The participants of the 2015 “River Gathering”.
This year’s annual gathering of Campus Ministers, Student Activity Directors and Student Life Teams brought together Lasallian Educators from 15 District schools at St. Joseph’s Camp on the Russian River September 16-18. The “River Gathering” (as it has come to be called) is an opportunity for those responsible for Campus Ministry, Student Activities, and Student Life Teams to come together to share best practices and have the chance to network with each other.
“The ability to connect each year with my peers is fantastic as we share with and learn from each other. The networking that this opportunity brings each year is priceless. I have been coming for 20 years and I learn something new each year,” Mr. Ed O’Connor, Director of Student Life at La Salle High School, Pasadena, said of the gathering.
Table discussion on the District Action Plan draft.
In addition to the tradition of sharing some time in “job-alike” breakout sessions discussing the “nitty-gritty” of responsibilities, the group had the chance to reflect on their own vocation as Lasallian Educators with Brother Chris Patiño, Director of Vocation Ministry for the District. Brother James Joost, Auxiliary Visitor, invited participants to spend time with a draft version of the Action Plan for the District. Through the lens of their respective responsibilities, those gathered provided feedback and insight to the Action Plan.
The group spent their final morning with Dr. Doreen Jones, EdD from the University of San Francisco, learning about Moral Development and adolescents. Dr. Jones engaged participants in a discussion of the call of Catholic Educators to foster Moral Development in their students. Examining the psychological perspective of Moral Development, Dr. Jones provided practical strategies to use with the young people entrusted to their care.
Reflection time on the Russian River.
Sheila Garcia, LV and Campus Minister at Cathedral High School, El Paso, Texas, reflected, “Spending time together at the ‘River Gathering,’ really reinforced that the work we are doing with our students and schools is truly a ministry. And we are the ones called to do God’s work.”
Story contributed by Heather Ruple Gilson, Director of Young Lasallians, District of San Francisco New Orleans.
Photos courtesy Brother James Joost, FSC.
