Retreats

At Loyola, we emphasize the importance of retreats in our spiritual journey. While our one-day retreats are geared toward our elementary students, we start to introduce longer, more in-depth retreat opportunities with our middle school students.

Going on a retreat means taking time away from your ordinary life and situation. It is a special time to give yourself some peace and calm, an opportunity to step away from a hectic lifestyle.  You may just want some quiet and to be left alone for a day or two. You may just want some tranquility in which to consider where you are in life.

A retreat lets our feelings open and it can bring an understanding of where we are in relationships too. All the great spiritual traditions are about discovering ourselves in ways that help us to grow in happiness and love. Many times, a retreat will be an awakening to the presence of God in our lives.

9th Grade Respect Retreat

Loyola believes that to do well in school students need to be comfortable with who they are and feel physically and emotionally safe.  As part of our effort to create a safe and caring culture,  Youth Frontiers facilitates a Respect Retreat for all 9th grade students at Loyola.  Youth Frontiers’ Vision is to partner with schools to build positive communities where students thrive.  Part of that vision is to help change the way young people treat each other in every hallway, lunch line and classroom.

The Respect Retreat includes a dynamic mix of activities designed to have the greatest impact on participants.  These include:

• Community-building activities to foster stronger relationships
• Skill-building activities to enhance self-awareness
• Large-group Presentations to learn through the power of storytelling:
  • Respect Yourself
  • Respect Others
  • Stand up for Respect
• Small group discussions led by trained leaders
• Journaling and reflection time to help students apply respect to their own lives
• Optional large group sharing

Wolf Ridge Junior Class Retreat

Juniors spend three days at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center to experience growth in their faith, self-awareness, and to build relationships with classmates.  Challenges include ropes courses, rock wall climbing, orienteering, night hikes, and experiencing the beauty of God’s Creation in the picturesque backyard of Lake Superior north of Duluth, MN.   Caring for the environment is emphasized as well as caring for one another by showing encouragement in mentally and physically difficult situations.

Koinonia Senior Class Retreat

Seniors spend three days at the Koinonia Retreat Center near South Haven, MN under the direction of Loyola Catholic School staff members.  Entering the final semester of their senior year at Loyola means it is time to transition into life after high school where friends, responsibilities, and everyday life will never be the same.  The retreat bonds the senior class and helps them to appreciate and utilize the many blessings from God.

We are especially grateful to the Doug Johnson Family for introducing and supporting these retreats through their family foundation.