ÀÇÓÑÊÓƵ

Students sitting at picnic table

Retreats

Retreats offer a great opportunity to:

  • CONNECT with others in a fun and profound manner.
  • ENCOUNTER God in a more intentional way and be transformed.
  • LIVE one's faith more fully as we nourish our spirit.

Campus Ministry offers a number of overnight and weekend retreats over the course of the academic year. Our retreats range from on-campus half-day events to destination weekend-long overnight retreats.

Each year, the retreat team draws upon the amazing talent of students in creating and offering powerful retreat experiences for students throughout the year. Our Retreat Team is formed by student volunteers that lead talks, small groups, and music. Please contact Marta Pereira if you are interested in being part of a team. We would love to welcome you as part of the Campus Ministry community!

Have Questions?

For more information about these and other retreat opportunities, visit our offices at the Iversen Center for Faith or contact Marta Pereira at mipereira@stthomas.edu.

What to Expect

Typically retreats offer various activities like talks, silent reflection, community building, small groups, praise and worship and the opportunity for Mass and consultation and confession for those who desire it. Some retreats like the First Year Retreat and Kairos are planned and led by students; others like the Silent Retreat or Crossroads are led by a retreat director or other speakers. Anyone is welcome to participate in Campus Ministry retreats. Mass and opportunities for spiritual consultation and confession are available for those who desire it.

2023-2024 Retreats

Retreat details and registration links are found each semester in .

First-Year Retreat

Do not miss the opportunity to connect with other first-year students for a weekend of fellowship as you start your college faith journey. Join us for a great time of prayer, sharing, and fellowship as we explore how we might more fully invite God into all aspects of college life. This is an overnight retreat held in late September.

Hispanic Student Retreat

This daylong retreat offers Hispanic students - and others interested in the Latin American faith experience the chance to encounter others and celebrate their faith enriched by their cultural experiences. You will experience talks, reflection, small groups, and fellowship. This retreat includes a Spanish Mass.

Silent Retreat

Silent retreats have been a part of the Christian spiritual tradition for centuries. By taking the time to calm our minds, we can listen to God more clearly and discern His will for us. Come and deepen your experience of Christ by joining us for our annual Ignatian silent retreat weekend. This overnight retreat is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

Kairos Retreat

This overnight retreat in the spring is designed to experience God's presence in our lives, providing the opportunity to listen and be transformed. Be part of this wonderful weekend of fellowship and prayer and rediscover the depth of God's love for you and come out stronger in faith, hope and love. Led by students, Kairos is a time to disconnect from Chronos and intentionally experience God's time in our lives.

Crossroads Retreat

Crossroads offers students the possibility to hear from others whose careers and vocational options have led them to live in the service of others, through their professional work and state of life. This is a wonderful overnight weekend (during spring semester) to discern more deeply where your passion and God given talents meet the needs of the world.

Senior Night

Senior Night is a year-end evening celebration to give thanks and reflect on how to live your faith after college. What do you cherish about your time at St. Thomas? How do you feel now as you prepare to live your professional life? How will you nurture your faith once you leave campus? Seniors are invited to spend time reflecting on such questions at the annual event. This evening includes time for fellowship, reflection and prayer.

Faculty and Staff Retreats

These morning retreats for faculty and staff are offered during Lent and Advent as an opportunity to enter deeper into those liturgical seasons. The morning is typically led by a retreat director and involved talks and time for reflection.

Retreat Participants

Testimonials

  • "The Campus Ministry Retreats have definitely been a formative wellspring. What a gift to have had solid retreats, time away to simply be with our Lord, so readily available to me." – Abby Burns ‘22
  • "The retreats have been transformational in my spiritual growth. They have taught me how to pray with and for others in new and profound ways. It seems to me that the Lord gives so many fruits in our community through fellowship, prayer, and formation. " – Eve Edwards ’26
  • "What I like most about the retreats is the chance to get away from campus life. Without the distractions of everyday life, it gives me a chance to reflect on what the voice inside of me is saying." – Jackson Gyurisin ’26
  • "These experiences have been very restful and have been a great opportunity to know other students deeply. God's presence is more recognizable on these retreats in the little and big ways, which I've been truly grateful for." – Ali Brutus, Graduate Student