Catholic Education

DeLaSalle High School is proud of its association with the Brothers of the Christian Schools (informally known as the Christian Brothers). From the very first school day in 1900, Christian Brothers have guided DeLaSalle students in their academic studies and the development of their relationship with Jesus Christ. Currently, Brothers serve DeLaSalle in the classroom, administration, maintenance, facilities, and transportation. The community of Brothers live in the three-story residence “behind” the school building on Grove Street, appropriately named Christian Brothers’ Hall. DeLaSalle’s resident Brothers are regularly joined by three Lasallian Volunteers – young men and women who choose to provide a year or two of service to a Lasallian institution such as DeLaSalle.

John Baptist de La Salle was deeply moved by the way in which the children of the artisans and the poor were abandoned and left to themselves. As a practical response to his prayerful consideration of this fact in relation to God’s plan of salvation, he came to discern, in faith, what God wanted the mission of a Lasallian institute to be.

The Lasallian work has considerably increased throughout the world. Today we are 80,000 educators and more than 5,000 Brothers, and together we animate the Lasallian mission which reaches more than one million children, young people, and adults.

We give thanks to God for those Brothers and Lasallians who, wherever they are working, put their whole heart into the option for the poor, attempting, through their educational action, to build a world with greater solidarity and justice.

Educational service of the poor continues to be relevant for our time and essential for the Brothers and Lasallians. The effort required of each one of us is one of conversion of the heart and of the mind.

Therefore, we, a diverse community of teachers, learners, alumni, parents and supporters, comprise DeLaSalle High School. Our mission is to serve students and families who seek a high-quality, values-based academic preparation for life. We at DeLaSalle fulfill this mission, in part, by respecting and affirming our heritage as a Catholic high school in the Lasallian tradition.

Christian Brothers

Founders of DeLaSalle High School

The Brothers of the Christian Schools is a Roman Catholic congregation of lay religious men. It is the largest such group in the world today. Begun in 1680 by St. John Baptist de La Salle to serve the needs of the children of the poor and marginalized of France, the Brothers grew in numbers and now, aided by thousands of Lasallian Partners, carry the vision of their Founder to hundreds of education-related works in 79 countries throughout the world. This world-wide community of Brothers, numbering about 4,000 today, is headquartered in Rome, Italy. The Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) is home to more than 950 Brothers who serve in four Districts: the Midwest, San Francisco-New Orleans, District of Eastern North America, and Francophone Canada.

These Brothers serve in 23 states and Washington, D.C., in the U.S., in Toronto, and in the international missions of Africa and Bethlehem University in the Middle East. In our region, they are assisted by more than 5,000 Lasallian Partners in 121 institutions where they work with nearly 80,000 students.

The Brothers of the Christian Schools, by their own choice and vocation, are lay religious (not ordained priests). They vow to associate for the education of the poor through a consecrated life of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The Brothers approach their educational work as a vocation; it is the essence of their calling to, as St. John Baptist de La Salle instructed, “touch the hearts” of the young entrusted to their care and to “inspire them with the Christian spirit.”

St. John Baptist de La Salle

Founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools

John Baptist de La Salle was the first son of wealthy parents living in France over 300 years ago. Born at Reims, John Baptist de La Salle received the tonsure at age eleven and was named Canon of the Reims Cathedral at sixteen. Though he had to assume the administration of family affairs after his parents died, he completed his theological studies and was ordained a priest on April 9, 1678. Two years later he received a doctorate in theology. Meanwhile, he became tentatively involved with a group of rough and barely literate young men in order to establish schools for poor boys.

Moved by the plight of the poor who seemed so “far from salvation,” he welcomed new teachers to live in his personal home, renounced his position as Canon and his wealth, and so began forming the community that would become known as the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

His enterprise met opposition who resisted the creation of a new form of religious life, a community of consecrated laymen to conduct gratuitous schools “together and by association.” The educational establishment resented his innovative methods and his insistence on gratuity for all, regardless of whether they could afford to pay.

John Baptist de La Salle was a pioneer in founding training colleges for teachers, reform schools for delinquents, technical schools, and secondary schools for modern languages, arts, and sciences.

In 1900 John Baptist de La Salle was declared a Saint. In 1950 he was made Patron Saint of all those who work in the field of education. John Baptist de La Salle inspired others how to teach and care for young people, how to meet failure and frailty with compassion, how to affirm, strengthen and heal. Today, there are De La Salle schools in 79 different countries around the globe serving over 1 million students.

Additional Information

Lasallian Affiliation

DeLaSalle High School embraces its Lasallian heritage and is proudly affiliated with the Brothers of the Christian Schools – known informally as the Christian Brothers. From the very first school day in 1900, Christian Brothers have guided DeLaSalle students in their academic studies and the development of their relationship with Jesus Christ.

This Lasallian work has considerably increased throughout the world. Today, we are 80,000 educators and more than 5,000 Brothers, and together we animate the Lasallian mission which reaches more than one million children, young people, and adults in 77 countries.

DeLaSalle exists within the broader Lasallian network, including the Christian Brothers of the Midwest District, one of four districts within the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN). The Lasallian Region of North America, in turn, is one of five regions within the worldwide Lasallian institute. Each district is led by a Brother Visitor, also known as a Provincial, and, by one or more auxiliary visitors. Each region is led by a general councilor.

The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools is led by a Superior General, elected by fellow Brothers every seven years at a general chapter. In 2014, Brothers elected Brother Robert Schieler as the new Superior General. The Superior General is assisted by a Vicar General and five General Councilors.

Archdiocesan Affiliation

DeLaSalle, which was separately incorporated in 1971, functions as one of 14 Catholic high schools within the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. DeLaSalle collaborates with the Archdiocese on a variety of levels to promote K-12 Catholic Education throughout the Twin-Cities.

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