#LasallianLife
Saints,"Brother", and SirVocea Dennis
May 12, 2023
Earlier this week, I took a moment to meet with our senior class. I reminded them of my frequent encouragement to “be a Saint today.” There are times when all of us are fixated on the desire to impact every-one and we lose sight of the present opportunity to impact a single-one. Students are often mesmerized by the large-scale fundraisers or the possibility of initiating movements – all wonderful things. Yet, there are opportunities to “be a Saint” within each moment of each day.
Jesus transformed hearts through daily and personal interactions. Jesus’ classroom was the world and his class time was the moments presented to Him. In a recent keynote address, the Superior General and Vicar General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools reflected on these “transformations” by emphasizing the importance of the question, “where is your brother?”
It is in Genesis 4:9 that the word "brother" is first used in the Bible. In the same Sacred Scriptures, we enter into the experience of Jesus Christ and discover this same question repeated again and again: before the wounded man on the side of the road, before the Phoenician woman, while with the mourning family of the sleeping girl, in reference to the widow who gives everything, the tax collector who distributes his goods, the rich young man who comes with a thorny question, the ten lepers who sought healing, the blind man who begged for his sight, and many more.
To “be a Saint today” starts by constantly asking ourselves, “where is our brother?” Our “brother” is not found only in Church, or when we pray, but is instead encountered during each of our daily experiences.
This past week, recent NFL draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and graduate of the CBA class of 2018, SirVocea Dennis visited our new “Cavale Family Strength and Conditioning Facility” to speak and train with our students. SirVocea reflected on our football community within our CBA community. Interestingly, and most fittingly, instead of donning the apparel of his new NFL team, he wore his CBA sweatshirt, “Brothers.” Although subtle, his gesture reflects an intentional focus away from promoting an individual accomplishment to uniting with the students in our CBA community and encouraging them to become the best version of themselves.
His simple visit responded to the question, “Where is your brother?” SirVocea’s answer consisted of offering his wisdom, support, and example to our young students. He found the intersection of his gifts and talents with the needs of our youth. He was a “Saint” in that daily moment and a brother to our students.
The challenge of “being a Saint today” extends beyond SirVocea and beyond our senior class. Thankfully, it does not necessitate perfection! Perfection is for God alone. “Being a Saint today” DOES necessitate seeing the needs around us, discerning how we can respond, and acting with passion and zeal. Together, as a Lasallian community, we possess a powerful force of transformation by being “brothers.” Opportunities to touch hearts lie abound within each moment. The world is each of our classrooms and our daily experiences are our class time. Today seems like a great day to “be a Saint!”
Mr. Matthew Keough
President, Christian Brothers Academy
