For any well-rounded man for others at U of D Jesuit, retreats are nothing new. But what about those young men just starting to embark on their high school journey? The Freshman Kinship retreat is the perfect way for new students to experience the brotherhood and that makes U of D unique. It offers a sneak peek into the future retreats that the first-year student body will have access to in their sophomore, junior, and senior years. ¨The focus is in the name,¨ Mr. Piaskowski of Faith and Service details, “It’s all about Kinship.¨ When asked about what the students should get out of the retreat he responds, ¨We want them to understand: What it means to have a friendship with others, with God, and with the school.¨ The current iteration of the Freshman Kinship Retreat originated in November of 2019 for the class of ´23. Since then, Covid has forced two of the retreats to be outdoors and without certain aspects that make it special. This year´s Kinship retreat will be the second since the end of the covid restrictions and will allow for the class of ´27 to have a full, nourishing experience.
Freshman year can be tough for a lot of people. The way you choose to approach this new beginning has lasting effects on your high school experience. So why not make the most of the first semester to form relationships that will follow you to your senior year and beyond? Bonding and brotherhood are the central aspects of the Kinship retreat. Alumni and upperclassmen will tell you that the brotherhood at U of D is truly special and not to be taken for granted. The Kinship retreat allows students who may only see each other in the halls or sit next to each other in class to get to know their peers on a deeper level. The administration and Faith and Service office understand the importance of building these connections. Brotherhood is more than just an action at the High, it´s a culture. The retreat will put students in positions to grow and learn more about themselves through open discussion and fun activities with their classmates and their upperclassmen leaders. The main goal of the retreat is to get the participants to see each other not as just fellow students, but as friends who will have your back for years to come.
Faith leaders and Big Brothers are a large part of successful Kinship retreat. For students to be vulnerable and practice the Grad at Grad quality of being open to growth, it important for them to have leaders that have gone through the same experience. The Faith leaders are Juniors and Seniors who have volunteered through the Faith and Service office, whereas the Big Brothers are Freshman homeroom helpers whom the retreat participants are already familiar with. Big Brothers will be paired up with Faith leaders to encourage discussion and administer advice and knowledge. This pairing allows for an open blending of spiritual and personal growth in a safe and nurturing environment. ¨I plan to unite the younger class with the spirit and morals that U of D is built upon,” Brody Rukenbrod ´24 remarks. Students will become familiar with the Grad at Grad qualities that are the foundation of the Jesuit experience. They will practice being Open to Growth through participating in group discussion. They will be loving in their relationships with their fellow classmates. Their reflections will allow them the freedom to be religious and intellectually competent. Most importantly, their experiences will instill in them the moral aptitude that they will carry with them to do justice for friends and family, their school, and their community.