October 17, 2024 at 8:50 a.m.

DAY RETREAT TO AURIESVILLE

Middle schoolers from Mater Christi, All Saints, Blessed Sacrament and St. Thomas the Apostle spend time at the shrine.

The middle schoolers (grades 5-8) at Mater Christi School, Blessed Sacrament School, All Saints Academy, all in Albany, and St. Thomas the Apostle School in Delmar participated in a field trip to Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville for a day retreat on Oct. 2.

Beth Lynch, pilgrimage coordinator and museum manager, shared the history of the Shrine, and talked about the martyrs and saints – including St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Réné Goupil, St. John LaLande, and St. Isaac Jogues – along with the history of the indigenous people. Father Dan Quinn, pastor at Mater Christi, Blessed Sacrament and All Saints Academy, celebrated Mass along with Father Rick Lesser, Father Stephen Yusko, Father Charles Onyeneke and Deacon Gerry Ladouceur. Each school was represented by an altar server and students from each school participated in other areas of the Mass. The music directors from Mater Christi and Blessed Sacrament also participated.

The pastors joined the groups to visit the ravine, the museum, the gift shop, and different places on the grounds. They also played some soccer and frisbee with students after lunch.