Overview of Retreat Experiences
All students at Padua Franciscan High School have the opportunity to attend at least one retreat experience each year. Retreats are designed to meet the developmental and spiritual needs of the students.
Retreats are directed by various members of the faculty along with members of the Campus Ministry Team.
The various retreats are explained below and have pictures to help tell the story of the retreat experience.
Summary of Annual Retreats
Freshman Retreat
The Freshman Retreat welcomes and introduces students to Padua. Student leaders (sophomores, juniors and seniors) lead Freshman Retreat.
The Freshman Retreat is a one day, on-site retreat in September at which the administration cooks a picnic lunch for the students. The day concludes with a class Mass lead by Father Ted Haag, o.f.m.
The focus of the retreat is deepening our relationships with:
- God
- Friends
- Family
The retreat is a witness-based retreat. Discussions follow the various student witnesses.
Deacon Bob Grgic and Mr. Bob DiRocco are the adult retreat directors for this retreat.
Sophomore Retreat
The theme for Sophomore Retreat is discipleship. Sophomore Retreat is a one-day retreat, which takes place during a school day. The Sophomore Class is divided into four groups. Two groups attend the retreat on the first day, the second half of the class on the second day. Each group is comprised of about 60 students.
Junior and senior Peer Ministers facilitate small group discussions and activities.
The retreat directors for this retreat experience are Deacon Bob Grgic and Mr. Bob DiRocco.
Junior Retreat
Junior Retreats are for the students who are currently taking Christian Morality. The retreat experience helps students to explore what it means to be diverse and part of a community in which we are all different and important to the community.
We explore I Corinthians 12:12–27 and reflect on the idea that we are all part of the Body of Christ. We may have different talents and gifts but the same spirit gifts us all.
The retreat is lead by Mr. Jim Smith (an alumni parent) along with Deacon Bob Grgic and a team of 8 juniors and 8 seniors.
This experience helps the juniors to understand some of the causes of discrimination and gives them some tools in understanding others.
Students also are given the challenge to not pre-judge others but rather to see others through the eyes of the Lord.
Kairos Retreat is open to juniors.
The 3 night/4 day retreat is held at the Jesuit Retreat House in Parma. It is a witness-based retreat (given by faculty and administrators) and lead by a senior Kairos team.
Mr. Matthew Harley is the moderator and Mr. Bob DiRocco is the co-moderator of this retreat.
Senior Retreats
Campus Ministry offers seniors a choice of nine venues for their required retreat experience while at Padua. Many of the activities come from Deacon Bob Grgic’s book, Resources for Outdoor Retreats, published by St. Mary’s Press.
Most senior retreats begin about 8:00 am and end about 8:00 pm. Please plan your work schedules accordingly. No late arrivals nor early departures. All the Senior Retreats offer common experiences which will be set in the context of the individual retreat settings. Mass with Fr. Ted Haag, o.f.m. is one of the high points of each of the retreats.
Art and Photography
Students are given an opportunity to reflect on God’s presence in nature through the lens of art and photography. Community building activities and art experiences create a powerful retreat experience. Mrs. Mary Remington and Deacon Bob Grgic are the retreat directors for this retreat experience.
The Art and Photography Retreat conflicts with Volleyball at NDCL.
There is no charge for this retreat.
Students provide their own transportation to The Ledges Shelter in the CVNP. The retreat date is October 6, 2011.
Backpacking
What do you carry throughout your journey in life? The Backpacking Retreat helps students reflect on what they carry in their heart as they travel the journey of high school and embark on their journey into the future. The Backpacking Retreat challenges the students to hike about 8 miles.
Students and faculty hike together on the trail. This retreat is a time for seniors to reflect on what they want to carry from high school into the future and what burdens they no longer wish to carry.
Retreats are held in the Minister Creek area in PA. Mr. Harley and Mr. Jennrich are the retreat directors for the Backpacking Retreat.
The Backpacking #1 Retreat conflicts with nothing at Padua.
Backpacking #2 conflicts with: the Instrumental Concert, and Boys Soccer at Fairview.
The cost of either of these overnight retreats is $70.00. Transportation is provided from Padua to the retreat site. Retreat dates are: Backpacking #1 October 2 — 3 and Backpacking #2 October 9 — 10, 2011.
Biking
The Biking Retreat is another journey motif retreat. Seniors reflect on their journey through high school.
Faculty and students bike together, stopping occasionally to hear a witness talk which helps students reflect on God’s love.
Fr. Ted Haag, o.f.m. leads a healing service that focuses on the ministry of St. Clare.
This retreat invites the students to consider what they have learned at Padua Franciscan High School, the people who have influenced them, the memories they treasure and want to hold on to, and those things they wish to leave behind.
You do need a bike, helmet and a way to get your bike to the retreat site.
Mr. Giulivo is the retreat director for this retreat and Metroparks Towpath will be the site.
The Biking Retreat conflicts with: Volleyball at Lake Catholic, Boys Soccer at Holy Name and Tennis at home. There is no charge for this one day retreat. Students provide their own transportation to the retreat. The retreat date is September 15, 2011.
Canoeing
The Canoeing Retreat is also a journey motif retreat. Seniors are invited to
reflect on their life as they paddle down 9 miles of the Grand River in Harpersfield, Ohio. They are invited to contemplate the experience of the river and how this experience reflects everyday life. Lunch will be during the canoe trip itself. Dinner and discussions on the day will take place at a local parish. Deacon Bob Grgic will be the retreat director for this retreat.
The Canoeing Retreat conflicts with: Volleyball vs. Beaumont at home and tennis at Kenston. Transportation is provided from Padua to the retreat site. There is a $35.00 charge for this retreat. The retreat date is September 22, 2011.
Climbing
Seniors are invited to reflect on their life through the experience of the High Ropes Course at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville. Team building takes place through low ropes initiatives as well as the High Ropes Course.
Students are invited to look back on their life thus far and gain courage to ‘let go’ and rely on the ‘belay systems’ of their lives as they begin the next stage of their lives after high school.
Deacon Bob Grgic and Mr. Jake Lantz will be the retreat directors for this retreat.
The Climbing Retreat conflicts with: possible Volleyball and Soccer Tournaments.
The cost for this retreat is $30.00. Students provide their own transportation to Camp Cheerful. Retreat date is October 20, 2011..
Female Spirituality
The Female Spirituality Retreat helps young women to reflect on what it means to be a woman of God. Seniors are invited to reflect on what they have learned at Padua Franciscan High School. They consider the people that have influenced their lives and who helped to form them into the women that they are today.
The seniors are given a chance to reflect on what they wish to carry with them into the future as well as reflect on the things in their lives they wish to leave behind.
The senior women are asked to pause and prayerfully consider the type of person they wish to be in the future and how they are working towards that goal today.
Mrs. Meghan Schepis and Miss Elizabeth Oles are the retreat directors for the Female Spirituality Retreat.
The Female Spirituality Retreat conflicts with: the Christmas Concert, Holiday Hockey Tournament and Wrestling at BGU.
There is a $70 charge for this retreat. Students provide their own transportation to Jesuit Retreat House. The date for this overnight retreat is December 18 — 19, 2011.
Hiking
The Hiking Retreat is another journey motif retreat. Seniors reflect on their journey through high school.
Faculty and students hike together, stopping occasionally to hear a witness talk which helps students to reflect on God’s love. Students are invited to experience a healing service that focuses on the ministry of St. Clare.
The Retreat invites the students to consider what they have learned at Padua Franciscan High School, the people who have influenced them, the memories they treasure and want to hold on to, as well as those things they wish to leave behind.
Mr. Harley is the retreat director for this retreat which will be held at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The Hiking Retreat conflicts with: Football playoffs.
There is no charge for this one day retreat. Students provide their own transportation to the retreat. The retreat date is November 3, 2011.
Male Spirituality
The Male Spirituality Retreat helps senior men to reflect on what it means to be a man of God. Seniors are invited to reflect on what they have learned at Padua Franciscan High School. They consider the people that have influenced their lives and who helped to form them into the men they are today.
The seniors are given a chance to reflect on what they wish to carry with them into the future as well as the things in their lives they wish to leave behind.
The senior men are asked to prayerfully discern the type of person they wish to be in the future and how they are working towards that goal today. A High Ropes Course experience is part of this retreat experience. The retreat is at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville.
Mr. David Stec is the retreat director for the Male Spirituality Retreat.
The Male Spirituality Retreat conflicts with: week two of football playoffs.
The cost of this overnight retreat is $120. Students provide their own transportation to Camp Cheerful. The dates for this overnight retreat are November 6 — 7, 2011.
Reflections
The Reflections Retreat is held at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville.
The seniors who attend this retreat experience are invited to ‘reflect’ on their lives thus far. Where have you been? Where are you going? What is important to you? What needs to be left behind? What do you carry with you after high school and into the future? Who are the people who have helped form you into the person you are today?
These seniors experience various activities as well as listen to witnesses which help them to reflect on God’s love. The labyrinth experience is part of this retreat.
Brother Tom Carroll and Rose Gordyan are the retreat directors.
There is no charge for this retreat. There are no Padua conflicts with this retreat. Students provide their own transportation to Camp Cheerful. The date for this retreat is November 18, 2011.
