Today's Marists 2024 Volume 8, Issue 2

Striving to Live the Marist Values
as a Retreat Center Director
by Linda Sevcik, SM, Executive Director, Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
Serving as director of a Jesuit retreat house has prompted me to
reflect more than I ever have on what our founding Marists would
advise concerning our relationship with the archdiocese in which
the retreat house is located and the various groups that we live
among. While surrounded by news of war, divisions and infighting,
I often consider Fr. Jean-Claude Colin’s respect for the local church
and his encouragement to the early Marists to act with kindness
and mercy. What would he and the other founders of the Marist
family branches advise us?
Often, Fr. Colin would quote the following Marist Rule that he
wrote:
“…the Rule says that we must behave with such esteem and
regard for the bishops that they will look upon our Society
tanquam suam (as their own) …When I was drawing up the
Rule and these words occurred to me, my mind was at rest.
I have found only this expression capable of expressing my
thought well.” (A Founder Speaks, #119, 7)
How can this retreat house contribute to embodying these ideals
today?
As director of a retreat house, I foster awareness in myself and the
others with whom I work understanding that the retreat house
exists in the context of a local church and the wider church of
the U.S. and the world. It is not an island. When I am invited
to a diocesan meeting, I make it a priority to attend. This helps
develop relationships and makes me more aware of positive
initiatives within the local church. I discuss with the retreat house
staff potential programs we could offer that would support such
initiatives.
The retreat house staff and I often ask ourselves about our outreach
to the various nationalities, ethnicities, income levels and faith
traditions in the surrounding area, and pay attention to how we are
reaching them through our programs. We include representatives
from different groups on our Board and committees. In addition,
we strive to have at least one diocesan priest on our Board as
another way to keep connected with the diocese and its priorities.
Good boundaries help structure good relationships, and this “rule”
applies to this ministry too. Our retreat house has a daily morning
weekday Mass that is open to the public. On weekends when we
usually have retreat groups present, the Masses are kept private
out of respect for the nearby parishes. We are not here to replace
the local parishes in any way, and staff members are imbued with
this value. Similarly, we avoid offering programs that are more
appropriate to local parishes.
At times, parishes ask staff from this retreat house to conduct
programs on various topics at the parish level, and we do our best
to fulfill such requests. We also give priority to the archdiocese
when they ask to use our building and grounds for hosting
gatherings.
As Marist men and women, we look to Mary always, striving to
think, feel, judge and act as she did. Whatever we do, we have
certain values that guide our decisions and behavior: mercy,
humility, not drawing attention to ourselves, living in a spirit of
faith and others that we hold especially dear. Each of us embodies
these ideals as a particular individual in unique circumstances. I
have shared some of the ways I strive to live the Marist values in my
current work.
Given the theme of this issue of Today’s Marists, “Living a Life of
Reconciliation in a Chaotic World,” and that Mary is at the heart of
reconciliation, what do you imagine Mary would advise you within
your family, community, parish, and world?
Volume 8 | Issue 2 17