In 2011, the Department of Campus Ministry hosted the first overnight freshmen retreat on the campus of Loyola Blakefield, and it was such a success that the Campus Ministry team decided to keep the momentum going by making this year’s retreat even bigger. The 2012 freshmen retreat focused on creating bonds between the students with the overall theme of “IGNITE! Breaking Barriers and Sparking Friendsh
ips.”
The title of the retreat combines the words Ignatius and Night and Loyola’s Campus Ministry team hopes to continue growing this experience for years to come.
The motto of this year’s retreat, Breaking Barriers and Sparking Friendships, was chosen by the retreat leaders and is a message they hope is conveyed to freshmen students throughout the retreat.
“We really want the freshmen to open up and break down nervous barriers between one another. By the end, we as leaders strive for a significant amount of camaraderie among the students,” said student retreat leader, Brendan Galloway ’13.
The retreat is designed to open the eyes of all students in the freshmen class by bringing them together in an intimate and spiritual setting. Numerous team building exercises are involved, which allow the freshmen to form new ties and bonds with their fellow classmates.
Aside from daytime activities, the overnight aspect of the retreat gives freshmen the opportunity to let down their guard, which may not happen in a typical day-to-day setting.
“Many of the special elements that happen during the retreat occur overnight mainly because it is a time where the students allow others to get to know them on a deeper level,” said Joe Cordella, Director of Campus Ministry at Loyola Blakefield.
Both the faculty and student leaders put in a countless amount of effort when planning and executing IGNITE! They wanted each student to see themselves united as one class by the time the retreat concluded. This unified friendship that the leaders help students make during the retreat is one that is meant to be fostered for years to come.
Encouraging freshmen to become involved in extracurricular activities and clubs during their four years of high school is another area of concentration for the retreat.
“The leaders want the freshmen to make the best of their four years at Loyola by getting involved in what the school has to offer. Time flies whether they believe it or not, and regret is not an option the leaders want them to have when they graduate,” said Cordella.
While bringing the students together is an important part of the retreat, instilling the ideals of St. Ignatius and showing them how vital it is to incorporate those ideals in their everyday life is key.
IGNITE! is helping the freshmen students become better ‘Men for Others’ both on Loyola’s campus and in their everyday lives.