Because the retreat is a crucial part of each student’s transition into Jesuit, it is a mandatory event for all incoming freshmen.
Parents, be on the lookout for more information about the Freshmen Overnight Retreat, which will be emailed in the weeks before school starts in August.
Freshmen are welcomed into the brotherhood from the moment they arrive on campus. Each freshman student is matched with an upperclassman “Big Brother.” Big Brothers serve as a shoulder for the freshmen to lean on during their first year at Jesuit and serve as guides and mentors who can be relied on to answer any questions a freshman might have during his first year. Big Brothers accompany their freshmen Little Brothers during Freshman Orientation and the Freshmen Overnight Retreat.
The Freshmen Overnight Retreat is focused on welcoming the newest class to Jesuit, building camaraderie amongst the incoming class, and introducing Freshmen to the traditions of Jesuit High School and Ignatian Spirituality. Small group discussions on the retreat are facilitated by the Big Brothers, who also spend time with the Freshmen as they participate in fun outdoor activities, an evening family Mass, and a morning sunrise prayer service. In the evening, Freshmen spend the night in the Barry Gym.
Sophomore Retreat is mandatory for all students as a part of the theology curriculum.
There are several different Sophomore Retreat days. Each sophomore is assigned to one of those retreat days and, in most cases, will attend the retreat with the other students in his theology class. Information on retreat date assignments will be emailed to families by the end of the Fall Semester and posted on the Google Classroom page of each student’s theology class in the weeks prior to their retreat date.
Students attend a day long retreat during the Spring semester of their sophomore year that focuses on identifying their values, passions, and goals in the spirit of discerning the man that God is uniquely calling them to be. Led by members of the Senior Retreat Team, this retreat challenges each student to examine their lives and ponder the ways in which God is calling them to use their passions and talents to be the best version of themselves through responding to the call to be a “man for and with others.” Retreat activities include small group discussions, witness talks by members of the Senior Retreat Team, and time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. By the end of the retreat, each student comes away with their own personal “Life Mission Statement” that acts as a type of north star for how the student wants to live their life in accordance with God’s call to love and serve those whom he encounters.