasallian movements as a grace from God renewing its own vitality,” said Elfering, adding that every Christian Brother around the world has this book.       

“We have such a small amount of Christian Brothers in the world. The bigger we can grow not only with Brothers but also with laymen really helps us live out our mission,” he said.       

The laymen Elfering referred to are known as affiliates. These men and woman do much of the same work as Christian Brothers but without taking vows.

 “These people have values and goals that are very close to those of the John Baptist de La Salle Brothers,” said Brother Gerry Molyneaux who currently teaches film at La Salle University. He has been working at La Salle University for over 55 years.       

“An affiliate is someone who shows extraordinary devotion to the work of the Christian Brothers and the spirit that drives them,” he said.       

“These are the A-team and the superstars of the laymen that have helped us,” Brother Joseph Dougherty said.  He has been a brother for 27 years and also teaches religion at La Salle University.       

In addition to the Christian Brothers who work at La Salle, there are also two men there who are affiliates. Sidney MacLeod is a professor in the communication department, and Raymond Ricci is assistant to the president office of mission integration. Both exemplify the Lasallian mission by making education a priority and focusing on students.         

MacLeod has been working at La Salle University teaching mass media classes for about 51 years now, and after having gone to school with Christian Brothers at St. Mary’s in Minnesota and later teaching amongst them here at La Salle, MacLeod said he is very familiar with the Brothers and their mission.       

“It’s something I agree with and try to follow,” he said. “You observe it in the way the Brothers do things. It’s all Lasallian.”       

Ricci also has a history at La Salle, still working here after 42 years. Ricci also spent much of his education with the Christian Brothers, attending West Catholic high school in Philadelphia and then La Salle University. He started his career at La Salle as a course counselor and registrar for evening students. From there he became the one registrar for La Salle and then took the position of Director of planning before being the Vice President of enrollment services for 17 years.     

MacLeod and Ricci also dedicate much of their time to the Brothers outside of their role at La Salle University.       

MacLeod put together two videos for the Brothers, one presenting the life of Christian Brother founder John Baptist de La Salle, and the other about all of the eastern districts of Brothers before they merged into the now District of Eastern North America, of which La Salle University is a part of.  He is currently in the process of filming new videos, one for La Salle Academy.       

Ricci participates in mission councils and many committees, which aim toward preserving the Lasallian mission. He also served on La Salle Academy’s board for two terms when the school was just getting off the ground and has helped hold workshops and focus groups for the faculty and administration of certain Lasallian institutions.       

“An affiliate is someone who has demonstrated over a long period of time a commitment to the ideals and charism [gift] of Christ,” Ricci said.       

The message remains the same in Christian Brothers’ documents.

The Administrator’s Directory of the Brothers of the Christian Schools states that a person who is to be affiliated must, “want at least implicitly to be affiliated to the institute, support the work of the institute not only financially or materially, but also through personal commitment, and show interest or at least give great admiration for Lasallian spirituality.”       

The Brothers of La Salle University followed a specific process when requesting the affiliation of MacLeod and Ricci, who they believed met these criteria. The community of brothers agreed upon the candidate, and from there the request for a letter of affiliation was sent to the general council of brothers in Rome, Italy. The general council then reviewed the request and once settled, the Superior General of the Brothers, Alvaro Echeverria, bestowed the honor of affiliation upon MacLeod and Ricci.      

“It’s not just something you get in the mail,” MacLeod said.       

MacLeod received his affiliation in 2000. Molyneaux first shared the news with MacLeod, informing him a few months before that the brothers were making the request.      

“This honor, however, does not give you the right to a Christian Brother’s parking space,” said Molyneaux joking about what he may or may not have said when informing MacLeod that very day.       

Echeverria also approved Ricci’s affiliation who recently received his letter on Nov. 23, 2009 in a ceremony at La Salle. Echeverria attended the ceremony as well.       

La Salle’s archivist Brother Joseph Grabenstein said, “Oh yes, I remember signing the document for Ray’s affiliation. I said, yes let’s do it. He deserves it.”       

According to a document written by Manhattan College’s archivist Brother Luke Salm, “Affiliation to the institute is the highest honor that the Superior General of Brothers is empowered to confer on persons who are not members of the Society.”       

MacLeod agreed.

 “It’s an incredible honor,” he said. “It really blew me away.”       

“I was very honored and a little bit taken aback by it,” Ricci said. “It’s kind of hard talking about it.”      

Affiliation is not a new concept in the Christian Brothers order. The earliest documented letter of affiliation dates back to 1822.       

“The affiliates range from popes to maintenance men,” Grabenstein said. He elaborated by   stating that Popes John XXII and Paul VI were affiliated when they were bishops. On the other end of the spectrum were two directors of maintenance who went “above and beyond the call of duty.”      

Grabenstein’s mother is also an affiliate. She received the honor after being a secretary at La Salle high school in Maryland for over 36 years. Others include doctors and dentists who provide free services for the Brothers. Also John McShain and Roland Holroyd, both who have buildings dedicated to them on La Salle’s campus, are affiliates.       

“These people are legendary,” Grabenstein said. “It’s such a rare honor that it’s like snow in May. Ok, maybe it’s closer to snow in April because it does happen. But it’s so rare.”      

Both Ricci and MacLeod are beyond appreciative of their affiliation but also said nothing has really changed since their affiliation. The two have continued their lives in the same manner, still living out the Lasallian mission. But affiliates do have certain privileges that other laymen and women do not.       

“Most of the benefits of affiliation seem to be after death,” said Dougherty as he laughed and added that of course they are also invited to many Christian Brothers events.       

Affiliates may be buried in a Christian Brother’s cemetery if so desired and also have the option of being buried in the Brother’s habit or garb as well.      

“It’s really about faith, service and community,” said Elfering who like others, fully recognizes the importance of the affiliates on a daily basis.      

“It’s a way of getting laymen to be involved in all that philosophy that is Lasallian,” MacLeod said. “It’s all the things that are strongly driven by the Lasallian model, touching the minds and hearts of students.”       

“It shows that there are laymen and women who will carry out the mission,” Ricci said. “It’s on us to make sure this movement continues.”