Clarendon Hills, IL

My connection with the Christian Brothers goes back to the early 60s. In 1965 I was a novice in the order and remained a Christian Brother for 19 years. I knew I wanted to be in religious life, and found myself drawn to the Brothers. Because I wanted to teach, the Christian Brothers were a natural fit. Most important though, was the mission–providing young people with a student-centered, values-based, education. I have lived the Christian Brothers’ mission my entire life. The Brothers are important to me personally, as friends, as mentors, and as guides. The Brothers are my family. 

My happiest years were when I was teaching—transforming the lives of my students every day through teaching both a strong values system, and the skills they need to be successful in the outside world. Even today, my goal is to use the skills I have developed through the Christian Brothers to encourage and teach young people every chance I get. I taught music, math, typing, religion, anything that was asked of me, to children from the city who grew up without many of the resources that others have. And that is the heart of the Christian Brothers mission; the emphasis and focus on the student. 

If the Lasallian mission is to continue, we have to go beyond bricks and mortar schools to the very heart of what that mission means. As the number of Brothers continues to dwindle, those who have benefitted from, or have a dedication to, the Lasallian mission are stepping forward. It’s critical to ensure that they have the understanding and the tools they need to continue providing a strong, student-centered Lasallian education. That takes resources, and that’s why I decided that what I want my legacy to be is support of the Christian Brothers and support of their mission and to ensure the mission continues well into the future.