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High schools reflect on faith, leadership

Elizabeth A. Elliott | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Fr. Michael C. Eisenberg, diocesan director of vocations, celebrates Mass at the Bethany Retreat at Camp Highroad in Middleburg Sept. 28. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Sophomores through seniors listen to speakers at the Bethany Retreat at Camp Highroad in Middleburg Sept. 28. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Students participate in teambuilding activities at the Bethany Retreat at Camp Highroad in Middleburg Sept. 28. ELIZABETH A. ELLIOTT | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Sixty-five student leaders from all four diocesan high schools
attended the first Bethany Retreat at Camp Highroad in Middleburg Sept. 27-30.

 

The sophomores through seniors went beyond the classroom to the
outdoors among the trees, wildlife and a ropes course. Without phones and
watches, the students left the stress of school to be present to the goals of
the retreat — faith and leadership.

 

The idea for the retreat originated with Father Stephen J.
Schultz, chaplain at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, and Joyce
Krolicki, coordinator of campus ministry at Paul VI. It was named after the
place Jesus was welcomed and had relationships, said Father Schultz. “We have a
lot of lessons we can learn from Jesus and his friends,” he said. “Jesus was
able to manifest his power in Bethany.”

 

Chaplains at each school chose the students who participated.

 

“The students are the ones we see at morning Mass, who
spiritually want to go deeper,” said Krolicki.

 

Paul VI junior Bri Montgomery is a member of the school’s Servant
Leadership Association. “Leadership isn’t about being higher than other people
but about being part of a team that works together,” she said.

 

Jack Houser, a senior from Paul VI, said he learned “not only are
we leaders of the faith at our school, but that God had a plan for us, that we
were chosen not only by the school, but by God.”

 

“Not everyone’s faith is where it wants to be, and I am a perfect
example of that,” he said. “This retreat is not only helping me get back on
track where I want to be, but to becoming the man I would like to see in the
mirror every day.”

 

Father Edward J. Bresnahan, chaplain at Bishop Ireton High School
in Alexandria, said they chose students who took their faith seriously. “School
itself can seem very much on the surface and as a chaplain sometimes we do
broad brushes to reach a large swath of students,” he said. “Some of the
students get it already, and you want to help get them the equipment on how to
talk to and share the Gospel with their peers.”

 

Emma Boyle, the director of mission and the new evangelization at
Saint John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Dumfries, said students were
chosen who demonstrated an aptitude and desire to be a leader. “They showed
commitment to the school and a love for the Lord,” she said.

 

Speakers included Father Schultz; Father Bresnahan; Father Keith
D. Cummings, chaplain of John Paul the Great; Father Gregory S. Thompson,
chaplain at Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington; Leo Chavarria, director
of youth ministry at St. Mary Church in Fredericksburg; China Briceño, a
parishioner of All Saints Church in Manassas and a Catholic
Herald columnist; Patrick Jacobeen, works in financial
services with Primerica in Chantilly; Christina Jacobeen, program specialist
and young adult coordinator in the Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult
Ministries and with CatholicSpeakers.com; and Richard Malebranche, counselor at
John Paul the Great. The schedule included reflections, talks, team-building
activities, silent prayer and Masses. Father Michael C. Eisenberg, diocesan vocations
director, celebrated Mass Sept. 28.

 

Father Cummings said Jesus took a small group and worked with
them, prepared them and sent them out. “Our hope is to take a small group, and
with God’s grace, they will take what they learn here and bring it to their
peers,” he said.

 

The retreat ended Sept. 30 with Mass and a talk on how to live
the fruits of the retreat when the students return to campus. Father Schultz
hopes this is the first of an annual Bethany Retreat offered for the high
schools.

 

“It was very fruitful for the students,” he said. “We will now be
working to keep forming them as disciples and servant leaders to build up the
relationships they have and to build their relationships with Christ.” 

 

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