Jesus Christ constantly reminds us in the Gospels to evangelize to others and spread his word. In fact, this is so essential to Christ’s mission on earth that he sends his disciples, and us, to the far corners of the earth to gather more disciples and preach the good news. Christ’s words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” is part of St. Paul VI Catholic High School’s junior retreats.
These aim to reawaken each individual’s love for God and love for one another in an extracurricular setting. About 60 students, depending on whether it is a boys’ retreat or a girls’ retreat, head to the 4-H Educational and Conference Center after school, singing songs, chatting loudly and laughing during the bus ride. When the group arrives, they unpack the bus and find their rooms for their three-day, two-night stay.
During the retreat, the juniors listen to talks, do fun group activities to build relationships and trust in one another, and participate in Mass, adoration, and confession with school chaplain Father Jonathan Fioramonti.
Students are encouraged to grow in their faith by experiencing the liturgy on a smaller scale than normal. The close-knit community of junior retreats permits them to see details of the Mass that they may not have noticed before, especially when Father Fioramonti explains the parts of the Mass in a new way. For many, adoration may be something new, and seeing the Lord up close in the Holy Eucharist gives them the opportunity to grow much closer to him.
“It felt more special to be able to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament … knowing Jesus himself was present,” said Martin Ramirez.
Some juniors told me how important the small groups were for them. The students are split into groups of about six, each with an adult leader and a senior retreat team leader. These small groups offer a chance to learn more about God and each other in a much more personal way.
“The most impactful part of the retreat for me was the small group discussions because I learned things about my classmates that I would have never learned otherwise,” said Heath Holland.
I was privileged to be a senior retreat team leader on the junior retreats. The senior leaders strive to be exemplary models of the faith and want to spread their faith among other students. The senior leaders are immersed in the same experience as the juniors, eating with them, talking with them and participating in activities with them. The senior leaders give talks, guide the juniors in small groups and are examples of people whose faith is a central aspect of their lives.
“We have been so blessed to accompany our senior retreat team leaders as they walk closely with Christ and become evangelizers of their peers,” said Nick Zaso, director of campus ministry. “We have a retreat just for our senior leaders at the beginning of the year to focus on who they are as God’s sons and daughters, give them tools to develop deep prayer lives, and send them forth prepared to lead discussions and share their faith with others.”
The juniors are more comfortable opening up and sharing their experiences and feelings with each other around the senior leaders.
“Being a senior leader has impacted my relationship with God greatly because it inspires me to listen to his call more, so I can better help those I am leading on retreats,” said senior leader Rose Skees. Another senior leader, Andrew Harrison, said that the most powerful moment for him was “definitely adoration,” which strengthened his faith.
The junior retreats are an incredible experience and our high school has developed a wonderful way to invite students to meet Christ and become disciples.
