Patrick Forrester `27

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For years, one of Jesuit’s long-standing traditions was the on-campus Freshman Retreat. One weekend in November, freshmen could participate on our campus in a weekend of prayer, activities, and reflection in small groups led by one or two upperclassmen. This retreat served to unify the freshman class and strengthen the class identity, while also creating smaller groups for more in-depth discussions and closer bonds. 

This year, however, the retreat has undergone a significant change. Instead of holding one retreat on Jesuit’s campus, the freshmen now have the opportunity to choose one of multiple weekends throughout the year to go to the SJ Retreat and Leadership Center. There, they participate in various small-group activities while still remaining under the leadership of upperclassmen–but this time with smaller groups. 

As the director of SJ’s retreat program, Dr. Christopher Cole ’02 acknowledged that the decision to make this change was not easy, and many factors were considered. 

“Freshman retreat on campus has been a tradition for a long time, and it’s been a good experience,” he said. “There are a lot of things that went into the thought— how do we make this a great retreat experience for the guys?” 

The first factor considered was class size. As Strake Jesuit has continued to thrive, the class size has grown remarkably: the class of 2028 reached 400 students, a record enrollment for Strake Jesuit.

This growth meant that having the entire class stay on campus for a weekend was no longer feasible, and sending smaller groups to the RLC was the better choice. Dr. Cole noted that the original purpose of the retreat was to build community within the class, and while that purpose still remains, it is fulfilled largely through the work done by Crusader Crew during Orientation, which creates an opportunity to make the Freshman Retreat a true retreat. 

“This used to be the first moment that the class was together to get to know each other, and that’s happening somewhere else,” Dr. Cole said. “Now the priority is an introduction to retreat and an introduction to Ignatian spirituality.” 

For many SJ students and alumni, their Freshman Retreat is one of their fondest memories from their time at Jesuit, and for good reason: it builds community in a way no other event does. 

However, as the school has continued to grow and other community building resources have arisen, other benefits and purposes for this retreat have arisen as well, leading to a change that will likely continue making the retreat one that students will cherish.