Dedicated to contributing to De La Salle University’s (DLSU) vision-mission of bridging faith and scholarship, the Lasallian Pastoral Office (LSPO) serves as the incarnation of the University’s campus ministry.
For decades, the LSPO has been guiding the Lasallian family in faith and spiritual development by promoting the charism of St. John Baptist de La Salle, in its efforts of “forming the Lasallian community towards faith-life integration in becoming authentic disciples and prophetic citizens,” as expressed in its own vision-mission.
On inclusive formation, spiritual direction
Though the LSPO may be more notable for being in charge of liturgical celebrations, its duties extend to organizing other Catholic sacraments, such as the annual Kumpil (confirmation) and the seasonal Kumpisalang Bayan (mass confession)—both recently held last November and December, respectively.
But the office’s services cater to more than just the Roman Catholic cohort. LSPO Director James Laxa recognizes that the University opens itself to people of various religious beliefs and likens the practice to how St. La Salle used to do the same.
Hence, Laxa describes Lasallian formation as not solely for Roman Catholics but “something that everyone can relate to” because it draws from the lives of St. La Salle and of Lasallians around the world. The universality of LSPO’s offer of spiritual formation also encompasses the wider Lasallian family, not only the students and faculty, but also alumni, parents, staff, and personnel.
Another core program of the office is offering spiritual direction. Through this, the receiver of the direction—or the directee—encounters a qualified director whose task is to “accompany a person spiritually.”
Laxa compares this to counseling, except spiritual direction emphasizes the directee’s “faith journey.” Thus, the things that may come up in a session may be about prayers, reflections, facing challenges, and managing relationships, as drawn from both scripture and spiritual experiences. “Spiritual direction is an invitation to notice God moving in your life,” he remarks.
He stresses its importance, saying it responds to the needs of the youth in modern times. He expounds, “Despite the connectedness of people, this is also the time that people feel most alone because the connectedness that we are speaking of right now is very artificial because people are still longing for human connectedness—connectedness to others, connectedness to God, [and] connectedness to themselves.”
Promoting the ministry
Laxa, providing the context of having problems in the LSPO’s communication strategies, cites one important future plan for the growth of the office, which will involve the promotion of its ministry to as wide a scope as possible.
This includes strengthening its spiritual direction initiative by training more faculty and staff to become certified spiritual directors. Because the LSPO only has two active spiritual directors in the previous term, both had to handle several sessions. Given that many signed up for the program, Laxa says he opts to have his other personnel be qualified to become directors. In view of this, the office is currently sending its coordinators to trainings.
Aside from standard promotional practices such as posting on social media and through programs such as the Lasallian Recollection (LASARE) courses and the Institutional Orientation (SPS5000) course, Laxa recognizes another method in promoting the Lasallian ministry. Currently, DLSU hosts seven faith-based organizations whose active members sum up to around 500. He emphasizes that because of these active students, more people will join these faith-based organizations as active members would naturally invite their circle of friends to join.
Through prayer and formation
It may be known to Lasallians that the LSPO is very keen on receiving feedback after an event. Laxa explains that it is through feedback that his office can determine whether the programs they provide are effective or not.
He stresses that both positive and negative comments are “very much welcomed and appreciated.” “Positive, it affirms to us [that] ‘Okay, we’re on the right track.’ Negative, it means ‘Okay, we need to adjust something to respond’, because every formation has to talk [from several perspectives] according to the needs and age of the audiences,” Laxa elaborates.
Programs such as LASARE and SPS5000, as well as activities such as faculty formations are crucial to the goal of LSPO because it allows communication and guidance between those who are active Catholics, inactive Catholics, and those who are confused about their faith. Due to this wide audience, Laxa further emphasizes the need for feedback, “So as a facilitator, as someone who is trying to convey growth in faith, that’s really a challenge, and [thus the] need feedback.”
Formation does not end when a program is through; it continues in prayers and numerous other formations, Laxa stresses. The formation of a person does not happen in merely one session but in multiple sessions, as it takes time. The ultimate response the LSPO hopes for is for people to respond to the challenge to love, to serve, and to give one’s self in service to God in the Lasallian mission.
