Theology teacher Mr. Scott Delatte describes for the students three ways to become more grateful to God in their prayer at the 2015 Sophomore Retreat.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 62 members of the class of 2017 traveled to Manresa for a day of silent retreat. Students endured the cold weather to enjoy the natural beauty of the grounds at Manresa House of Retreats for periods of prayer with the Lord. Modeled after the daily examen from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, students were encouraged to take this “mid-career examen” to reflect on their time at Jesuit so far and to invite the Lord into their plans for their upperclassmen years. Three prayer periods focusing on God’s presence, gratitude, and contrition for sin served as pillars for student reflection throughout the day. The day concluded with Mass offered by former Jesuit theology teacher, Fr. Nathan O’Halloran, S.J.

The Sophomore Retreat is an integral part of the spiritual formation of each student at Jesuit. Students are assigned to a retreat day by their Theology class section. By spending a day of silence and growing in the habits of prayer from the Spiritual Exercises, it is the goal of the program to have the students make prayer with the Lord a regular part of their lives as students.