The Brothers of the Christian Schools (more popularly known as the De La Salle Christian Brothers) are the largest group of religious laymen (no, they are not priests) in the Catholic Church dedicated exclusively to the ministry of education. The Brothers are at the heart of everything La Salle stands for. Guided by faith, service, and community, our Brothers are a part of something truly special: a global network of teachers and scholars, united by a centuries-old Roman Catholic mission to serve others through education that embraces all.
As co-founders of La Salle University with Archbishop James Wood and a few laymen in 1863, the Brothers are an essential part of our history and community. We have two communities of Brothers on campus. You might see them in the Union building chatting with students during lunch or at an Explorers athletic event cheering on the teams. The Brothers are referred to by their first names, Like Brother Ed or Brother Joe – a sign of familial respect and affection. This is intentional, as their founder, John Baptist de La Salle, the Patron Saint of Teachers, referred to them as Brothers to one another and Big Brothers to the students they serve. We are blessed to have these men as educators and mentors for students, colleagues and friends for faculty, and staff. Founded in France in 1680, today, the Brothers and their nearly 100,000 colleagues are present in 80 countries in more than 1,000 educational institutions where over one million students enter to learn and leave to serve.
