Joy: MCHS Seniors, Mary, and the Cap Corps Volunteers!

Thursday, April 22nd- Saturday, April 25th! 


 On Thursday, Crystal and I headed upstate to Garrison, NY with the rest of the Religion/Campus Ministry team (Sr. Toni, Matt, and Jenny) and 56 members of the senior class. Destination: The Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries! Check it out @  CYFM.org

The CYFM retreat center is under the direction of the Capuchin Franciscans (Province of St. Mary), such a beautiful group of people! They have five wonderful volunteers this year who we absolutely love spending time with (Mary Kate, Brian, Cara, Katie-Sue, and Anthony)! After the retreat on Thursday and Friday, Crystal and I headed back to the Heights to drop off the students, met Mary at Grand Central Station, and took the Metro North all the way back to Beacon/Garrison to celebrate Mary’s birthday with the Cap Corps Volunteers.

The past few days have been full of moments of joy, here are a few with a Reader’s Digest Version of where I saw the Spirit. 

1) Thursday— Senior Circle on Retreat:

One part of the retreat is called “Senior Circle.” It begins with a guided meditation on “praying your goodbye’s” to Cabrini. Then, it moves on to a time when the students read all of the letters that they wrote to themselves the past three years as well as notes of affirmation from their classmates. Lastly, individuals have time to address the entire group if they would like to express words of gratitude or blessing.  The Spirit was definitely present! Students that I didn’t think would speak addressed the class in articulate and heartfelt words and in a few cases, learned things about students that I hadn’t known before. A few went up twice to share their thoughts.

One student in particular has an incredibly special place in my heart. After sharing some very close and personal things in her life, she said, “And I have to thank Ms. Sherman… because you were there when I needed you.” She was referring to a day last semester when she talked, I listened, and we both cried for a few class periods in the Chapel. I wonder if she would be surprised to know that the day that happened, I saw Jesus in her so clearly.  She may have thanked me, but I am equally as grateful to have met and known her.  It’s amazing to me that I know many strong women, but some of the strongest I have had the privilege to know these past two years are 16-18 year-olds. 

Later when we were talking with Cara, she said that one of the things she observed was that "These girls LOVE each other!" . . . I could not have said it any better. :)

2) Friday— Happy Birthday, Mary!
            Celebration of Mary’s life! We walked into the Cap Corps house, and immediately were met with crepe paper streamers and smiling faces! After a delicious taco dinner (compliments to Brian!), we shared in conversation, laughter, and cake! Mary Kate, Cara, Brian, Katie-Sue, and Anthony are such wonderful people! Anthony was heading a Senior Citizen’s Prom that night, so he wasn’t able to be with us, but he was with us in Spirit. Br. Lake, Fr. Fred, and Br. Carlos (all Capuchins) and more friends also came to celebrate!

3) Saturday— Bowling!
            One of Mary’s favorite things to do is bowl! So, Brian, Katie-Sue, Mary Kate, and Cara took us, Fr. Fred, and Andrew to the bowling lanes in Beacon! The man in charge of the lanes put on the Cosmic bowling lights, we had the place to ourselves, and the music was bumpin’! No description could adequately describe the great time that was had by all, so I will leave you with this golden nugget of an insight on both the Spirit and the sport:

“If there is no God, then… 

WHO IS BOWLING WHEN IT THUNDERS?!”

                                                -Stephen Colbert