Connections Retreat Brings Students Together
“We’re all in this together!” This was the theme song that the two Connections Retreat teams chose for the first-year student overnight experience held at Chapman Lake from Sept. 13 to 15. On Connections, first-year students were invited to build community, share their stories and pray together.
The two retreats were led by two student leadership teams who began planning last March. Highlights included a series of witness talks by the planning teams about life before Scranton, their first year at Scranton, and the impact of being formed through Jesuit ideals. And it wouldn’t be a Campus Min Connections retreat without a campfire sing-along, a handshake competition and reflective prayer. Gracie Silva ’23 liked meeting new people and taking part in all the activities but especially liked reflecting on the witness talk about “life before Scranton” when meeting in a small-group discussion.
Campus Ministers Fred Mercadante and Amy Hoegen expressed optimism concerning the Class of 2023. Fred said, “Both retreats this past weekend went very well, mainly because of the openness and willingness to participate among the retreatants. If they stick with it, I think this class has a chance to be one of the most active ones we’ve seen in Scranton’s history.”
The students who attended Connections were introduced to the Scranton spirit and to a counter-cultural attitude rooted in our Catholic and Jesuit heritage that doesn’t just sing, but truly believes that “we’re all in this together!”