There are many opportunities outside of religion classes for students at VASJ to grow in their faith. The Marianist LIFE (Living In Faith Experience) group is a unique and fun way for students to come together as a faith community to learn and grow.
“LIFE is unique because we don't plan liturgies and Masses, like Peer Ministry, but we still have faith as our foundation,” says one of VASJ’s LIFE moderators, Ms. Michelle Perusek ’07. “It's more of a safe space to get to know each other and talk about relevant topics in our society.”
A group of nearly 55 students gathered for VASJ’s first Marianist LIFE meeting of the school year. Marianist LIFE is a national faith-formation program for high school students rooted in Catholic and Marianist tradition (one of VASJ’s sponsoring orders).
“The Marianists emphasize a discipleship of equals, and that is visible at our meetings,” says LIFE moderator and VASJ religion teacher Mr. Pat Preto. “We have upperclassmen mingling with underclassmen and athletes sharing snacks and stories with members of the drama club. One of our underlying goals is to leave with fewer strangers.”
The meeting was led by VASJ’s four LIFE leaders - Erin Osborne ’18, Elizabeth Smith ’18, Eleanor Boru ’18, and Tim Raddell ’18, who talked about the group’s mission, events that will be held throughout the year such as a faith rally and the Faces of our Founders awards given each quarter, the social justice focus on human trafficking and the importance inclusivity and building a community within the VASJ community.
The mission of the group is to form a faith community that will grow and flourish.
“I became a life leader because the Marianist spirit has been deeply rooted in me for many years,” says VASJ teacher and LIFE moderator Michelle Perusek ‘07. “I've come to love and appreciate the Marianist sense of community and I want to enhance that in our school.”