Faithful rhythm shines on during retreats

Laura Hahn

“When I look up in the darkest night. I know everything is gonna be all right… When I am lonely as I can be, I know that God shines his light on me.”

“Whenever God shines his light,” by Van Morrison helped inspire this year's Freshman Discover Retreat. The theme this year was Discover Your Rhythm. It was chosen by the senior retreat leaders on the core team.

Every student wishing to be a retreat leader at Marian must fill out an application towards the end of each year. Each person’s name is blanked out and several members of ministry council, as well as the moderator Mr. Kory Delkamiller read through the applications. Each leader is chosen by their responses to the questions on this application.

“We really appreciate the leaders and how hard they worked,” said Sister Margaret Stratman. “It [the freshman retreat] wouldn’t have happened without the leaders.”

All leaders are juniors and senior who are led by a core team made up of seniors who were leaders as juniors. “They need that extra year of experience,” said freshman retreat director Mr. Delkamiller.

The core team met six times and the leaders met three times before the retreat to prepare the many activities. The freshmen arrived at Marian at 8 a.m. on Nov.1. They checked in and were led to their randomly selected small groups where they “Dove In” to the retreat with personality profiles.

“It [freshman retreat] made me closer to a lot of girls at Marian and gave me a new sense of being,” said freshman Kristy Prentis.

Each letter of the word Discover stood for a different part of the retreat. Activities were planned for the entire over night retreat including service opportunities and a friendship question and answer session with male friends of the student leaders.

Junior leader Aminatu Rubango said, “During [freshman retreat], you learn more about yourself and your partner. At the same time you are learning about the freshman class as a whole.”

“The dinner with the decorations,” was one of the best parts about the retreat said freshman Jill Wiest

All of the behind the scenes work was done by a group of 18 sophmores called The Shadow Crew. “We brainstormed a month before. We first thought of a Harry Potter theme and the cafeteria would be The Great Hall, but not everyone likes Harry Potter. Everyone likes Disney so we came up with the theme Discover your Character,” said shadow crewmember Anna Mostek.

All together the cost of the breakfast, made of bagels, juice, and various cream cheeses, and the pizza dinner was around $600. The money came from the budget that is set aside at the beginning of each year for retreats.

“For me seeing the sophomores reflect on what they were doing was the best part,” said shadow crew facilitator Mr. Greg Golka. “Their work was important to what was going on. They recognized their growth and how much they have changed since last year.”

The day came to a close with Mass said by Father Mike Eckley from St. Rose of Lima in Hooper, NE and St. Lawrence parish in Scrioner, NE “There’s something nice about coming together and worshiping at night,” said Delkamiller.

The freshman retreat was inspiring to everyone involved. Everyone learned a little something about themselves and about others. “It helped me to think about my spirituality and friendships,” said junior retreat leader Emily Bartlett.

The freshmen retreat strives to inspire freshman, while the Nov. 17 fall retreat strives to inspire sophomores and juniors.

Each year sophomores and juniors must fill out a preference sheet that lists the several different types of retreats. Some of the themes are Relationships, Service, Finding Your Style, and What’s Your Story.

Sister Margaret and several student volunteers sort the preference sheets by first choice. “If the retreat can’t handle that number of people,” said Sr. Margaret, the sheets are sorted again. “This year, I think, everyone got their first or second choice,” said Sr. Margaret.

Each year, just like all the students must attend a retreat, so must the teachers. Teachers and staff members will have their own retreat in April, but they must also help out at a student retreat. A facility meeting is held where each teacher volunteers to either direct a retreat or just help out with one.

“Retreats by there nature can be unpredictable,” said Mr. Golka. “The best you can do is trust that the Holy Spirit is guiding you. Sometimes things don’t work out how you plan. You just have to say ‘Oh Well’ and move on.”

This year number of sophomores and junior attended the fall retreats.

Back