I am Catholic!
By Ben DeMarais
When I first came to Shaw, I wondered what it meant to be “Salesian.” I began teaching physics at Archbishop Shaw High School in the fall of 2013. School began in August, and I believe it was the beginning of September when Br. Jerry asked me if I could be a chaperone for the LR that fall. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend that retreat. A year later when I was asked to attend the SLR in March of 2015, I eagerly said yes, knowing after just one year of teaching at Shaw how formative the Leadership Retreat experiences could be, both for the individual and for the greater school community.
Though this is only my second year teaching at Shaw, I have had a good share of Catholic retreat experiences – two NCYCs in high school, a TEC retreat through my home diocese in Winona, MN, two summers of ministry work and most recently -- one year as retreat czar with Saint John’s University Campus Ministry in Collegeville, MN and two years as Director of Campus Ministry at Saint John’s Prep school in Collegeville. I had been formed in the La Sallian tradition in high school, became a committed Benedictine in college, and am currently growing in my understanding of the Holy Cross tradition through graduate school work with the University of Notre Dame. When I knew I would be attending the SLR as an adult chaperone, I did not expect to attain much personal spiritual growth, but I was happy for the opportunity to further my understanding of what it meant to be Salesian. While it would be difficult to be away from classes for a week, I knew the time with our seven junior participants and two young team members would be worth my time. I did not have any personal epiphanies or intense spiritual connections in my own retreat experience this MLR,; however, I was constantly building gratitude for my new allegiance to this new part of the Catholic family, the Salesian family.
It was wonderful to be able to fully participate in the week by simply being present. This was only possible because of the tremendous leadership exercised by the Core Team and Young Team, as well as the ever-present enthusiasm that kept everyone participating, interacting, and praising God from sunrise to sunset. When I first came to Shaw, I wondered what it meant to be Salesian. When I was asked to be a part of SLR this March, I was excited to see another side of the greater Salesian family. Upon my return to Shaw, I am proud to wear my medal around school and encourage others’ participation in school retreats, monthly Mass, and future Leadership Retreats. I am Catholic, La Sallian, Benedictine – and Salesian.
St. John Bosco, pray for us!
Though this is only my second year teaching at Shaw, I have had a good share of Catholic retreat experiences – two NCYCs in high school, a TEC retreat through my home diocese in Winona, MN, two summers of ministry work and most recently -- one year as retreat czar with Saint John’s University Campus Ministry in Collegeville, MN and two years as Director of Campus Ministry at Saint John’s Prep school in Collegeville. I had been formed in the La Sallian tradition in high school, became a committed Benedictine in college, and am currently growing in my understanding of the Holy Cross tradition through graduate school work with the University of Notre Dame. When I knew I would be attending the SLR as an adult chaperone, I did not expect to attain much personal spiritual growth, but I was happy for the opportunity to further my understanding of what it meant to be Salesian. While it would be difficult to be away from classes for a week, I knew the time with our seven junior participants and two young team members would be worth my time. I did not have any personal epiphanies or intense spiritual connections in my own retreat experience this MLR,; however, I was constantly building gratitude for my new allegiance to this new part of the Catholic family, the Salesian family.
It was wonderful to be able to fully participate in the week by simply being present. This was only possible because of the tremendous leadership exercised by the Core Team and Young Team, as well as the ever-present enthusiasm that kept everyone participating, interacting, and praising God from sunrise to sunset. When I first came to Shaw, I wondered what it meant to be Salesian. When I was asked to be a part of SLR this March, I was excited to see another side of the greater Salesian family. Upon my return to Shaw, I am proud to wear my medal around school and encourage others’ participation in school retreats, monthly Mass, and future Leadership Retreats. I am Catholic, La Sallian, Benedictine – and Salesian.
St. John Bosco, pray for us!
