Arizona ACE Teachers Participate in Regional Retreat

Monday, December 09, 2019

Many people who are familiar with ACE Teaching Fellows have probably heard a thing or two about our December Retreat, a time for all our teachers, faculty, and team members to gather near Austin, Texas for a weekend of spiritual, communal, and professional nourishment.

What some people might not be aware of is the fact that our team regularly travels around the country to offer regional retreats for our ACE Teachers. Fr. Lou DelFra, Fr. Joe Carey, and members of the Pastoral Team plan and deliver approximately 10 such retreats each year.

Members of the ACE communities from Phoenix and Tucson were part of a recent retreat to the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona.

Before beginning the retreat, Fr. Joe Carey, CSC and Itzxul Moreno were able to visit some of the ACE Teaching Fellows at their schools, including St. John Vianney in Phoenix. Fr. Joe (right) is pictured here with Fr. Tom Eckert, CSC, in front of the school. Fr. Tom is the current pastor of the school, continuing the Holy Cross tradition of excellent leadership and formation started by Fr. Joe Corpora, CSC, who is now ACE's Director of University-School Partnerships.

Fr. Joe and Itzxul took the ACE Teachers from Phoenix and Tucson to the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona. There are no regularly scheduled masses, but the team was graciously offered the space to celebrate Mass along with many of the other visitors. The ACE Teachers were also given a special tour of the space which described the history of the rock formations, including one that looks like Madonna and Child.

ACE 25 and 26 teachers from the Tucson and Phoenix communities outside of the Chapel. Many of these teachers grew up in the Midwest and Northeast, and spent a great deal of time admiring the beauty of the Arizona desert. The group also had time to engage in beautiful conversations about them taking ownership of this new city and place.

A photo of the group from inside the chapel.

Joe Everett (ACE 26 - Tucson) is seen here posing with his ACE gear during a picnic lunch and hike at Crescent Moon Park. The ACErs later went and hiked the mountain in the background.