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For some, it was a conclusion, for others, it was a sort of midway retreat between volunteer years. For all of us though, it was a last opportunity to spend time together and to look back on our year, or years, of service as Lasallian Volunteers. As we sat in an immense, old, log cabin, Bro. Brian Henderson, our fearless retreat leader, boisterously lead us “Into the Woods” for a weekend of reflection, relaxation, and celebration at La Salle Manor, in Plano, IL.
Throughout the weekend, Bro. Brian frequently referenced the play “Into the Woods,” as well as a few choice songs by “Queen,” such as Find Me Somebody to Love and You’re My Best Friend. Using the “Queen” tunes and “Into the Woods” as a guide, we considered our voyages this past year and rediscovered our individual journeys into our own woods.
During the retreat, Bro. Brian offered us quite a bit of reflection time, both guided and individual. It was great to have a moment or two to sit back, away from the craziness of work, and really take in what we’ve been doing the past year and how it has truly impacted others and ourselves. On Friday morning, Bro. Brian gave us an assignment to write a fairy tale about our own unique encounters “in the woods.” Perhaps one of the highlights of the weekend was watching and laughing as we read and acted out our fairy tales and plays that afternoon.
The weekend was not without it’s down time. La Salle Manor sits on 47 acres of woods, streams, and fields and there was ample time for hiking, canoeing, swimming, and sports in between all of the reflecting. Of course, no LV gathering would be complete without a celebration and Debriefing was no exception. We actually had two! On Saturday, our last night at La Salle Manor, we ended the retreat with food, drinks, dancing, games, and a bonfire.
The next evening, at our Back of the Yards community in Chicago, we ate hot dogs, bratwursts, and hamburgers, grilled to perfection, and red beans and rice until our bellies could handle no more. We stayed up into the wee hours of the morning trying to get the most out of our last hours together. It was bittersweet – while it was wonderful to see everyone and spend so much time together, we all knew that goodbyes were right around the corner.
The next day, saying goodbye to the returning LVs was a piece of cake, after all, we knew we would see each other in July for Orientation and be able to do it all over again. Saying goodbye to the LVs not returning was much more difficult. This wasn’t like saying goodbye to a new friend you spent a week at summer camp with; this was saying goodbye to people who, over the past year, went through the same struggles as you, who understood your frustrations when no one else could, and who could appreciate the good times as much as you. Knowing that the LVs leaving were on to bigger and better things in their own lives and ultimately in the lives of others, and knowing that the Lasallian Volunteers program had, in the best way possible, probably left them “ruined for life,” to borrow a quote, was quite comforting.
As I sat in an airplane on the way back to my site in Albany, NY, something bubbled within me. No, it wasn’t the beer and hotdogs from the party the night before at the Back of the Yards. It was an awesome feeling! For me, the weekend culminated right there and the significance of the experience hit me like a ton of bricks. I was a bit overwhelmed as I recalled watching a slideshow of the year that our Philadelphia community had put together. The slideshow put a face to all of those numbers, names, and places we had been talking about throughout the year. It suddenly sunk in that what I have been doing this past year has so much more to do with the 100 or so kids I serve at La Salle School in Albany. I know that may seem obvious, but the boys at La Salle School are who I live and work with, except for the 2 weeks or so a year I’m retreating with the volunteers. What we have been doing is huge!
Every single day Lasallian Volunteers are doing some amazing things all across this country. 47 of us are serving the poor and needy day in and day out across the country in over 25 ministries. Every day we’re serving literally thousands of children and clients and we have been for nearly twenty years! We’re giving hope to families full of despair and a future to children with shattered pasts. And as our mission states, we’re discovering ourselves transformed in the process. That’s really what the weekend was about. It was about looking back and not only seeing that we have touched lives but moreover, how our students, clients and Brothers have touched and transformed our own lives in more ways than we may know right now.
All in all, the weekend was awe-inspiring to say the least. Though the goodbyes were tough, I’m anxious to meet the 30+ new volunteers that will be joining us in Philadelphia this July for Orientation. I’m encouraged and confidant knowing that this fine tradition of service is going to be continued by our over 20 returning volunteers who will undoubtedly leave their mark just as this year’s twelve second-years have. During the weekend, we had just the right balance of relaxation, reflection, and celebration. It was a perfect way to conclude a year, or years, of service, or to transition into the next. Thanks to everyone for such a great year. See you in July!
Live Jesus in our hearts… Forever!
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