Diocese of Tucson Principals practice “Living our Thanksgiving” at annual retreat

By Mary Lim 

Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Sheri Dahl, makes sure to provide an annual retreat for all Diocese of Tucson Catholic School Principals. Due to restrictions in place from Covid-19, this past year was the first time in two years that the principals were able to gather in person for their well-deserved retreat. 

It was a two-day retreat at the end of November, and it took place at the Redemptorist Renewal Center. Fr. Greg Adolf, the pastor of St. Andrew’s Parish in Sierra Vista, facilitated the retreat, really digging into the theme of the holiday celebrated the week prior, Thanksgiving. 

With the retreat following a brief school intermission for the Thanksgiving/Fall break, the principals were encouraged to use the time to reflect on the school year thus far, and by the end, they were energized to finish out 2022 with a strong Advent and Christmas, and looking forward to continuing the school year in 2023 with their refreshed outlook of thanksgiving.  

Sheri Dahl says, “It was a much-needed time away with the Lord to close out the Thanksgiving holiday and kick off Advent!” 

Fr. Greg Adolph was the moderator, and he wove the theme “Living our Thanksgiving” intentionally into every aspect of the weekend. “It was an exciting experience to share ideas and broaden our understanding of how important gratitude – in all forms – truly is, for healthy, holy living!” says Fr. Greg. 

“Our Catholic educators are primary evangelizers,” Fr. Greg Adolph continues, “in helping to form our young people in the importance of learning how to be aware and grateful, and to express gratitude often. ‘An attitude of gratitude is the mark of maturity in a person, especially in an ‘entitlement mentality society’.’” 

Loretto Catholic School Principal, Rosella Melgoza, was struck by how profound the impact is when the leader of a school community lives a life of gratitude, how doing so really sets the groundwork for how each day will go for the entire school community. “It was a very impactful time where we were reminded that we are the most responsible to evangelize,” says Melgoza, “Our responsibility to do so is to our employees, our students, and our parents. We have to live in our school community, setting the example for others. We have to be aware that in everything we do daily and every moment the Lord is present.” 

Loretto Catholic School is in Douglas, AZ, quite far from the majority of the rest of the Diocese of Tucson Catholic Schools. Being so physically far from everyone else, Melgoza says that sometimes it is easy to feel like you are going through hardships on your own. The weekend retreat was an important and heartening reminder that “we all share the same concerns and work diligently to get the best results” says Melgoza. She is grateful for a caring Superintendent and for a Diocese that takes care of its administrators’ physical and spiritual needs. 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School Principal, Nicole Picket, says that her biggest takeaway from the weekend was “the sign of the cross as a reminder that we must balance our material lives (the horizontal) with our spiritual lives (the vertical).” Immediately upon returning to her duties at her school, she brought this message of the cross and balance to her staff meeting. She also carried over the message of gratitude, and she assigned staff members to share in small groups what they were grateful for. “I heard so much laughter and saw everyone's disposition shift from tension to joy.” Picket said.
 
Fr. Greg Adolf brought the message of thanksgiving around full circle by saying that “we are called to be a “Eucharistic people” – literally, a “Thanksgiving and a thanks-leading people” –which directly related our retreat to the Bishops’ national call to deepen our understanding and response to the gift of the Eucharist! It was a blessing and an inspiration to me, to share this time with such a gifted group of Diocesan leaders!”