Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Professional services
UnclaimedA worldwide Roman Catholic lay religious congregation best known for operating schools and educational institutions under the Lasallian tradition.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
The Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, commonly called the De La Salle Brothers or Lasallian Brothers, is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of men dedicated principally to education. It was founded in France by Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, a priest and educator who organized a community of teachers to provide structured schooling for poor boys. The institute is distinct from the Congregation of Christian Brothers, commonly known as the Irish Christian Brothers. The congregation emerged from La Salle’s collaboration with teachers in Reims during the late seventeenth century. Rather than organizing educators as isolated clergy or monastic communities, La Salle developed a collective model in which the brothers lived and worked together in service of schools and local communities. Their early educational work emphasized accessible instruction, classroom organization, teacher preparation, and teaching children in the vernacular. A novitiate and normal school were established in Paris in 1694, and the brothers made a collective association vow that reinforced their commitment to remain together and serve communities rather than pursue separate religious lives. The institute received formal papal recognition in 1725, several years after La Salle’s death. It was temporarily dissolved during the French Revolution, recalled under Napoleon in 1804, and formally recognized by the French government in 1808. Thereafter it expanded beyond France into Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. La Salle was canonized in 1900, and Pope Pius XII named him a special patron of teachers of youth in 1950. Today, the institute functions through a global network of schools, universities, training institutions, educational foundations, and associated lay communities. Its institutions range from schools serving disadvantaged children to higher-education establishments such as Bethlehem University, Manhattan University, College Mont La Salle, and La Salle University in Philadelphia. In figures reported by the institute for December 2023, 2,883 brothers supported 1,154 education centers in 78 countries, serving approximately 1,160,328 students with 107,827 teachers and lay associates. The Lasallian identity is organized around faith, concern for poor and marginalized communities, social justice, inclusive community, respect for human dignity, and educational quality. The institute has five broad regional structures covering North America, Asia and Oceania, Europe and the Mediterranean, Africa, and Latin America. Although the number of brothers has fallen substantially since the mid-twentieth century because of retirements and limited recruitment, the wider network of schools and lay collaborators has continued to grow. Education remains the institute’s central activity, but its wider history also includes social investment, volunteer programs, environmental advocacy, retreat work, and wine production formerly operated in California to support schools and the care of elderly brothers. The congregation has also faced serious allegations concerning physical and sexual abuse at institutions it operated, including facilities in Northern Ireland and England. In Northern Ireland, the institute admitted and apologized for abuse by some members during hearings of the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. These cases remain an important and difficult part of the organization’s public history.
History
The institute traces its origins to Jean-Baptiste de La Salle’s encounter with teacher Adrian Nyel in Reims in March 1679. Nyel sought La Salle’s help in establishing free schools for poor boys. La Salle gradually became involved in organizing teachers, developing a shared religious and educational vocation, and creating a system that placed trained educators in community-based schools. La Salle introduced practices that were innovative for the period, including grouping pupils by level of attainment, organizing lessons systematically, and using the vernacular rather than relying exclusively on Latin. His approach linked classroom discipline and teacher preparation with a commitment to the dignity and practical needs of poor children. A novitiate and normal school were founded in Paris in 1694, helping to form teachers for the expanding network. The brothers made a collective association vow requiring them to remain united in service of their educational mission. This communal model distinguished the institute from both ordinary parish clergy and secluded monastic communities. La Salle continued teaching and organizing schools until his death in 1719. In 1725, Pope Benedict XIII approved the congregation under the title Brothers of the Christian Schools. The institute’s early development was disrupted by the French Revolution. A decree of the National Assembly dissolved the order in February 1790, but the brothers returned under Napoleon in 1804 and obtained formal government recognition in 1808. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, they established schools and educational works throughout Europe and then across Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia. La Salle was canonized on May 15, 1900. In 1950, Pope Pius XII designated him a special patron of teachers of youth in the Catholic Church. His educational legacy became the basis for the wider Lasallian movement, which increasingly included lay teachers, administrators, volunteers, alumni, and partner organizations alongside professed brothers. The congregation is governed from its Generalate in Rome by the Superior General and councillors. Its international structure is divided into five regions: North America, Asia and Oceania, Europe and the Mediterranean, Africa, and Latin America. The institute’s principal mission remains the provision of human and Christian education, with special concern for poor and excluded populations. The demographic profile of the order has changed significantly. The number of brothers declined from the mid-twentieth century onward as members retired and fewer men entered religious life. At the same time, the educational network expanded through the participation of lay educators and associates. The institute reported 2,883 brothers, 1,154 education centers, 78 countries, 1,160,328 students, and 107,827 teachers and lay associates as of December 2023. Beyond formal schooling, Lasallian activities have included literacy work, social services, volunteer placements, environmental advocacy, retreat centers, and investment services. UNESCO awarded the Noma Literacy Prize to Lasallian institutions during the International Year of Literacy in 1990. In 1981, the institute helped establish Christian Brothers Investment Services, a socially responsible investment service for Catholic organizations. The Lasallian Volunteers program placed lay people in teaching and service positions for one or two years before ending in 2022. The institute also operated a substantial California wine business. Brothers began producing wine and brandy near Martinez in the late nineteenth century, later moving the winery to Mont La Salle in Napa Valley and acquiring Greystone Cellars. The business supported schools and elder care, but the vineyards were sold to Heublein in 1989. The brothers retained the Mont La Salle property, while former executives continued altar-wine production independently. The congregation’s history also includes serious institutional-abuse controversies. In Northern Ireland, the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry examined the former Rubane House and St Patrick’s Training School. The institute admitted that some brothers had abused boys and issued apologies, while survivors described extensive physical, sexual, and degrading treatment. Related allegations were investigated in England concerning St Gilbert’s approved school in Worcestershire. These events have shaped public scrutiny of the congregation and its safeguarding record.
- 2022
Lasallian Volunteers program ends
[1]The volunteer program concluded on June 30 after approximately three decades of operation.
- 2022
Armin Luistro becomes Superior General
[1]Br. Armin Luistro, FSC, succeeded Br. Robert Schieler as Superior General.
- 2014
Northern Ireland abuse inquiry hearings
[1]The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry opened its module concerning the De La Salle Boys’ Home at Rubane House.
- 1990
UNESCO literacy prize
[1]Lasallian institutions received the Noma Literacy Prize during the International Year of Literacy.
- 1989
California vineyards sold
[1]The institute sold its vineyards and commercial winery operations to Heublein while retaining the Mont La Salle property.
- 1981
Christian Brothers Investment Services founded
[1]The institute established an investment service intended to promote socially responsible practices among companies.
- 1950
La Salle named patron of teachers
[1]Pope Pius XII declared La Salle a special patron of teachers of youth.
- 1900
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle canonized
[1]La Salle was canonized by the Catholic Church on May 15.
- 1804
Return under Napoleon
[1]The brothers were recalled and resumed their educational work under Napoleon.
- 1790
Dissolution during the French Revolution
[1]A decree of the National Assembly dissolved the congregation in revolutionary France.
Products and positioning
A faith-based, international education network focused particularly on accessible and high-quality education for poor and marginalized communities, combining Catholic formation with social justice, community life, and professional teaching.
Primary and secondary education
Lasallian schools
The institute’s core work is a worldwide network of primary and secondary schools. These institutions combine general academic education with Catholic or Lasallian formation, community service, concern for social justice, and particular attention to children and communities with limited access to quality schooling.
Universities and colleges
Lasallian higher education
The Lasallian network includes post-secondary institutions such as Bethlehem University, Manhattan University, College Mont La Salle, and La Salle University in Philadelphia. These institutions extend the congregation’s educational mission into higher education, professional preparation, research, and service to local communities.
Socially responsible investment · 1981
Christian Brothers Investment Services
Established in 1981, Christian Brothers Investment Services served Catholic organizations through investment management and shareholder engagement. Its stated approach encouraged companies to improve policies and practices through active ownership.
Wine and brandy · 1882
Mont La Salle winery
The brothers operated a California wine and brandy business from the nineteenth century until the vineyards were sold to Heublein in 1989. Production included table wine, sacramental wine, varietal wine, generic wine, and brandy. The commercial operation supported Lasallian schools and care for aging brothers.
Controversies
2022
Survivor criticism of institutional apologies
The congregation participated in formal apologies delivered in the Northern Ireland Assembly, but some survivors and relatives criticized the statements made by institutional representatives.
2017
Abuse allegations concerning St Gilbert’s approved school
Former pupils described decades of alleged sexual, physical, and degrading abuse at St Gilbert’s approved school in Worcestershire, which had been run by De La Salle Brothers. Police investigated historical allegations after media reporting and the release of previously restricted documents.
2014
Historical abuse at Northern Irish institutions
The Northern Ireland Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry examined allegations concerning the former Rubane House and St Patrick’s Training School. The De La Salle Brothers acknowledged that some members had physically and sexually abused boys and apologized to survivors.
Marketing campaigns
- 1995Lasallian Intercultural Student Community
Peru
Brother Paul McAuley established educational and residential support for Indigenous schoolchildren in the Peruvian Amazon, later linking the work to environmental advocacy.
Outcome. The project continued as a local educational and community initiative, although McAuley later faced a residency challenge from the Peruvian government.
- 1990International literacy and schooling work
International
Lasallian institutions participated in literacy and schooling initiatives associated with the International Year of Literacy.
Outcome. The institutions received UNESCO’s Noma Literacy Prize.
Brand decisions
2022
Conclude the Lasallian Volunteers programStrategyBackground
The volunteer program had operated for approximately 32 years, placing lay participants in teaching and other Lasallian service roles.
Action taken
The program ended on June 30, 2022.
Aftermath
The institute continued its educational mission through schools, lay associates, and other forms of Lasallian collaboration.
1989
Sell the California winery operationsM&ABackground
The congregation had operated a large California wine and brandy business whose proceeds supported schools and elder care.
Action taken
The vineyards were sold to Heublein, while the brothers retained the Mont La Salle property.
Aftermath
The former executives of the sacramental-wine business continued altar-wine production independently, while the brothers retained a retreat presence at Mont La Salle.
1725
Formalize the teaching congregationStrategyBackground
The growing community needed formal ecclesiastical recognition for its shared religious and educational vocation.
Action taken
Pope Benedict XIII approved the Institute under the title Brothers of the Christian Schools.
Aftermath
The institute expanded across France and later developed into an international education network.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/institute-of-the-brothers-of-the-christian-schools · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled