La Salle House

John Baptist de La Salle was born in Rheims, France on April 30th 1651 and ordained a priest on April 9th 1678. He realised how urgent it was to provide a Christian education for the sons of poor people and opened the first Brothers' community in 1680. In addition to giving primary education a radically new form, he established vocational and technical secondary schools and teacher training colleges. He died in Rouen on April 7th 1719. He was beatified by Leo XIII on February 19th 1888, and canonised by the same pope on May 24th 1900. Pope Puis XII proclaimed him heavenly patron of all teachers on May 15th 1950. His relics are venerated in the Generalate chapel in Rome. He is commemorated by the universal Church on April 7th. In the Institute, his feast is normally celebrated on May 15th.

Design: Lauree Eterovich & Rachel Eathorne (1996)