Tyler Gaubert ’22 reflects on his experience at the 8th Grade Day of Reflection.
“Brother Martin’s eighth grade retreat was held at St. Stanislaus which has an amazing campus and a serene environment in Bay St. Louis. On the campus were some wood carvings of angels that were very interesting, and it made me wonder about the origin of these carvings. The retreat was the most reflective thing I have ever experienced. Our group first went to a cemetery which had the grave of Brother Martin Hernandez, S.C. This cemetery was right across from the school, and there were many other Brothers buried there. While walking around the cemetery, we asked some of the Brothers to pray for us. One grave had a flower patch knocked over, and I had this feeling inside, which I believe was the Holy Spirit telling me to straighten it up. After we finished walking around, we talked about what we prayed and thought. When I mentioned the flowers, my teacher told me it was a corporal work of mercy to honor the dead.
Another place on the campus we visited was a pier that extended over the bay. At that time, we were supposed to be silent as we responded to questions on a worksheet about Father Andre Coindre and the two orphan girls at St. Nizier. Most of the history we learned in class, but the questions kept the worksheet interesting. This moment was the closest I have ever been to God because of the stillness of His voice and the calming waves crashing into the pier. The pier was the most comforting thing I have ever experienced.
On the retreat, we got to see a different side of the teachers. Coach Dauterive’s speech was very moving. Father Paul Hart our chaplain at Brother Martin gave a talk that was the most touching and the most intense. He told us two stories, and they were about acceptance and telling a person to pray for you if something is wrong. The story on acceptance was about a kid at Brother Martin who had a disfigurement in his face, so no one went near him. The kid was also being bullied. One day the priest went up to him and helped him and dealt with the people ignoring him. This story touched me because we have all these troubles in the world today which are caused by our differences and our own kind of disfigurements, so it is nice to see some people being kind to everyone. The other story was about a kid with a tumor on his pancreas, but he did not tell anyone because he did not want his friends to worry about him. One day father went to talk to him, and the kid told him about his problems. He told the father that he was terrified and asked that father pray for him.
Another teacher talked about some of the symbols that we wear like crosses, scapulars, and relics. Some people wear these things for moral support, some because they feel God’s presence, and I said that I could feel God’s forgiveness within me. Ever since I put on my scapular I felt I could forgive others more easily.
After two of the four sessions, we had lunch, and later a Mass to complete the retreat. Our Lady of the Gulf Church itself was absolutely beautiful with all the stained glass windows and the statues. There were also paintings of the four gospel writers: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, on the ceiling, and the paintings looked real. The altar was the most beautiful. The tabernacle looked gold, and the art behind it was amazing. Father Paul Hart really engaged us in the Mass, and he did this through songs and readings. This Mass was the best one I have ever been to. On the way home I could not stop thinking and reflecting on what I had heard that wonderful day in Bay St. Louis.” — Reflection by Brother Martin student Tyler Gaubert, Class of 2022
