The senior class went on their retreat on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Saint Francis Xavier.
The retreat consisted of workshops that encouraged collaboration among the students of the senior class and Mass, as well as activities that were focused on faith, that allowed students to reflect on their faith and offered them an opportunity to learn how they could become closer to God.
Senior Hailey Montgomery, English Teacher Ms. Mackensen, and Campus Minister Mrs. Grenci, who was the overseer of the senior retreat, were interviewed on their experiences and thoughts on the senior retreat.
Responses have been edited and/or paraphrased for clarity and brevity
Senior Hailey Montgomery:
1.What workshops did you sign up for?
“I did Mr. MacKenzie’s [workshop], which [involved] burning my insecurities, the scavenger hunt, and I also did the mediation [workshop].”
2.Which of the workshops did you sign up for did you enjoy the most?
“Mr. Mackenzie’s.”
3.What aspect of working with other members of the senior class did you enjoy the most?
“The scavenger hunt was probably the most inclusive [in the sense that it involved other people in the senior class]. It was almost like a competition, but we all had fun because we were all trying to work together to figure out the puzzle pieces, what went with what and what helped the light shine through.”
4. What did you like about the retreat in general?
“I liked being with my classmates. I also got to read at Mass, which was cool, and I never really got to do that, so doing that was fun, and just seeing everyone from freshman to senior year grow up was cool as well.”
5.Do you think there’s anything about the Senior Retreat that could be improved?
“I feel like the groups could be mixed up differently because it was kind of [more] like a friend group thing, but other than that, I think it was good because we’re all seniors now. We kind of found our [place] with things. [Otherwise], I think it went well.”
6.What did you learn from the retreat?
“I learned that I don’t have to be scared to talk in front of my classmates. It helped me open up more.”
7.How did the retreat help you with your faith?
“I like writing Mary’s Day letters to myself, because if I’m in a bad headspace at the beginning of the year, I know [I’ll] get out of it by the end of the year, and I can read that card and reflect on it.”
8.How did the retreat help you in your personal relationship with God?
“[The retreat] help[ed] me open my eyes to bigger things, and [reminded me] that if [things are] bad right now that it can get better and it doesn’t always have to be bad.”
Is there anything else about the retreat you would like to add?
“I think the retreat went really well. It’s like a bonding experience for everyone, and everyone seems to [have enjoyed] everything they did.”
English Teacher Ms. Mackensen:
1.What workshop did you lead?
“I led the Leadership Workshop.”
2.What did you enjoy most about leading the Leadership Workshop?
“I enjoyed all the leadership content. From the class that I teach, so being able to do it on a wider scale for the retreat, because I know it’s going to be redone for the Junior retreat, so it’s going to reach more people. I think it’s a really cool thing. Plus, they tend to be pretty fun, the activities we get to do.”
3.What do you think are the most important takeaways the Senior class could have from the retreat?
“I think that leadership is super important for everyone, not just people that have titles. So, I think learning how to lead by serving is what our leadership [workshop] this year was about, I think it’s a really great reminder that even if we don’t have a title, we’re still all leaders, and that no matter who we are, we’re called to serve. The bible verse that we used with it, Galatians 5:13, it’s just a really great reminder for everybody about how we can live better.”
4. What do you think was the most important part of the retreat in general for students?
“I think the retreats are such a great idea for community building. It’s one of the things that make our school unique. Not only do we get to talk about faith in a really open way, but the time [the students] get to spend as a class and as a community together really helps to bring [you all] closer together and helps create that sense of community. I think so many students really want these days. So, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity that we have specific to our school.”
5.In years past, how have you seen the retreat help students with connections and other things?
“I love seeing the different friendships, because I only see people in classes, so I don’t get [to see students] interact in an organic way, so seeing the different friends and how [students] interact with each other has been a really cool thing to observe, as well as the community and the growth of watching a class come together at the beginning of the school year and where [students] are for graduation, especially [as] seniors, is a really special thing.”
6.In your opinion, how have students collaborating and socializing with each other helped them throughout the school in general?
“I like the idea that Mrs. Grenci set up where the seniors are the ones leading the junior retreat because it goes along with the entire understanding of leadership, of passing it on, so we as the teachers get to do it, and then [the seniors] take it up and do it for the juniors, then [the juniors] can pass it on. It’s creating a movement within the school that [reminds us that] we’re not just passive recipients of education and of community, we have to be active participants in [the school]. I think the setup of the [passing on of the retreat and] watch it trickle down, even to the freshman, that the idea that we have to active in our community [makes us grow], [which I think] is really special and important.”
7.How do you think the retreat can help students grow in their faith?
“I think the opportunities to openly talk about faith, especially with Fr. Mike and Fr. Ben, are amazing ones [since not everyone gets to talk to a priest directly] in a very casual way. I think sometimes Mass seems so traditional, [quite] foreign to a lot of kids, so to have a one-on-one/group conversation with a priest and just get to know them on a personal/human level, as opposed to on a pedestal, like “this is the priest,” I think that is really helpful in a lot of students growing their faith [and allow] them [to] ask questions about their faith, because I think there’s a lot more openness there than [in the traditional sense].”
8.Anything else you would like to add about the retreat in general?
“I think this year we had a wonderful day. Everyone really got along, it was nice weather. [This year’s retreat] was definitely one of my favorites that I got to be a part of.”
Campus Minister Mrs. Grenci:
1.What was your position for the retreat?
“As a campus minister, I had to lead [the] retreat in general, so I was in charge of all the moving pieces, making sure teachers knew [their] workshops, make sure students have in their permission slips, make sure everybody was where they were supposed to be for retreat day.”
2.Despite it being a busy position, what did you enjoy most about it?
“I enjoyed the overall organization and [seeing the] seniors [respond] pretty well to the retreat, as well as the joy they had throughout the day and just seeing everything [work out].”
3.What was your favorite part about the retreat?
“Seeing the seniors engage. There was mediation in the day, [and after, students wrote] on an anonymous paper. When you do [something like this], you don’t know if people are going to do it or not. And so, as I went to go throw the papers away, since they were just trash, kids [wrote] a lot of stuff [on the papers], and they were really engag[ed] throughout the day [in general], so that was cool to see.”
4.How do you think the retreat helped the students of the senior class connect with one another?
“I think it was a good start to their bonding. I said at one point that “this is the beginning of the end,” that [the retreat] was their first big thing as seniors, and then Senior Sunrise and all these [other] things will start happening, so I think it was just a day for them to relax together, play some games together, and grow in community and faith together.”
5.How do you think the retreat helps the senior class with their faith?
“I think it gives [the students of the senior class] the opportunity [to reflect] and to really [ask] “where is my relationship with God [right now]?” I think with that [with the theme of this year being the light], like “how is God lighting my direction?” [helps seniors reflect on their faith since] right now, seniors are really stressed, you can see it on their faces, so I think it was an opportunity to [ask oneself], “Am I orientated in the right direction?””[If not], what do I need to do to change that?’”
6.What do you think the most important takeaway is for seniors?
I think [the] community aspect with each other and with God, and [them saying in realization] “Hey, I do have roots, and I can grow from them.’”
