A Salesian Theological Reflection on the St. John Bosco Faculty & Staff Retreat

By Sergio Esparza, Campus Minister, St. John Bosco High School

(Bellflower – CA) – On Thursday, May 29, 2025, the faculty and staff of St. John Bosco High School gathered as a family in faith to conclude the academic year with a retreat grounded in Salesian spirituality. In a year shaped by challenges, transitions, and grace, we were graced with the presence of Sr. Mary Greenan, FMA, as our retreat facilitator—herself a witness of hope and fidelity to the Salesian mission. Celebrating 50 years of religious profession as a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians, Sr. Mary invited us to pause, reflect, and rediscover what it means to “hope against hope” as educators and mentors of the young.

Born and raised in Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland, and now preparing to return home to her family in the UK after decades of service in the United States, Sr. Mary offered a heartful and scholarly reflection shaped by her life as a university professor, high school theology teacher, and Department Chair of Religious Studies. Currently, she lives in a small community in northern California and joined our community as a lead learner, living witness, and joyful Salesian pilgrim.

She opened our day with the 2025 Salesian Strenna:
“Anchored in Hope, Pilgrims with Young People.”
To frame our retreat, she turned to the philosopher John D. Caputo, quoting:

“Dare to hope. Hope hovers over us like a ghost, whispering in our ears impossible things… Hope is a spirit, the aspiration, the very respiration of God’s spirit… Hope dares to say ‘come’ to what it cannot see coming. Hope is the rose that blossoms unseen, blossoms because it blossoms, without why.”

This profound invitation to dare to hope formed the backdrop for a day of shared memory, deep conversation, and spiritual renewal.

In the spirit of Don Bosco, Sr. Mary reminded us that we are not merely a community, but a family. Don Bosco, she said, never used the term community in his writings. He spoke of family—a sacred bond of presence, affection, and hope. It is in this Salesian family spirit that she invited us to recall one moment from the school year where we truly experienced or facilitated growth in hope.

Mr. Fernando reflected on the ways his Faith, Hope, and Charity group embraced the oratory model across home, school, church, and playground—not as abstract categories, but as living realities that form the heartbeat of Bosco. Sr. Mary affirmed this with deep conviction: “This is beautifully said. We are called to create a REAL home, a REAL school, a REAL church, a REAL playground. Our young people can tell when it’s real—and they are inspired by our real presence.”

Other testimonies echoed a mixture of grace and struggle. One teacher vulnerably shared moments of feeling lost, yet holding onto the fragile thread of trust in God’s timing. In response, Sr. Mary offered the words of Hudson Taylor, the missionary:

“God’s way is not our way, but it is always the best way.”

She reminded us that the path of hope is rarely linear, but always divinely guided—even when we cannot see the horizon. “Trust the process,” she said, “even when the outcome remains unseen.”

A moment of joy came when Sr. Mary reconnected with her friend, Br. Tom Mass, during our break, a reminder that true friendship animates and sustains our pilgrimage.

Following our small group reflections, Sr. Mary posed a heartfelt question to us all: “What do you feel might assist you in hoping against hope, moving forward?”

Each group named the burdens they carried this past year, ranging from economic uncertainty to the immense effort of preparing our students for the Rose Parade. When it was my turn to share, I offered a quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta that resonated with the room:

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”

Sr. Mary smiled gently, pausing to acknowledge the paradox wrapped in that quote—a blend of faith, humor, and human vulnerability. We remained in that spirit of humility and perseverance as I continued by reflecting on the comfort I often find in Mother Teresa’s poem, “Do It Anyway.”

Sr. Mary then shared a deeply personal moment—how she had once been in the same room as St. Mother Teresa. She spoke of being profoundly moved by the saint’s quiet presence, her unwavering hope, and her active love. It was a reminder that true hope is not passive—it breathes, moves, and acts in service of others and the youth.

We concluded our retreat gathered as one family in the chapel, sharing the Eucharist and breaking bread together. This sacred act reminded us that hope is not a theory. It is a way of being. It is the table where we gather, the voice that tells us we are not alone, the Spirit who breathes through us still.

As Sr. Mary prepares to journey back home, she leaves behind not just wisdom but a living testament of hope. We at St. John Bosco High School continue forward, anchored in hope, pilgrims still, committed to the Salesian mission of forming young hearts for heaven—and always, always doing it with love.