Being Lasallian focuses on attitudes and views of education rather than formal structures.

The Lasallian vocation to compassion, commitment and togetherness comes in various ministries and programs of various shapes and sizes. It has already done so in the course of its history, and it is set to develop completely new forms to meet the needs of today. This is the story of Lasallian Association today.

Understanding the Institute’s origins and reflecting on the Church as the communion of all baptized believers leads the Brothers to view everyone working together and by association as Lasallian. Even as far back as 1959, Brother Maurice Auguste, referred to the term as follows:

The name “Lasallian” has ceased to be a new expression in the eyes of many. For some decades now it has been used  more and more frequently: it describes adequately – if not fully satisfactorily – those in history, literature, the teaching profession, and in spirituality, who are influenced by the person, written works, and social initiatives of the Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, St. John Baptist de la Salle.13

Most Lasallians who choose to live their baptismal vocation by participating in  the Lasallian ministry of education and evangelization recognized by the Church, are believers in Jesus Christ. However we readily recognize the many sincere women and men of other faith families  who center their professional and at times personal lives, on the founding Lasallian story. Lasallian is anyone (married, single, consecrated, ordained) who is personally committed to living the gospel values and working to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor.

Just as De La Salle went through a process of personal conversion, which made him face up to the full logic of his faith in Christ and the effects of applying the call to discipleship to his own life, a Lasallian is committed to the respect and reverence of others as valuable and important in the eyes of God. This leads to a view that the education of the individual is something supremely valuable and worthwhile for its own sake, not just for the convenience of society.