From June 14-20, eleven young men from across the Marist community gathered at the Marist Brothers Center at Esopus for the annual Foundation Stones Retreat, a weeklong experience designed to help participants learn more about the life and vocation of a Marist Brother.
Representing Marist High School Chicago, Christopher Columbus High School, Archbishop Molloy High School, Mount St. Michael Academy, St. Joseph Academy, Saint Joseph Regional High School, and Central Catholic High School, the participants spent the week immersed in prayer, reflection, service, community, and conversation with Brothers from throughout the Province.
A unique feature of this year's retreat was the opportunity for participants to spend time with Marists at different
stages of religious life. Throughout the week, they shared meals, prayer, recreation, and discussion with several Brothers, including all four current novices and all four Brothers in temporary profession.
Each day began and ended in prayer, helping to create a rhythm of reflection and discernment. Mornings were dedicated to manual labor projects around Esopus, allowing participants to contribute to preparations for the busy summer camp season while experiencing the value of work and service in community.
Afternoon sessions explored key dimensions of Marist religious life, including Marist charism and identity, prayer and discernment, community life, mission and ministry, and the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Through presentations, panel discussions, small-group conversations, and personal reflection, participants were invited to consider how God may be calling them to serve the Church and young people.
The week also included opportunities for recreation and community building. Participants enjoyed bowling, a movie night, a scavenger hunt, a bonfire along the Hudson River, a day trip to New York City, and a visit to Marist University, where they celebrated Mass and shared dinner in Poughkeepsie.
More than simply a vocational awareness program, Foundation Stones offers young men the opportunity to experience the joy of Marist community firsthand while reflecting on the deeper questions of faith, purpose, and vocation. For many, the retreat provided a meaningful space to listen for God's call and to learn more about the possibility of living that call as a Marist Brother.
The week was a grace-filled experience for all who participated and a reminder that the spirit of St. Marcellin Champagnat continues to inspire new generations of young people to explore lives of faith, service, and mission.
