Marist theme for 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope

Pilgrims of Hope is a theme about a journey with and toward a God of love.

Pilgrims of Hope is a theme about a journey with and toward a God of love. A God whose love we know and experience through the flesh and bone of human kindness, generosity and compassion. This encounter of love is the source and reason for our hope. When we experience love, something happens within us, we feel it, it marks a beginning, and our instinctive response is to return the love that has been given to us.

Our closeness to Christ impels us to go out and live a life bursting to the full with a desire to restore and transform the world. Hope frees us to love, even if giving ourselves for others may involve some sacrifice. 

Hope is not the absence of challenges, but the courage to face them with faith, strength, and love. It’s a call to look beyond the present, beyond ourselves, and into a future we have the power to shape together. At Red Bend, hope is not a lofty ideal. It is what we live every day. It’s the foundation of every lesson, every conversation, everything we do. Together, we can build a future where every person feels empowered to journey together, knowing they are supported by a community that cares deeply for them.