Santa Barbara Catholic School (SBCS) held its annual retreat to start off their celebration of Catholic Schools Week at the Carmel on the Hill Retreat Center in Malojloj last Saturday, January 29, 2011. With the theme “The Courage to Teach: Educating Mind, Heart and Spirit,” keynote speaker and retreat facilitator Fr. Dan Ferrandiz focused on the importance of re-examining and reinforcing the Catholicity of the school as well as of the faculty, staff and administrators. Sharing from his own personal experiences as a former high school principal himself, Fr. Ferrandiz encouraged the retreatants to reflect on their leadership or teaching style and be keenly aware of its effect on others. Fr. Ferrandiz, also discussed the invitation to servant leadership and guided everyone in a meaningful reflection process on the challenges of true discipleship. The retreat concluded with the celebration of the Eucharistic at the San Isidro Parish church, adjacent to the retreat center.
The SBCS faculty and staff appreciated the wonderful opportunity to spend a day in prayer, reflection, laughter, and fellowship outside the school’s Dededo campus. They enjoyed Fr. Ferrandiz’s witty and spontaneous quips as well as his sense of humor in getting his message across. Indeed, everyone felt renewed in mind, heart and spirit at the end of the blessed-filled day.