There is no time that more clearly illustrates the community life of the fellowship quite like our semesterly retreats. Twice a year, fellows step away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and responsibilities as teachers to re-center themselves in the mission, and reflect more deeply on the way the Lord is using their classrooms for His greater glory.
During the last weekend of February, fellows gathered at the St. Methodios Retreat Center in New Hampshire for our semesterly retreat. Throughout the weekend, fellows were provided with daily Mass, holy hour, adoration, and a series of Lenten-focused reflections from our retreat master and Chaplain, Fr. Timothy Hynes. Fellows also enjoyed quality time together through an afternoon Trivia tournament, and music, board games, and a campfire in the evening. The conversations, worship, and moments that fellows share over retreat weekends ignite and deepen the relationships that make this program a true "fellowship." We are grateful to the St. Methodios Center for their warm hospitality (and incredibly delicious food) over the retreats this year.
Also throughout this retreat weekend, fellows were interviewed, filmed, and photographed to help promote our growing presence on social media. Each interview revealed beautiful, varied insights on the vocation of teaching in our Catholic schools and personal journeys of growth. However, one sentiment remained consistent throughout each conversation. When asked one word to describe the community, almost every fellow used the word "family."
It's already a remarkable thing for our fellows to commit to and remain convicted in the call to save souls in the schools we serve. But when we come together to rely on one another, worship together, learn from each other, and grow together in relationship - that's when we become a family.
"The end of February was the perfect time for our spring retreat. After trudging through the New England winter and experiencing the monotony of the every-day schedule, I certainly had become complacent and fatigued without even realizing it. Fr. Hynes and Peter Nguyen's talks about prayer reminded me that this is exactly where our Lord wishes to encounter me: in the concrete, even the mundane aspects of my life.
"What stuck out to me from the retreat was the emphasis on silence and stillness, especially relating to prayer. There was plenty of free time between talks and meals where we could spend time with our Lord in silent adoration, in one of the unused rooms. In balance with the silence, I spent much time in the evenings in recreation and playing music with the other fellows, especially those I don't get the chance to see from week to week."
"As an elementary school teacher my days are filled with constant motion and sound, so I really appreciated the opportunity to rest in stillness and silence during our retreat. The talks, fellowship, and especially time in prayer helped me to reflect on my experience so far, recenter my priorities, and retune my ears to hear Christ's voice in the chaos. My favorite moments were spending time in adoration with all the other fellows. Knowing that I am part of a strong community, especially one so rooted in discipleship and the desire to truly know Christ, really helps me stay encouraged in my work and mission."
"Fellowship retreats are always a welcome break from the busy life of teaching. The retreat this past weekend was a great opportunity to reconnect with fellows I hadn't spoken to in a while and to form new connections as well. I especially appreciated bonding over trivia, shared meals, and, most importantly, Mass. I also enjoy mentoring first-years and helping guide them on their professional, personal, and spiritual journeys."
"On each retreat, I am constantly inspired by the devotion and dedication of the other Teaching Fellows around me. Their witness inspires me to pursue the Lord with more determination and to always approach my students with patience and love. Each time we pray the Liturgy of the Hours as a community, I am struck by this and filled with a profound gratitude for God and for the Fellowship. With each retreat, I feel as though the Lord is strengthening my resolve, drawing me closer to Him, and reminding me of His enduring faithfulness through every season of my life."
When I founded the St. Thomas More Teaching Fellowship in 2022 in Boston, the initiative began modestly - a relatively small number of fellows in one diocese. In 2024, the initiative was transferred to the nonprofit Catholic Talent Project as its flagship initiative. This fall, we will have at least 75 new fellows, three times the number of new fellows just two years earlier. We will have recruited or trained fellows in: Boston, Denver (where we partner with the Cabrini Fellows to train their fellows), San Francisco, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and the Washington, D.C. region (including Arlington).
The number of fellows and locations is less important than the beautifully faithful Catholic community we are building and the profound impact our fellows are having as witnesses to our Catholic faith in the classrooms in which they teach. The retreat we highlight in this newsletter is a crucial part of the ongoing spiritual nourishment we provide our fellows. Their job as a teacher is extremely difficult. The fellowship provides the support that makes it possible for them to continue on and to do so with great joy in their hearts, passion for Christ, and love of the students whose lives they seek to transform academically and spiritually.
Please pray for the St. Thomas More Teaching Fellows and also for the Catholic Talent Project so that we may continue to do good work.
In Christ,
Thomas W. Carroll
Founder and President
Catholic Talent Project