By: Regina Wright ~Staff Writer~

The Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ) offered the bi-annual Approach overnight retreat to Higher Ground Retreat Center in Logan, Ind. Approach is an introductory Christian based retreat held in the fall and winter. It is driven by student narratives.

“Rooted in Christianity, the retreat calls students to a greater awareness to God in the world around them and serves as an introduction to the importance of reflection in one’s everyday ‘approach’ to life,” according to the CFJ’s website. The retreat encourages finding love in life, relationships and everyday activities. It also inspires students to recognize the love people have for them.

“I think my favorite part of the retreat was being able to bond with the other retreatants,” first-year Olivia Knestrict said. “Whether it was singing songs with the group or discussing music and Alter Hall, the group definitely bonded and it was a wonderful experience.” Students gathered and shared experiences in small group discussions.

“In small group sessions, being able to talk and share our life experiences helped us bond on a deeper level,” first-year Tim Cyron said.

Many students gathered at the 10 p.m. Mass at Bellarmine Chapel as part of a long-standing tradition to meet after the retreat is over.

“I would suggest that if you have the chance to go on it, you should because it is truly a life changing experience,” Cyron said. Another retreat will be held in March by the CFJ called Encounter. Encounter is a followup retreat to Approach since Approach is an introductory, one-time retreat.

“I really look forward to the next step and going to Encounter in the future,” Knestrict said. “It’s going to be interesting exploring more in-depth my relationship with God, my friends and myself.

I can’t wait to build a more personal relationship with God on the next retreat as I did on Approach. Approach has given me the opportunity to become more aware about the world around me and Encounter will help me build off of it.”

For more information about Approach retreats, check out the website at xavier.edu/cfj/faithworship/Retreats.cfm.