On a crisp autumn morning, St. Mary’s Dominican High School’s community participated in prayer and reflection during its annual Rosary Assembly. Each grade level walked to five different campus locations where they prayed and contemplated each decade of the Rosary. Planning for the assembly began in August when faculty member Cameron Hahne who teaches religion, foreign languages, and science, presented to administration the idea for an immersive rosary. Feedback from students who had expressed it was challenging to sit and focus for an hour, sparked Cameron’s interest in exploring how to get everyone moving and make it more interactive so the Mysteries of the Rosary would come alive to everyone.
“Our job as Catholic educators is to make the eternal truths of God’s saving grace relatable to our present students. I always start with that as my motivation and then do my best to discern the details in prayer. It has always worked, even when I don’t see it in the moment,” Cameron shared. “Dominican administration generously trusted my discernment. They carefully discern what is best for our students. They had not heard the students’ feedback, so I presented them with a detailed packet that helped them see why and how it would work and reassured them this new format was also the fruit of careful discernment about how to best serve the spiritual needs of our students. The focus was on God’s fidelity as seen through the Joyful Mysteries as the Fulfillment of God’s promises throughout Salvation History.”
Faculty and staff engaged with Cameron about ideas and logistics coordinating class levels to fit in each location, and do so seamlessly, “in a way that everyone could meaningfully reflect on the mysteries in each location and help them to remain reverent,” he noted. “We even had a backup rain plan. Ultimately, we found a route that provided an intimate experience for more than 800 people to experience because it felt like there were barely 150 people on campus.”
English teacher Catherine DeBuys was assembly co-moderator. Cameron rang the bells signaling the start and end of each mystery. Personnel at the locations notified Cameron when their group was ready to begin and to dismiss. “Drama Club students wrote and filmed a short story reflecting on when something seems to be a disaster, God can use it for something greater than we ever imagined as a reflection on the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple,” said Cameron.
Campus Minister Rebecca Wallace choreographed a dance for a reflection on The Visitation. One of the Fine Arts teachers, Mrs. Amy Savant Ruckert, shared a powerful testimony of how Jesus was present at a painful moment in her life akin to Mary and Jospeh finding Jesus in the Temple. Dr. Maureen Wright, O.P, Vice President of Dominican Catholic Identity, offered adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as students and personnel reflected on The Nativity.
Students had the opportunity to write a note to someone after reflecting on the Annunciation. “Ultimately, it took the cooperation of student readers, student preachers, Drama Club students, and each faculty member to help make sure each location and transition ran smoothly – and it did!” noted Cameron. “The Rosary Assembly generated several responses from students, faculty, and personnel. Students reached out to share they had received more than they had expected from the assembly. Some said they received notes that they really needed. Others said they had specific prayers answered through the assembly. Adoration was a moving experience.”
“Personnel who have been on campus for many years said they saw the campus in a new way and were amazed at how they could have such an intimate experience,” shared Cameron. “Everyone was moved by Mrs. Ruckert’s bravery and willingness to be vulnerable. They were moved by her testimony and came to see God in a new light. Others said they could not wait to see what the next station would offer. Many have gone out of their way to offer specific feedback, and I always say that is how you know the feedback is genuine rather than a polite platitude.”
“The innovative approach to our Rosary Assembly this year made a strong connection to the longstanding tradition of pilgrimage,” said Dr. Wright. “Students and personnel traveled through campus as one, by grade level, on a spiritual journey through Salvation History, meditating on how the Joyful Mysteries are the beginnings of God fulfilling His promises through Christ. The impact of praying in this way was evident by the sense of peace and unity in each grade as they participated in the assembly – as though they were the only class on campus – with the opportunity to pray and reflect at each station. This is a wonderful and novel way for our community to praise, to bless, and to preach.”
Dominican’s President Dr. Cynthia A. Thomas shared, “We are grateful that our school community fully embraced a different way, a more meaningful way, of praying the Rosary this year. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!”
