SCRANTON – More than 400 Catholic elementary school students in kindergarten through third grade recently participated in a Lenten retreat centered on themes of healing and gratitude.
Liz Devine, elementary school guidance counselor, hosted an interactive Lenten retreat at all five Catholic elementary schools in Lackawanna County: All Saints Academy in Scranton; La Salle Academy in Jessup; Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Green; Saint Clare/Saint Paul School in Scranton; Saint Mary of Mount Carmel School in Dunmore.
The retreat centered around the bible passage of Jesus healing ten lepers on the way to Jerusalem and only one returning to give gratitude.
“We reflected on Jesus’ healing power, how the lepers had faith and acted upon it to implore Jesus’ blessings, but how the human tendency is toward ingratitude,” Devine said. “We practiced how saying ‘thank you’ and expressing gratitude nourishes our relationship with God and others.”
The students in all five schools participated in small group activities that included writing ‘thank you’ notes to people in their lives and decorating a rock with a positive message to keep as a reminder that God’s blessings are abundant.
As part of the retreat, the students were also asked to donate an item for Saint Joseph’s Baby Pantry. A total of 521 items were collected.
“Items collected included diapers, wipes, bottles, wash cloths and towels and pacifiers,” Devine said. “It is important for students to see that their donations are needed to support families right here in our community.”
Through prayer, learning, and acts of service, each retreat showed the students that compassion and gratitude know no age limit – and that even the smallest hands can make a big difference.