Blue Retreat Reconciliation Evening

This article was written by Michael Calmer (Blue Helm) for the Marcellin College newsletter during the Saturday evening reconciliation experience on the 2010 Blue Retreat,

“The annual Blue Retreat for Remar Blue Rowers is always going to be a crowd pleaser, not just for the students but for the teachers as well.  To offer you some insight into our week end and instead of explaining the entire week end by going through some of the features of the camp like the games we played or describing the functions of the small group discussions, I thought I might describe what I witnessed on our Saturday night. I wrote this as I sat and watched all of these teenagers making strong connections with themselves. I hope you enjoy.

Saturday night of the Blue Retreat for 2010 and it is approximately 8.50pm. I am at Catholic College Wodonga and I am surrounded by teenagers, boys and girls about 150 of them. And for a Saturday night, they are far from running around and screaming. In fact, I am privileged to be here. Let me describe what I see.

To my right are two girls, maybe 18 years old and one is consoling the other and I have no doubt that it’s because of the strong spiritual presence which is in this hall that she is moved to tears. Everyone that I see here tonight is here by their own choice, choosing to take part in this incredible experience. There are groups scattered around the hall sitting on the floor, some in groups of threes some in twos and some on their own, they are reflecting, praying or just sitting there with each other.

It is quiet and dark with some scattered dim lighting, and here and there I can see OUR boys (whom I will not name). Let me tell you what they are doing. Not far from the two girls to my right, one of OUR boys is in a designated prayer circle with Sister Sally and a teacher from one of the other schools. The three of them are leaning in, over a candle on the ground and holding hands, their eyes shut. In front of me is a large group of Rowers standing around a rectangular garden pot filled with sand and in it are candles which have been lit by the students. The idea is to say a prayer for someone they know and place the candle in the sand. The colour of all these candles in the dim light is quite beautiful. There are about 25 students standing around the candles in a reflective manner and no one speaks. One of OUR students has lit a candle and takes a step back. He has stood at the candle filled pot staring at the yellow and orange flames for about thirty minutes. His eyes are open and from where I am sitting I can see the flames in his eyes. I wish his parents could see him right now.

Another of OUR students’ lay’s still on the ground, his arms resting on his stomach. Another sits at the far end of the hall, writing and another sits and simply reflects. Another is reading a book of inspiration. Still, no one speaks. A few other students are waiting in a long line for a moment in reconciliation with Fr Dennis or Fr Jake. Another student is sitting next to a crucifix with his hands in front of him while a student from another Marist school puts their arm around him for comfort and support.

The thing is, I can’t take a photo of all this and what I am experiencing can’t be captured, it can only be lived and remembered. It’s funny, as we watched a very moving re-enactment of the our Saviours’ last moments, Mary said good bye to her son in a very emotional scene, it occurred to me the parents of these boys here also gave up their son and although it was only for the week end and you all get your son back, you sacrificed your family time on a week end for your son to experience a camp which keeps Jesus alive. Without that sacrifice we not have been able to share this incredible week end together. To those parents,

Thank you,

Thankyou,

Thank you.

Jesus is alive and well here at Marcellin and he was with us this week end. I wish every boy could experience what I am experiencing right now.”