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There is a word often associated with the Marianist spirituality and ideology that heard often, but seldom defined.  The word is charism.  Looks a lot like the word charisma, huh?  A lot of the same meaning exists in both words.  Charisma is that special charm or appeal that a person has that draws you in, right?  Well the Marianist charism is very similar.  It is that special something that makes the Marianists unique and appealing.  It’s a certain energy or intensity around which the Marianist way of life is inspired and focused.  This particular charism is moving and working through believers by the action of the Holy Spirit.  In simple terms, the Marianist charism is a gift given by the Holy Spirit, a gift that brings to life the hearts of the Marianists giving us a special zest for and approach to life! 

Now, there are five different aspects to Marianist charism.  We call these aspects “pillars,” and they are the primary focuses and beliefs which hold up the livelihood and actions of the Marianists around the world.  By learning and understanding these basic principles, we can get a better understanding of the Marianists, and thus grow deeper in our spirituality as a Marianist Institution.  The five pillars are; Faith, Mary, Community, Mission, and Inclusivity.

• Faith: First and foremost, we are people of Faith: we are spiritual people who believe in a loving God and we live and act through service and prayer. 
• Mary: Marianists turn to Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a model for Christian living.  She lived a life free from sin and in service to God: a life we aspire to live.  She was the vessel through which Christ came into this world, and we too strive to bring Christ to life today. 
• Community: Marianists place a high value on community, or ‘ohana.  We support one another, pray together, work together, and some even live together.  Community is a source of nourishment and power through which we can better the world. 
• Mission: Just as Jesus came to the earth serving others, so are we to reach out to our brothers and sisters.  Service, justice, and peace are important factors in the Marianist sense of mission, and we work constantly towards improving the condition of life among those less fortunate. 
• Inclusivity: We believe in a discipleship of equals.  There is no order of ranking among the branches of the Marianist family, and there is no order of ranking in society or within the human race.  We believe all humans are created in the image and likeness of God, and we work to be inclusive of all kinds of people, embracing diversity as an expression of our humanity. 

In order to best understand these pillars and live the charism, the retreat program at St. Anthony Jr/Sr High School is designed around each of these pillars.  A retreat is a special time for each grade to venture off-campus and grow together spirituality.  Each retreat is the length of one school day and builds on the previous one, digging deeper into faith and spirituality as the students get older.  The senior retreat is a two-day, overnight experience that takes students through the journey of their life and the path they intend to take in the future. 

7th grade: Community
Students in 7th grade spend a day off-campus building community with one another.  Through an energetic, active day, they learn more about themselves and each other, how to be good communicators, and how to be in relationship and community with each other.  They will also learn to trust their classmates, to express emotions, and to engage in deeper, more meaningful friendships. 

8th grade: Faith
Students in 8th grade attend a one-day retreat off-campus that explores a relationship with God.  After completing the 7th grade retreat, these students have learned the importance of relationship with one another, and together we explore having a relationship with our Creator.  Students will be challenged to reflect on their beliefs and to boldly express their faith.

9th grade: Mary
Students in 9th grade attend a one-day retreat off-campus centered on Mary and the Marianists.  Throughout the day, students will learn about Mary as a model for faith, as well as discover the Marianists and the charism by which our school associates.  The day is full of fun, interactive games, skits, and special guests! 

10th grade: Mission
Students in 10th grade will spend the day at various non-profit organizations on island exploring what is means to do service and live out the Christian mission.  They will be divided into small groups and spend the day learning about different organizations and working a typical day with said organization.  At the end of the day, student will gather to reflect on the experience.  The goal of the retreat is to introduce students to different kinds of service with the hopes that they will continue volunteering with one of the organizations!

11th grade: Inclusivity
Students in 11th grade will attend a one-day retreat off-campus engaging in diversity and inclusivity simulations.  The retreat is designed to expand their world-views and teach them to look at the world through different lenses.  They will also spend time reflecting on the difference among their class and ways to be more tolerant of each other.  It is sure to be an eye-opening experience!

12th grade: Journey
Students in the senior class will spend two days away from distractions of daily life.  They will engage in reflection about the path their life has taken so far, and where they want it to go.  The retreat is designed to unify them as a class on a deeper level as they experience their last year together.  There will also be many surprises along the way…don’t want to spoil them with too much of a description!