Retreats

Spiritual growth is an important aspect of the St. Francis experience. In order to help students to deepen their relationship with God and with fellow classmates, SF offers retreat opportunities with different themes for each grade.

 

Each student will be expected to participate in a grade-level retreat. If a student is unable to attend their grade level retreat it will be expected for them to attend another grade. If there are no retreats available for the remaining school year students will be given a reflection packet.

Seniors

Students are invited to the Kairos Retreat, an opportunity to experience God’s profound love. During this four-day, three-night experience, students have a chance to more fully develop and articulate their spiritual experience with the support of friends, family, and community members. Senior students witness the power of a lived relationship with God through Christ in a unique setting which removes them from their typical routine and allows them to experience Kairos, a term that comes from the Greek word meaning “God’s time.” Many seniors who have experienced the retreat regard it as a life-changing experience and comment on the effects the journey has made on their relationships to family, friends, and their St. Francis community.

Juniors

The Junior Ekklesia Retreat, which is offered in the spring, is an opportunity for each student to recognize the place to which they are called by God, their community, and their own gifts. Ekklesia is derived from the Greek term “called out,” and was first used to describe members of the Church in its early days. Juniors are given the opportunity to reflect on how their personal gifts enable them to recognize their calling. This retreat falls within the time frame of a regular school day.

Sophomores

The Sophomore Koinonia Retreat is a day of community service. Koinonia is a Greek word meaning "to be in communion", "to be with fellow Christians". The early church community, described by St. Luke in the book of Acts, came together to pray, worship, and work for the benefit of those most in need. The sophomores are called to explore the communities in their lives and their relationship to these communities - class, family, friends, school, and neighborhoods. This retreat falls within the time frame of a regular school day.

Freshmen

Students are invited to Animas, a retreat which enables students to experience their place within the St. Francis community. The patron of the Salesian order is St. John Bosco. Bosco’s educational philosophy provides the framework for our St. Francis High School community, and is reflected in his motto: “Da mihi animas caetera tolle,” which is Latin for “Give me souls, take away the rest.” Animas, the Latin word for soul, is used by Bosco to describe the essence of each person, that which animates him or her. Each freshman has the opportunity during this daylong retreat to explore his or her own individual gifts and talents and what part they will play as a unique individual in the St. Francis community. This retreat falls within the time frame of a regular school day.