This is the second year that the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy Campus Ministry and Service Department is offering the Detroit Camino retreat for juniors who want to feel connected with the city of Detroit while also grow deeper with their faith.
El Camino translates to “the way” in Spanish. The inspiration for the retreat came from the Camino de Santiago, in Spain, which is a walking journey to see the burial place of St. James, the apostle of Christ. Travellers from a multitude of countries walk for hundreds of miles to undergo this profound experience. The simplicity and tranquility of the Camino allow people to reflect on their own life, and what way they are following.
The El Camino at U of D takes students around the city of Detroit, visiting churches and learning about the history of the city. Detroit has the most churches per square mile out of any city in the U.S. (Leisure Group Travel), so there are plenty of majestic churches that will take your breath away.
U of D’s commitment to serving Detroit is made manifest on this trip, since part of serving the community is knowing the community. While walking around, students will likely see more of the city than they will see in their entire lives. “We tap into our school’s history of intentionally accompanying the city of Detroit,” said Mr. Piaskowski, a Campus Minister for U of D. “So many peer schools left the city, but we chose to stay, and that’s not something we should brush off or take for granted.” Unlike a trip to a sports game or downtown, students will see the unfiltered experience that most Detroit residents know.
Other retreats for juniors are the Discernment Retreat, which helps students seek God’s will in their life when making big decisions, and the Wilderness Retreat, which connects students to God through nature. Having a variety of retreats allows people to pick what retreat is best for them. In contrast, Freshman and Sophomore students only have one retreat to choose from. However, Campus Ministry and the rest of the students who have enjoyed retreats present by U of D, encourage the younger students to attend retreats as well as tell them what to look forward to. As students grow into their faith, Junior year allows students “to gravitate towards the types of retreats that would interest them. The Camino retreat might interest students who are more interested in the city of the Detroit, churches, and church architecture. Students won’t be stuck in a retreat house but will be up and about for most of the retreat,” Mr. P. Explained.
The deadline to sign up is October 9th. Tell your friends to sign up today!
