Dear Freshman Parents and Guardians,

The Freshman Retreat will be held on Tuesday, October 6th. First and foremost, we would like to express our gratitude for entrusting us with your students and giving us the opportunity to encounter Christ with them. The retreat theme is "Fully Known," based on Psalm 139. The goal of this retreat is to provide our students with the opportunity to explore their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith in a setting that fosters a sense of community and belonging.

The cost is $20, which can be paid on Infinite Campus or brought in as cash or check to the main office. Checks should be made out to Catholic Central High School. If this is a financial burden for your family, please reach out to us. Catholic Central has a fund to ensure financial constraints never stand in the way of student participation. The retreat fee needs to be received by Friday, October 2nd.

During the retreat, students will attend Mass, play games, participate in small group discussions, pray with Lectio Divina, hear from senior leaders on being "Fully Known in Christ," complete a small service project, and attend Adoration. Lunch will be provided.

In all these activities, we hope students will reflect on where they are in their faith journey and where they are headed. Our desire is to create a culture of dialogue within the freshman class that promotes exploration and understanding of the Catholic faith, as well as their personal relationship with Jesus. However, this culture cannot be cultivated through just one retreat day; we plan to continue developing it throughout your child’s school year.

Most importantly, this culture must be continued in the home.

Many have referred to the home—parents and children—as the domestic church. It is from parents that children first encounter faith and begin to understand a relationship with Jesus Christ. Linked below, you will find a post-retreat discussion guide to help cultivate this dialogue in your own home. We highly encourage you to pray and discuss with your student what they experienced on the freshman retreat day. The Lord desires to witness to your children through you, so allow Him to speak through you and your actions.

Please reach out to Mrs. Laura Schmitt at lauraschmitt@grcatholiccentral.org with any questions regarding our retreat day. Know that we are praying for you and your families.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Laura Schmitt

Catholic Central Campus Ministry Department

‍Post Retreat Discussion Guide