Archbishop Shaw Holds "RAF" Retreat

By Fr. John Langan, SDB

(Marrero, LA – August 3) – On Friday, July 21, eight alumni from Archbishop Shaw High School and Academy of Our Lady gathered on the Shaw campus for a weekend retreat led by Mr. Matt Collins '15, a current faculty member of Shaw. I accompanied Mr. Collins.

The students stayed on campus for three days and two nights, and they slept in classrooms. The retreat was affectionately known as the "RAF retreat," having been inspired by a retreat that Br. Rafael Vargas ran here two years ago. They prayed together, played games, and discussed the ups and downs of life after high school. Throughout the weekend, they opened up about the reality of stepping out of high school into the next step of their lives. Older alumni shared their own stories of how they overcame challenges and put their faith life first at school.

On Saturday evening, the group spent time in the Salesian residence chapel in Eucharistic adoration while the Salesian community was available for the sacrament of Reconciliation. This was followed by a late-night Nerf dart game throughout the school gym. The retreat wrapped up Sunday morning with Mass and breakfast in the Salesian chapel and the final talk by Mr. Collins about life after university.