#LasallianLife
Celebrating B2B
March 01, 2024
In De La Salle’s early schools, he was particularly descriptive of the role that each member of the community played in contributing to the achievement of the mission – a transformative education that formed the heart, mind, and spirit. Students were assigned tasks such as Reciters of Prayers, Holy Water Bearer, Rosary Carrier Assistant, Bell Ringer, Distributer and Collector of Papers, Sweeper, Doorkeeper, and the prestigious… Keeper of the School Key. Much like a well-made quilt, De La Salle recognized the vital and unique role of each individual contributing to the ultimate, larger success. The beauty of the whole is only possible through the excellence of each unique piece that is then sewn together by the bonds of community and collaboration.
This past week, our Principal, Mr. Paul Gasparini and I attended a yearly gathering of the Principals and Presidents of our secondary schools throughout the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN). During the meeting, one school program is chosen to be recognized with the prestigious Brother Michael Collins Award of Excellence for representing admirable values, standards and passions. I am proud to announce this year’s recipient was OUR Bridge 2 CBA Brothers Program! The B2B program is a free summer program that is open to rising 5th and 6th grade students in the Syracuse City School District. It is a holistic and experiential learning program that reduces barriers, enriches academics, and develops life skills.
Similar to the early schools of De La Salle’s time, the success of B2B is a result of countless members of our community hearing their own vocational call to contribute to this project – forming the heart, mind, and spirit of those entrusted to our care. The Bridge 2 CBA Brothers Program is a culmination of the vision of Annemarie Mosley and Steve Garraffo that was made a reality through the philanthropy of Mr. Dan Byrne '70 and his wife Cristine J. DeMaio. Several faculty members, including our current B2B leader, Erin Moore, were open to their own call to support this program with their unique gifts and talents. Countless CBA students opened their hearts and volunteered throughout these past three summers. And finally, several more donors stepped up by offering to support the program in some way or by providing scholarship dollars for these students to attend CBA after the completion of the program. This national award recognizes the excellence that can be achieved when we respond to our own vocational call through our shared Lasallian mission. Donors, teachers, students, alumni, and CBA parents each contributed according to their own vocation and their contributions were sewn together by the bonds of our Lasallian community. The resulting “whole” would not be the same without each unique “square.” The result is the beauty of a program that inspires minds and touches hearts!
Congratulations to all who are involved with Bridge 2 CBA Brothers!
Here is a link to the video that was shown at the awards ceremony.
Here is also a link to the announcement on the Christian Brothers Regional website.
May this award inspire all of us to continue to be open to God’s call in our lives – recognizing the transformative power of saying “yes” to sharing our gifts with the world. Just do not ask me to be the Keeper of the School Key!
Live Jesus in our Hearts! Forever!
Mr. Matthew Keough
President, Christian Brothers Academy
