"Fostering Community: A Reflection from the Men's Retreat on Community, Humility, and Love”
By Maryellen Harrington, Director of Lay Engagement
In September 2024, men from across various states and ministry sites gathered at Our Lady of the Angels Retreat Center for a weekend of spiritual renewal. Led by Bishop Dan Turley, Fr. Bernie Scianna, Br. Joe Ruiz, Br. Nathan Fernandez, John Perovich, Bill O’Connor, and our Director of Lay Engagement, Maryellen Harrington, the retreat offered a space for deep reflection on what it means to live as disciples of Christ. Throughout the weekend, we explored the themes of unity, humility, and sacrificial love, seeking to apply these values in our daily lives.
A central focus of the retreat was Jesus' call to unity among His disciples. In a culture that often emphasizes individualism, we discussed how to build and sustain authentic Christian communities in our families, workplaces, and parishes. Together, we shared stories of both the joys and challenges of striving for unity, recognizing that creating a welcoming community requires intentionality and a willingness to reach out to others, especially during difficult times.
"I thought that the testimonies were powerful. It allowed us to share in the struggles and triumphs of the speakers and allowed us to see how the Lord works in us."
We also delved into the call to embrace humility, reflecting on how to live humbly in a world that often prizes power and prestige. Inspired by Jesus' example of service, we considered how to focus on the needs of others in our relationships, work, and daily interactions. We learned that humility involves being grounded in our identity before God and seeking to lift others up rather than ourselves.
The retreat challenged us to embody Christ’s sacrificial love—a love that gives without expecting anything in return. We discussed how to reflect this love in our marriages, families, and friendships, especially by making small sacrifices in service to others. This kind of love, we discovered, requires a conscious, daily choice to serve and forgive, even when it’s difficult.
As the retreat concluded, it was clear that our time together had renewed our commitment to living out our faith. We left with a deeper understanding of what it means to be part of an authentic Christian community, embracing humility and selfless love. With these lessons in mind, we returned home, ready to build the kind of community that Jesus envisioned—one where love, humility, and unity guide all that we do.