School retreat at Franklin Lakes, New Jersey

Marists from several different communities and the parish of Most Blessed Sacrament organised together a day’s retreat for students, faculty and parents from Marist schools in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

The parochial vicar, Father John Job, is a graduate of Marist High School in Bayonne, New Jersey, was among the organisers.

Under the theme ‘Being the Light,’ held on Oct. 13, students and parents explored the ways that God’s love is the light within, how to share that light, how to nourish that light, and ways of being that light for others.

To help them in their reflection, participants were involved in several activities as well as an art project, and discussed clips from Moana.

The teachers affirmed they could “find God in the ordinary” and were challenged to see their school as “holy ground.”

The retreat ended with Mass, celebrated by Bishop John W. Flesey, who reflected on the gospel reading taken from Saint Matthew’s passage on “you are the light of the world.”

The Blessed Sacrament school choir ended the Eucharistic celebration with the song ‘This little light of mine.’

The retreat ended by challenging the participants – parents, faculty and students – to be the light.