9th Grade Retreat: Bonding and Spiritual Growth
October 17, 2023
The annual 9th Grade Retreat was held on October 11 and 12. Students gathered at St. Peter’s Church in Mendota for a diverse range of activities and discussions that hopefully resulted in some bonding, reflection, and personal growth. This year's theme was "Let us love one another as God loves us."
The retreat was facilitated by numerous faculty and staff members, along with several junior and senior volunteers. Among the faculty/staff who played key roles were Peter Gleich, Mark McGuire, Claire Bischoff, Tim Teuber, Ken Udoibok ‘16, Katie Shead, Ellen Schafer ‘10, Amy Bellus ‘90, Joe Hutchins, Christina DeVos, Emma Denzen, Joe Kruse, Tom Luhman, Nicolle Spears, Jessie Cusick, Steven Tacheny, Doug Meeker, Katherine Fetterly, Br. Michael Phips, FSC, and Thay Thao.
The group was challenged on this retreat to consider how to be the best CDH Class of 2027 and to publicly state how they commit to put into action their plan for the next 4 years.
Over the course of two days, students came together in two separate groups to engage in a number of activities, including playing games, praying together, sharing stories, and listening to the experiences and wisdom of their peers and mentors. The days featured storytelling sessions by Bellus, Hutchins, Udoibok, McGuire, Thao, Bischoff, and Gleich, which provided students with valuable insights and life lessons.
Junior and senior students served as leaders, guiding small group conversations and organizing activities. Their presence was instrumental in creating an inclusive atmosphere, allowing the 9th graders to connect with older peers and gain a sense of belonging within the CDH community. In addition to this, a senior and junior Q&A panel allowed the 9th graders to ask questions and gain perspective from the older students.
St. Peter's Church, where the retreat was held, is situated at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. Students were encouraged to understand the significance of this sacred ground, as well as the nearby location known as Bdote, a place many Dakota people regard as a sacred site of creation. Peter Gleich, one of the key organizers of the retreat, stressed the importance of recognizing these places as sacred. He urged students to internalize the theme "Let us love one another as God loves us" and to "Love God and the Dear Neighbor (one another) without Distinction."
