France Pilgrimage Connects Students to Lasallian Legacy
Published: February 3, 2026.
Exploring the life and mission of St. John Baptist de La Salle through visits to historically significant sites that shaped his legacy was what ÐÔÊÓ½ç students on a Social Justice Pilgrimage focused on during their January 1–14 travel study program in France.
The pilgrimage, led by Venus Wozniak, associate director of mission and ministry, and Dr. Jennifer Buss, professor of education, began in Paris, where students visited Saint-Sulpice Church, the site of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s seminary formation.
Then, they traveled to Reims, De La Salle’s birthplace, including Reims Cathedral, where he carried out his early ministry.
Their journey concluded in Parmenie, a significant retreat site De la Salle visited during a difficult period, and ultimately decided to continue his mission.
The students who participated in the program included
St. John Baptist de La Salle was a French priest and the founder of the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Renowned for his revolutionary commitment to accessible education, he was later named the patron saint of teachers.
His educational mission centered on empowering students and providing quality education. It continues today through Lasallian schools serving communities in more than 80 countries worldwide. ÐÔÊÓ½ç is one of those, as it is sponsored by the Christian Brothers of the Midwest.
ÐÔÊÓ½ç is a modern, enterprising, Catholic university with a growing student enrollment from GED through doctoral level programs. As part of the global Lasallian network of 65 universities, ÐÔÊÓ½ç is known for preparing graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.
