R E T R E AT P R O G R A M
Finding Space for the Mind and Heart Priory’s Chaplaincy Team works to give students space to grow in their relationship with God and their classmates during annual off-campus retreats. “Jesus said to them, `Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.’” — Mark 6:31
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he life of a Priory student in 2022 seems a lot more hectic than it might’ve been in times past. Social media, the deluge of information flowing at them from the internet, the increasingly competitive and stressful college application process, and a string of “unprecedented” events in the news — all of this can be dizzying to a teenager who’s still trying to discover who he’s called to be. As Priory has taken a very intentional look at the way Benedictine spirituality is present in the school, one program that has seen a lot of development and expansion over the past few years is class retreats. These opportunities for students to get away from the daily noise and routine offer many opportunities for spiritual enrichment and personal growth, as well as that chance to just breathe.
“ It’s important to get off campus, put your phone down and really just be away from your daily worries and concerns and routine.” — St. Anselm Parish Youth Minister Courtney Rockamann
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St. Anselm Parish Youth Minister Courtney Rockamann, already a familiar face to many of our students, joined the school staff as Retreat Coordinator in 2019. In that role, Rockamann develops content, programming and activities, and works with Human and Spiritual Formation Coordinator Carrie Lane on the logistics and planning for each event. She also works with the Chaplaincy Team, a group of faculty and staff members who also work on content for our Wednesday morning all-school prayer assemblies and other campus ministry programming. “The team approach gives us a more broad-based view of what each class needs from their time away from campus,” Rockamann says. “We get feedback from more teachers and members of the community who are in contact with each particular group of students day in and day out, so we have a better idea of how these events can be productive and enriching, while still holding to the themes and ideas that we think are important for students at that moment in their high school career.” Allowing students to hear from their peers and teachers in a way they don’t necessarily expect is another benefit to the team approach. “We’re trying to harness the power of the community and the sense of trust and respect that already exists here,” Rockamann says. “Sometimes things stick more when you hear them from another student, or a teacher you look up to, or an alumnus who’s been through what you’re going through.” The Chaplaincy Team is working on making the retreat program more comprehensive and consistent, so that, for example, each class has a similar freshman retreat when they are in 9th grade, with particular themes and emphasis areas and activities. Those themes and points of emphasis can be applied in different ways or through different programs, though, if a class has a particular need or has been through a difficult experience.
