By Rory McNelley, Education and Enrichment Coordinator
This weekend, the Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ) hosted a retreat for first-year students at Higher Ground Conference & Retreat Center. Students took time to reflect on where they have been, where they are and look to where they are going.
The GetAway retreat is put on by the CFJ every year early in the first semester. It is an opportunity for first-years to meet other students and get involved in the CFJ.
“I liked feeling like I was bonding with other people who also wanted to go on this for the same reason I did,” first-year biomedical sciences major Evie Limburg said. “We were all becoming friends and getting to know each other.”
The CFJ advertised the retreat at student Masses, on the CFJ Instagram and in emails to first-year students. This retreat was put on by campus minister, Mary Bryan and senior campus minister, Devon James.
Participants heard talks from student leaders about where they had been on their college journey to help them better reflect on where they want to go. There was time for individual reflection and small group discussion after each talk.
The CFJ took first-year students on a retreat to deepen connections.
“The CFJ has been doing GetAway for as long as I can remember. I went on GetAway as a student. It’s grown and shaped and done different things, but the main core of the talks and the theme have been the same,” James said.
“It was nice to get to know people that I didn’t know as well,” Limberg said about the experience. The retreat included free recreational time for the students to hang out with one another. Students left on Friday and returned Saturday afternoon.
“It was nice to get to know people that I didn’t know as well,” Limberg said. Students participated in small group discussion, reflection, and games during the two-day retreat. “Playing nine square with everyone was my favorite part.”
“The theme is reflection. We try to help people reflect on where they have been coming into college, where they are now as a freshman in college, and where they hope to go for the rest of their college career,” James said. “I really liked it as a student but also as a staff member because you get to see the first-year students grow in community with one another and get the chance to meet new friends and get involved in the CFJ. “
The retreat is meant as a way to introduce first-year students to the opportunities provided by the CFJ. As an introduction to the variety of ministries they put on, students became familiar with staff and befriend students who could attend future events with them.
“Last year’s GetAway, everyone who went on it is now involved in the CFJ which is great,” James said.