Alumnae Launch Lent by “Growing in Humility, Simplicity, and Charity”

“Humility, Simplicity, and Charity.” These are the three tenets of the Daughters of Charity, bestowed upon them by St. Vincent de Paul. At Marillac High School, the Daughters modeled and taught these tenets to their students. On March 9, 70 Marillac alumnae, as well as daughters and mothers of alumnae, were reintroduced to the virtues at a Lenten retreat led by two former Marillac teachers, Sr. Ann Marie Butler, D.C. and Sr. Mary Beth Kubera, D.C. (see photos below)

The retreatants were challenged to grow in humility, simplicity, and charity and offered examples of how to live life guided by these virtues. Humility implies a total dependence on God and allows us to be aware of our earthly limitations and divine giftedness. Being humble makes us more compassionate. Simplicity means stripping away distractions that draw us away from God. Decluttering our lives helps us be more present to people and listen to their needs. Charity means love in our relationships with God and each other. Seeing God in all people encourages us to accept the imperfections in ourselves and in others.

Adopting humility, simplicity and charity allows us to live lives that truly serve others. Sr. Ann Marie and Sr. Mary Beth reminded the retreat participants that, while Marillac High School is gone, the spirit of Marillac lives in us and it is our responsibility to continue the lessons of service we learned as students and to teach those lessons to others.

The alumnae who attended the retreat left energized by the words of wisdom expressed by Sr. Ann Marie, Sr. Mary Beth, and the other participants, and committed to more consciously putting the three tenets into action. As one alumna expressed, “I don’t know exactly what each woman came looking for. I am certain, however, that each left with a renewed spirit, questions to mull over—alone and with Marillac friends—and countless practical resources for the Lenten journey.”

The Marillac Coming Home committee expresses our deepest gratitude to Sr. Ann Marie and Sr. Mary Beth Kubera for sharing their wisdom and their gifts of time and presence at the 2019 Lenten Retreat.