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This day could be a disaster! The thought crossed my mind more than once, one morning in late December, as I went about preparing for the visitors I would soon be welcoming. They were coming to attend a one-day retreat at the Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs in upstate New York, where I am a resident priest.
Everything was set up for them at the shrine’s visitor center. And I did have a plan for the day. We were going to follow our standard format: introductions, reflection on the Scripture of the day based on The Word Among Us, a presentation, lunch, and Mass. But even though I have facilitated many retreats, I wondered whether I had the skills for this one.
About fifteen retreatants arrived. With some level of apprehension, we waited for the arrival of our guest speakers and their family. This was no ordinary family, for Mary-Jo and Michael Jackson had adopted twenty-three children, in addition to having their own seven!
Introducing the Jacksons. Suddenly a large van arrived, and the Jackson children—ages five to sixteen—began streaming into the building. The majority had special needs, so they had to help one another. One was…
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