At Cathedral Prep, growing in your faith is one of the critical elements of being a Rambler. Many Prep students took a leap of faith from Feb. 3-5 through the Divine Mercy Encounter retreat. From 10 a.m. on Friday to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Saint Joe’s Bread of Life Church in Erie, participants stayed on site for the weekend. DME is a three-day retreat program with a specific focus each day. Friday is the Day of Invitation, focusing on how God invites students into a relationship with him. Saturday is the Day of Encounter, where students encounter God through the sacraments, Adoration, and others. Sunday is the Day of Commission, where students as a community are empowered to evangelize and share their faith.

Many students found this retreat inspiring towards their faith. Junior Sarah Teed provided some insight into how this retreat affected her.

“This retreat allowed me to grow spiritually because I genuinely encountered Christ,” Sarah said. “I saw and felt God through the Eucharist, prayer, and others. The sense of community that DME creates is like no other. God is inside of everyone, and we must let go of our pride to see that truly.”

Giving up an entire weekend can be a big commitment for people with hectic schedules. Senior Luke Costello reflected on what this retreat meant to him.

“To be away from the world and fully enclosed is something I had never done,” Luke said. “This retreat honestly changed my life; encountering the Lord is the most fulfilling feeling ever, something I will never forget, and something that I will continue to build off of for the rest of my life.”

The next DME retreat takes place April 26-28, and Prep students can register free of charge.