"The Essential is the Interior" -Blessed William Joseph Chaminade

During this time of isolation, lockdown, and quarantine, it is more important than ever to make God known, loved, and served, and to find community through prayer and reflection. This digital retreat is a tool for exactly that. Pray through it individually, or invite members of your community to reflect and share together remotely. Either way, know that you are joined by members of the Marianist Family across states and even across oceans.

A Word of Gratitude

This retreat for the Marianist Family is based on--and in some cases, directly copied from--a retreat created by Eric Clayton for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. The retreat team is greatly indebted to Eric for his work and for his kindness in sharing with the team in this process! Please visit his site to see what this is based on.

Retreat Format

The retreat is split into four sections, called modules. Each module will begin with a short audio reflection. You will then be invited to meditate on images, short videos, and Scripture, as well as reflect on discussion questions and contemplative activities. You can do the entire module at one time, which ought to take about 20-30 minutes, or you can break it up and spend 5-10 minutes a few different times throughout a day or week.

Avoid any temptation to rush through this process. This has been designed to be a retreat that you can engage in over a period of a few days.

Sharing the Journey

As you make your way through this retreat, you are encouraged to keep a journal so you can reflect on the themes, questions, and activities of each module. Since this retreat is meant to build community while in isolation, please share your experience on social media using the hashtags #MarianistsInIsolation and #MarianistFamily.

When you are ready to begin the retreat, please say a prayer for all those who will be making the retreat along with you, and then click on the first module below.

Technical Stuff/Acknowledgements

Scripture passages are from the New American Bible Revised Edition, which can be accessed at www.usccb.org/bible. Images come from personal pictures from the team and friends of this project, as well as from the public domain. Credits are given at the end of each module.

The team that created this retreat included Mike Bennett, Campus Minister at the University of Dayton; Steve Joebgen, Campus Minister at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati; Michelle Khawam, Campus Minister at Chaminade Julienne High School in Dayton; LeeAnn Meyer, Assistant Director of Marianist Strategies - Student Programs at the University of Dayton; Br. Mark Motz, S.M., Vocation Director to Marianist Province of the United States; and Daniel Vasquez, Youth and Young Adult Minister for Holy Rosary Parish in San Antonio.

Thanks to the team for their work in preparing this retreat, and thanks to the Office of Sponsorship of the Marianists for assistance in spreading the word about this experience!

Nova Bella Elegit Dominus