Announcement: Changes in the Office of Mission

Brother Visitor, Ben Hanlon, has shared the following letter with the Lasallian Family in the District of Ireland, Great Britain and Malta, announcing significant changes to the Office of Mission.

Joe Gilson

Dear Lasallian Family,

We wish to inform you of some significant changes within the Office of Mission for the District of Ireland, Great Britain, and Malta. Joseph C. Gilson, who has been serving as Director of Mission since 2019 and previously held the position of Director of Formation for Mission from 2015, will be stepping back from the coordination of Mission initiatives in our District.

Effective 1st September 2024, Joe will be taking on two new roles within the Lasallian Family.

Firstly, he will be joining the Animation Team of the Lasallian Region of Europe and the Mediterranean (RELEM). In this capacity, Joe will contribute to the follow-up on the outcomes of the recent RELEM Assembly held in February 2024, which was tasked with reflecting on the sustainability and vitality of the Lasallian Educational Mission in our Region for the coming years. As a result of this important work, the Strategic Alliances for RELEM (StAR) Commission has been established, and Joe will be an integral part of this team. Their work will chart out how the various Districts in Europe and the Middle East can collaborate more closely, with the ultimate goal of further integration and cooperation.

Additionally, from 1st September 2024, Joe will commence his role as a Formation Consultant for the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN). Tasked by the Regional Office for RELAN, Joe will lead a coordinated assessment and visioning process for formation needs within that Region.

In Joe's words:

 “I am deeply honoured to take on these new roles within our worldwide Lasallian Family. While I will miss the day-to-day engagement with the Mission initiatives in our District, I look forward to contributing to the broader Lasallian mission across two of the five Regions of the Institute. I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition and next year will continue to support our schools and works in Great Britain, as well as our new Lasallian school, Lecale Trinity Grammar School, in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland.  The plan is also to continue to serve on the Board of the De La Salle Brothers in Malta.”

We want to assure you that interim plans are in place to ensure that our network of schools and centres experience these changes as smoothly as possible.

We are grateful for Joe's dedicated service and wish him every success in his new roles.

Sincerely,

Brother Ben Hanlon

Brother Visitor | District of Ireland, Great Britain, and Malta