De La Salle Brothers

For a different Catholic religious institute also commonly known as "Christian Brothers", see Congregation of Christian Brothers.

Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Latin: Institutum Fratrum Scholarum Christianarum
French: Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes
AbbreviationFSC[1]
NicknameLasallians[2]
Formation1725 (299 years ago) (1725)
FounderJean-Baptiste de la Salle
Founded atRheims, Kingdom of France
TypeLay religious congregation of pontifical right (for men)
PurposeEducation
HeadquartersVia Aurelia 476, Rome, Italy[2]
Region
Worldwide
ServicesEducation
Membership
2,883 members as of 2023
Secretary General
Br. Antxon Andueza, FSC[3]
Br. Armin A. Luistro, F.S.C.[4][3]
Vicar General
Br. Carlos Gabriel Gómez Restrepo, FSC[5]
Motto
Latin: Signum Fidei
English: Sign of Faith
Main organ
Generalate
Parent organization
Catholic Church
Websitelasalle.org
Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, the founder of the De La Salle Brothers

The De La Salle Brothers, officially named the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Latin: Fratres Scholarum Christianarum; French: Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes; Italian: Fratelli delle Scuole Cristiane) abbreviated FSC, is a Catholic lay religious congregation of pontifical right for men founded in France by Jean-Baptiste de La Salle (1651–1719), and now based in Rome, Italy. The De La Salle Brothers are also known as the Christian Brothers (sometimes by Lasallian organisations themselves[6]), French Christian Brothers, or Lasallian Brothers. The Lasallian Christian Brothers are distinct from the Congregation of Christian Brothers, often also referred to as simply the Christian Brothers, or Irish Christian Brothers.[7] The Lasallian Brothers use the post-nominal abbreviation FSC to denote their membership of the order, and the honorific title Brother, abbreviated "Br."

The Lasallian order stated that as of December 2023 the Institute had 2,883 Brothers, who helped in running 1,154 education centers in 78 countries with 1,160,328 students, together with 107,827 teachers and lay associates.[8] There are La Salle educational institutions in countries ranging from impoverished nations such as Nigeria to post-secondary institutions such as Bethlehem University (Bethlehem, Palestine), Manhattan University (New York City), US, College Mont La Salle (Ain Saadeh, Lebanon), and La Salle University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US).[9] The central administration of the Brothers operates out of the Generalate in Rome, Italy and is made up of the Superior General and his councillors.[citation needed]

A number of Lasallian institutions in several countries have been accused of, and have admitted and apologised for, long-standing and serious physical and sexual abuse against their charges.

  1. ^ "Identity & Mission". De La Salle Philippines. 2019.
  2. ^ a b Lasalians, De La Salle Brothers
  3. ^ a b "Members of the Chapter". La Salle - 46th General Chapter. 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference supgen was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Elección del Hermano Vicario General". La Salle - 46th General Chapter. 19 May 2022.
  6. ^ "The Christian Brothers at La Salle University". La Salle University. 4 January 2023. The Christian Brothers are at the heart of everything
  7. ^ Slattery, John Luke (1913). "Christian Brothers of Ireland" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. The schools of the Irish Christian Brothers are of many types ... the Christian Brothers' schools ...
  8. ^ "Statistics 2023 of Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools". La Salle Worldwide. 20 May 2024. Summary of statistics as of December 2023, with link to detailed 136-page report.
  9. ^ Morgan, G., F.S.C., Lasallian Education – 150 Years in Toronto, 2001.