Students and moderators tackle a group activity during the Called & Chosen Retreat for women. (Photo Br. James Joost)
The District of San Francisco New Orleans’ Office of Education recently held its annual Called & Chosen Lasallian Vocation Retreats for students from District high schools. The retreats, one for young women and one for young men, were held at St. Joseph’s Camp on the Russian River near Duncans Mills, CA.
The men’s retreat was held January 17-19. 44 students and 14 faculty moderators from 13 District schools participated. The women’s retreat took place February 14-16. Participants included 30 students and seven faculty moderators from eight District schools.
Coordinators for the two retreats were District Young Lasallians Director Ms. Heather Ruple and District Vocation Director Brother James Joost. They were joined at the men’s retreat by District Vocation Team member Brother Michael Livaudais. and at the women’s retreat by Daughter of Charity Sister Lisa Laguna, Sister of St. Joseph Carondelet Joanne Heinritz, and Regional Coordinator for Lasallian Vocation Ministry Mr. Chris Swain.
Students at the Called & Chosen Retreat for men participate in a small group discussion. (Photo Br. James Joost)
The intent and focus of the Called & Chosen retreat is to raise the participants’ awareness of their vocation. Through the retreat process, participants were invited to explore a variety of areas, including how God calls persons through their experiences to a purposeful and fulfilling life, ways in which persons can respond to God’s call in our lives, developing and using gifts in order to serve God and others.
Retreat topics also included the basic Lasallian vocation elements of living in faith, service, and community, the Lasallian vocation of a Partner, and ways to stay connected to the Lasallian Family after graduation through Lasallian Volunteers and other opportunities for Young Lasallians. In addition, there were special sessions for the faculty moderators in attendance.
The women’s retreat group. (Photo Br. James Joost)
According to Ms. Ruple, the gatherings were “an opportunity to break apart what a vocation is at an important time developmentally for young people. All vocations to the church were talked about (in terms of) supporting the important work happening in the schools around developing a culture of vocations.”
At the retreats, students were eager for the opportunity to stop, reflect, and pray, as was evident when they participated in three different prayer experiences – Adoration of the Eucharist, the rosary and lectio divina. In addition, the opportunity to hear from Brothers and Partners about their Lasallian vocation proved to be a powerful experience. There was a strong sense of Lasallian community as the world-wide Lasallian Family was highlighted and celebrated.
The men’s retreat group. (Photo Br. James Joost)
After the retreats, Christian Brothers High School Vocations Team Coordinator Ms. Stephanie Roybal wrote, “Learning that the Five Core Principles and the themes of faith, service, and community are important aspects to the lives of many Lasallian educators was an experience of growth for many students in how they viewed the mission not only as a way of being educated, but also as a way of just being…At the beginning of the retreat they were challenged with the question: what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? I think this question is an important one for all of us to ponder.”
San Miguel High School Dean and Religion teacher Brother Chris Patiño added, “There is no doubt that the Holy Spirit continues to move and inspire young people to search for meaning in their lives. It was a very moving experience to witness the young men who participated in the “Called and Chosen” retreat open their hearts and deeply reflect on God’s will for them in their lives. Their faithfulness, desire to serve others, and sense of prayer was truly inspiring.”
A third retreat, the Called & Chosen Lasallian Vocation Retreat for Men, is scheduled to take place mid-March in Metairie, LA.
