Thanks to the generosity of the Cornwell family, an authentic relic of St. John Baptist de La Salle is now in the DLS Chapel, displayed on the altar. 

The Cornwell Family - David (1989), his wife Victoria, son Robert (2019), and son Ryan (2021) - recently purchased the first-class relic to donate to DLS.

Victoria Cornwell regularly checks online art auction sites and saw the DLS relic for sale by an auction company. After conversations with her family, she purchased the relic, which shows some blood from St. John Baptist de La Salle, and is considered a first-class relic. 

A first-class relic is a body part of a saint, such as bone, blood or flesh, while second-class relics are possessions a saint owned. 

The relic came with the Vatican’s reliquary seal, verifying the authenticity of the item.The documents contain descriptions of the relic, usually written in Latin, and signed and sealed by the priest or bishop who issued them. A matching seal is placed on the inside back of the reliquary.

Once the family secured the item, they decided to purchase a reliquary, a container to display relics. They chose one in the shape of the cross that has fleur de lis accents in recognition of St. John Baptist de La Salle’s’ French birth and heritage. Fleur de lis is the French wording for flower and lily. 

Robert Cornwell, who also teaches Music at DLS, said the donation of the relic is “deeply meaningful for our family.”

He added, “As alumni—my father, my brother, and I— have each been shaped by the Lasallian values of faith, service, and community. It’s an honor to give something back that will inspire future generations of students to carry on that legacy.”

Principal Brother Ken Kalinowski, FSC, DLS ‘94, said, “I would like to thank the Cornwell family for their generous donation to DLS!”