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The De La Salle Brothers have three schools in Malta with a total student population of three thousand.
De La Salle College is situated in the southern part of Malta at Cottonera. This school is the largest Lasallian school in Malta catering for two thousand students.
De La Salle College takes in students from the age of five, right up to sixth form. It is the only Lasallian school catering up to Sixth Form level.
De La Salle College has its own Former Students Association better known as: Former Students Association De La Salle College, Malta (hereinafter referred to as FSADLS).
Stella Maris College is situated in Gzira and has a student population of one thousand. It caters for pupils from the ages of seven to sixteen - Fifth Form.
Stella Maris College also has its own former students association known as the Old Stelmarians Association (hereinafter referred to as the OSA).
St. Benild School is situated in Sliema. It has a student population of two hundred and caters only for five and six year olds. The students then proceed to continue their education at Stella Maris College, and can therefore be considered as an extension to Stella Maris College.
Dar Santa Marija in Mellieha. The Brothers in Malta also have a retreat house in the northern part of Malta. This house caters for live-in experiences, retreats and other pastoral work organised by the schools for their students.
Both Lasallian schools in Malta have their own former students associations.
The Old Stelmarians Association was formed in 1947 by the late Bro.Hilary Clews. It started as more of a social organisation for past students and parents within the college however it was also the main fund raising body within the school the proceeds of which were used to further enhance the facilities provided at the schools. In time, with the evolution of other committees within the schools, the fund-raising function started to be fulfilled by other associations, so the OSA started taking more of a supporting role.
Former Students Association De La Salle College was formed in 1967. This also started as a fund raising body until other associations were formed within the school.
The Associations are presently taking a supporting role within their respective schools. The main activities organised by the associations are a Lasallian Family Mass held monthly at the colleges. This is open to past students, their families, as well as the present students with their families, and also teachers and their families. The aim of this mass is to bring together various sectors within the Lasallian family on a regular bases to share the in the Eucharist and pray together. The mass is animated by the Association's choir group, who also offer their services for other school activities.
The Associations also organise prayer meetings, and day seminars with a particular theme for discussion. During the easter period, lenten sermons are organised for parents and past pupils.
In addition the Associations are helping out in various projects which the Brothers have undertaken. A very good number of past students have offered to help the Brothers in their Millennium Project which involves a campaign against illiteracy in our country. Participants have offered to give an hour a week to help out in teaching those who are less fortunate.
Other past students are helping out in the Lasallian Formation Programmes which are presently being co-ordinated by one Brother in Malta. These programmes are spread over a period five years starting from the age of eleven to sixteen. The Associations help out in these programmes by offering their services as facilitators as well as physically giving a helping hand with the preparations necessary for the smooth running of these programmes.
The Past students have also been asked to sit on various school committees within the Parent Teachers Association. These committees include the Continuous Education sub-committee whose aim to to help parents to keep abreast the the reucational reforms, as well as providing the opportunities for parents to discuss issues that preoccupy them about the welfare of their children. The Associations also have representatives on the Editorial Board of the school magazines are regularly provide articles of interest, as well as specific articles on the Association.
Considering that duties of the various associations within the school may overlap, we feel that it is now of utmost importance that these bodies come together to discuss issues involving both associations so that rather than working on their own the committees work on a global approach aspect. This would reduce the work load on individuals, there will be less duplication of work, and better results will be achieved.
In line with the above thought, our Associations have collaborated with the other associations within the school in organising Lasallian Family Days at the respective schools, sports tournaments, and also a 24 hour football marathon/tornament was held, with the intention of the proceeds from this event being sent to the victims of Kosovo. Each of these activities proved a success, and further goes to strengthen the argument that �United we Stand�
The Past students Associations have this year attended the International World Conference for past students organised by UMAEL in at the Brothers Motherhouse Rome between the 20 and 24 May 1999. During these four days, the delegates met other peers who are doing the same work in different countries, and had the opportunity to discuss the issues and problems they encounter and together share their experiences and advise each other on how they tackled the problems they encounter.
A young French Priest, John Baptist de la Salle, (1651-1719) had a good look around him and saw the need for good and sound education. He realised that there is need for teachers who are equipped to help parents with the upbringing of their children. In his time schooling was only for the rich and on a private tuition basis. The children of the poor and the workers are the ones who got De La Salle worried� and he went and did something about it�. He founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He wrote�..
�One of the main duties of fathers and mothers is to bring up their children in a Christian manner and to teach them their religion. But most parents are not sufficiently enlightened in these matters; some are taken up with their material need and the support of their families; others under the constant concern of earning the necessities of life for themselves and their children, cannot take the time to teach their children their duties as Christians.
�In His providential care, God has appointed others to take the place of fathers and mothers in this responsibility. He sends persons with he necessary enlightenment and zeal to help children attain the knowledge of God and His mysteries. According to the grace given them by God the Brothers are like good master builders who give all possible care and attention to lay the foundation of faith in the hearts of these children, many of them would otherwise be abandoned.�
FOR THIS REASON De La Salle took into his home a group of teachers. These followed his instructions and his example. The rest is history. De La Salle would be the first to admit that God was leading him all the way by the people and the circumstances in his life. He felt the need, heard the call from God and he followed.
Today the De La Salle family is everywhere. It is present in every continent and in almost every country in the world. We do many things. Mostly we run schools, all kinds of schools from nurseries to Universities.
We are also engaged in all kinds of work i.e. missions, retreats, camps, and a lot of other pastoral work. We run good schools and we are very serious about quality education. We are a no-nonsense group of people who want to help the young entrusted to our care as also help parents in the spiritual and academic development of their children.
As you see De La Salle�s answer to God�s call works wonders to this very day.
Feel proud that you are part of this great LASALLIAN FAMILY.