Mission Impact Report 2025 - Report - Page 19
Mission Impact 2025
Canon Member
Contributions of $100+
At the Canon level, you proclaim your
faith in the Lasallian mission, and
your generosity serves as an example to
others.
Anonymous
Baird Foundation, Inc.
Jack Phelan Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
of Countryside
Lakeside Bank
Premier Bank
Saint Patrick High School
St. Mel Alumni Association
The Cosgrave Co.
Mr. Raymond H. Abbott † &
Mrs. Roberta Abbott
Mr. Michael D. Ackerson &
Mrs. Karen Ackerson
Mr. Harry F. Adrian, Jr.
Mr. John Agee & Mrs. Catherine Agee
Mr. Michael J. Albers & Mrs. Donna Albers
Mr. Gregory B. Alexander &
Mrs. Adrienne Alexander
Mr. George T. Allie & Mrs. Mary Allie
Mr. David L. Anderson &
Mrs. Virginia Anderson
Mr. Hank A. Anzelone & Mrs. Linda Anzelone
Mr. Robert Arcuri
Mr. William Arndt & Mrs. Claire Arndt
Mr. Joseph F. Arnold & Mrs. Patricia Arnold
Dr. Eugene J. Audette & Mrs. Marjorie Audette
Mr. Jon Auge
Mr. Richard Augulis
Mr. Vincent Badali
Dr. Richard J. Baginski, D.D.S. &
Mrs. Mary Baginski
Mr. William W. Bahnmaier &
Mrs. Peggy Bahnmaier
Mr. Rodney Bailey & Mrs. Marcia Bailey
Mr. James C. Bailey, CSM & Mrs. Linda Bailey
Mr. James D. Barnitz & Mrs. Kathleen Barnitz
Br. Joel Baumeyer, FSC
Mr. Frederick Stephen Bax & Mrs. Ann Bax
Mr. Robert Baxa
Mr. John J. Beaumont & Mrs. Della Beaumont
Mr. Joseph G. Becker & Mrs. Marcie Becker
Mrs. Karen Begg
Mr. Frank D. Behr & Mrs. Joanne Behr
Mr. Donald H. Belinger & Mrs. Anne Belinger
Mr. Adelbert J. Bell & Mrs. Sue Bell
Mr. Timothy M. Bell & Mrs. Elaine Bell
Mr. Charles A. Belland
Mr. Michael S. Bennett
Mr. John M. Benson & Mrs. Jean Benson
Mr. Guy A. Bernacchi & Mrs. Carla Bernacchi
Mr. Robert Bernacchi
Mr. Erwin Bernhardt & Mrs. Kathryn Bernhardt
Dr. Terrence Bidnick & Mrs. Regina Bidnick
Mr. Robert V. Biebel & Mrs. Joan Biebel
Dr. Richard W. Blass, D.D.S. †
Mr. Stephen Bodnar & Mrs. Irene Bodnar
Mr. Gerald S. Bohn & Mrs. Lois Bohn
Mr. Kevin Boland & Mrs. Shannon Boland
19
Adrien Nyel and The Encounter
Adrien Nyel was a zealous,
energetic layman and educator
who worked in Rouen, France, for
many years establishing schools
for the poor. He was asked by a
wealthy widow, Madame Jeanne
Dubois Maillefer, to consider
founding a charity school for
boys in Reims. The first thing
he did in Reims was to seek
guidance and support from the
Sisters of the Holy Child of Jesus.
At the entry of the convent, he
was introduced to the young
canon of the Cathedral at Reims,
Fr. John Baptist de La Salle.
As a result of this chance encounter,
De La Salle offered to use his
connections and resources to help
Nyel establish a school as well as
recruit and train teachers. Initially,
De La Salle saw helping Nyel as
just another act of charity. But his
involvement deepened. De La Salle
found himself drawn into an unfamiliar
world—the world of the poor—a world
of disadvantaged students, teachers
who lacked purpose, and families
oppressed by poverty. He responded
by forming those teachers into a
community with a shared spiritual
and professional life, a community
that eventually became the Brothers
of the Christian Schools. Around
1682, the formal collaboration between
the two men ended.
THE GIFT OF PROVIDENCE
Adrien Nyel’s encounter
with De La Salle was an act
of providence—a moment
when possibility met
response, and a mission
was set in motion. His role
reminds us that God often
works through timely
openings and willing
partners. Today, gifts given
in that same spirit of trust
help keep the Lasallian
mission strong, ensuring
that what began in faith
continues in stability and
service for generations.
Adrien Nyel planted a seed by opening schools, and St. John Baptist de
La Salle cultivated and nurtured that seed into a strong, enduring tree—
the worldwide network of Lasallian schools that exists today. Nyel is the
pioneer and catalyst who brought the practical work of charity schools
to De La Salle’s doorstep. Without him, the De La Salle story might have
been vastly different.
