SJU Faith weekend encourages reflection
The annual Trails retreat gives students an opportunity to reflect on their time at CSB+SJU and look towards their lives after graduation.
On Friday, Feb. 28, sophomore, junior and senior Bennies and Johnnies have a unique opportunity to assess their life preparedness during a retreat with SJU Faith.
The Trails retreat offers time for prayer, reflection and storytelling with SJU Faith staff and peers. Students can reflect on their time at CSB+SJU and have time to look toward their future and assess how well-prepared they are for their post-graduation lives.
This retreat will take place Feb 28 and March 1 at Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria, Minn.
Spots for the retreat are first come, first serve. Bennie registration is full, but there is a waitlist for interested CSB students. SJU Faith is looking for more johnnies who are interested in going, and registration can be found on the campus ministry website.
“Students should go on Trails if they want to explore their future vocation and future jobs,” said Carter Howell, assistant director of SJU Faith. The Trails retreat began as a partnership between the Collegeville Institute and SJU Faith and has existed since the 2020-2021 school year.
“When it started it was hosted over zoom due to the pandemic, it then transitioned to being hosted in the Abbey Guesthouse. Now the Collegeville Institute, the Benedictine Institute and SJU faith partner to take students off of campus for a night in Alexandria, MN” Howell added.
College is a time of transition for many students, and the decision of what to do after graduating can be difficult. The Trails retreat offers an opportunity to hear from faculty and staff to better understand how they made the difficult decision.
“Students can expect to hear from faculty/staff and other students about their journey to understand their calling(s). They can except to gain tools as they explore future professional careers trying to figure out what they want to do in their lives” Carter said.
The trails retreat offers a weekend of quiet reflection and contemplation for all interested students. Though there are many meaningful moments during this weekend, Howell said that students repeatedly highlight the “fireside chats” where a faculty/staff member sits down for a conversation with the Monastic MC to discuss a particular discernment in their life and some lessons they have learned that help guide their decision making process.
The trails retreat offers a break from college life, as well as time to contemplate life after graduating.
“It is a way for students to feel supported and confident about making decisions regarding both life during college and post-graduation,” Howell says.
