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Grade 6 and Grade 7 retreats center on friendship and community

Grade 6 and Grade 7 retreats center on friendship and community

by Shannon Dufresne
 

The retreat program is already underway at Ursuline, with the Class of 2032 (Grade 6) gathering for its first retreat on September 16 and the Class of 2031 (Grade 7) following on October 1. These recent experiences gave middle school students an early look at how faith and student life come together at Ursuline.

Through prayer, laughter, and shared activities, students built friendships and a faith foundation that would carry them through their Ursuline journey. Peer ministers guide retreat days, offering younger students a glimpse of what servant leadership looks like in practice.

Grade 6: Walking in the light of scripture

The sixth-grade retreat, centered on Psalm 119:105 — “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path” — included a teaching Mass, icebreakers, and small-group discussions. Students also participated in a blindfolded obstacle course inspired by St. Angela’s pilgrimage and wrote cards to the Ursuline Sisters. Each activity gave students a chance to experience Serviam — “I will serve” — in a personal way.

Grade 7: Friendship in faith

The seventh-grade retreat centered on the theme “Friendship in Faith.” The day opened with a teaching Mass celebrated by Rev. Paul Mooney of Annunciation–Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Crestwood, who paused at key moments to explain the meaning behind different parts of the liturgy. Students then reflected on the role of friendship in their own lives and considered how to strengthen their bonds with family, friends, loved ones, and God. They explored how scripture reveals examples of authentic friendship and how faith calls them to be friends who lift others up and share God's love. 

A space to pause and grow

Both retreats took place at the Ursuline Provincialate, located next to the school on North Avenue. The peaceful setting offers students a quiet space away from daily routines to reflect more deeply, pray together, and grow in community.

Grade-level retreats remain a cornerstone of the Ursuline experience. Each retreat invites students to consider their relationship with God, to strengthen their sense of belonging, and to discover new ways of living Serviam.

“Our peer ministers are more than retreat leaders. They are big sisters and role models,” said Ms. Samantha Marrero, religious studies teacher and campus ministry coordinator. “By sharing their own faith and experiences, they help younger students see what it looks like to live Serviam with joy and purpose.”

“Our peer ministers are more than retreat leaders. They are big sisters and role models.”
- Samantha Marrero, religious studies teacher and campus ministry coordinator

“Grade-level retreats are integral to our mission,” added Dr. David Gelpi P'09, director of mission and formation. “They allow every student to deepen her relationship with God while also learning from the example of her peers. That kind of mentorship is powerful.”

Retreats remind students that their time at Ursuline is about more than academics. Retreat days call them to pause, to grow in friendship and faith, and to recognize the gifts they can share with others.

For more information about Faith and Spiritual Development at Ursuline, visit our website.

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