2023 Lenten Retreat

For the 6th Annual Lenten Retreat, held in February over Zoom, thirty-nine alumnae and faculty members came together on a Saturday morning to reflect upon “The Gift of Creativity and the Marillac Spirit.” They explored the creative roots of their shared experiences at Marillac High School and discussed how, in the tradition of St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul, they might grow “in generous, unconditional, extravagant love” during Lent 2023. 

Before the retreat began, Katie Ambrose Houle, Class of 1977, led a meditation for those looking to quiet minds and hearts. With imaging exercises, music, and storytelling, she invited participants to recall the imaginative creativity of their childhood, as well as their teen instincts to decorate a Chandler’s or wear goofy socks with a uniform and their adult efforts to be inventive when assisting struggling family members or friends. Sr. Marsha Tiernan furthered Katie’s expansive vision of creativity in opening and closing prayers that asked people to trust the presence of the “Creator God” in their daily life and work, especially when “responding to the urgent needs of our world.”

Sr. Mary Beth Kubera and Sr. Ann Marie Butler joined in with a shared talk explaining how Marillac High School had been creative from its very inception. Its unique philosophy of Responsible Freedom created an atmosphere in which faculty members collaborated in teams and students were encouraged to speak up both inside and outside of class—in addition to expressing themselves on stage during Freshman performance nights! At Marillac, parents and administrators trusted students to put as much energy into brainstorming prom themes as into making NUF-YAD an annual reality for the children of Marillac House.

Sr. Mary Beth explained that Marillac’s creative spirit had its roots in the 17th century, when St. Louise and St. Vincent founded a new style of religious community designed to be both contemplative and active. The Daughters of Charity, while rooted in prayer, received training in both practical and interpersonal skills to be flexible enough to serve where needed and adaptable enough to live and work in community. Sr. Mary Beth told retreatants that this tradition of serving others with creativity and respect continued at Marillac High School, setting a tone “from the time Marillac began to the time it was finished,” adding, “although it never really finished, because you are it.” And Sr. Ann Marie said: “That Marillac philosophy is in your heart. It wasn’t in a building. You are passing it on, and you can be as creative this Lent as you’ve been all your lives.”

Before brainstorming ideas for Lent, retreatants watched a powerful, inspiring video of Margaret Pasquesi, Class of 1989, singing “Gethsemane” from Jesus Christ Superstar. Margaret explained in introductory comments: “I fell in love with music at Marillac, and my music teachers let me do things girls were not supposed to do.” Subsequent music teachers discouraged Margaret from singing songs like “Gethsemane,” written for male voices, but Margaret persisted: “Marillac taught me to pursue the calling of my heart . . . regardless of gender stereotypes, and regardless of the many ‘nos’ I heard along the way.” As a music-thanatologist and a cantor, helping people “pray, celebrate, grieve and die,” Margaret describes her work as “definitely outside the box, as Marillac taught me to be.

The group discussions that followed surfaced ideas that were definitely “outside the box” of traditional Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.  Links were dropped in the chat for daily prayer apps and inspirational podcasts, and alumnae shared experiences carving out time to be quietly reflective while on daily runs or walks. Others ideas included being more attentive to people encountered on the way to work or in the workplace itself, setting a daily alarm to remind one to take a few minutes to pray for someone, and giving people more credit for how they already creatively respond to life’s challenges.

The retreat concluded with Sr. Ann Marie reminding retreatants that Marillac graduation programs contained this exhortation from Isaiah: “Share your bread with the hungry and never turn your back on those who need you.” In that spirit, Peggy Gudenas invited those participating to help with the creative (and fun!) projects sponsored by the Marillac Alumnae Association, with the goal of raising funds for Marillac St. Vincent Family Services and St. Joseph Services. Sr. Mary Beth and Sr. Ann Marie then extended the retreat experience by emailing weekly follow-up suggestions throughout Lent on how to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the naked, visit the sick and prisoners, and bury the dead. Not surprisingly, their suggestions on how to grow in extravagant love reflected the ever-creative Marillac spirit—“definitely outside the box”!

A team of Marillac alumnae and faculty members collaborated to pull together this Lenten retreat. For the program to continue, we need more volunteers to help with the 2024 Lenten retreat. If you can help, whether in advance or on the day of the retreat, please contact the Marillac High School Alumnae Association at info@marillachighschool.org.