Mercy Center Holds Fall Retreat

By: Stephanie Turaj
Posted In: News

While most Salve students will be out trick-or-treating, over 18 students will be making new friends at The Mercy Center’s annual Fall Retreat. Taking place at the Episcopal Conference Center in Pascoag, RI, the retreat will start at around 4 p.m. Oct. 31 and go until noon Nov. 2. The theme for this year’s retreat is “God is calling. Can you hear Him now?”

At the retreat, students will be given an opportunity to get away and relax. Mercy Center director Anna Mae Mayer explained that a goal of the retreat is to, “Be able to create an atmosphere and temporarily leave behind the pressures and worries and give [students] a space where they can think of their relationship with God and make new friends.”

Three students will give talks and smaller group discussions about being able to listen to God’s voice. “The heart of the retreat is the talks that the students give,” said Mayer.

A Sister of Mercy will speak about her calling on Saturday. A mass will be held Saturday evening, in which Mayer explained will be nice to celebrate with a small, close group of people. Additionally, Mayer hopes to spend plenty of time outdoors.

The retreat gives students an opportunity to “make new friends, decompress from a campus life and have time to pray,” said Mayer.

According to Mayer, many students are attracted to the retreats because of their interest in examining their relationship with God. In addition, many students participated in high school retreats and would like to continue going on retreats.

Christine Dewey, a freshman, explained in an email, “I have always enjoyed attending retreats all throughout high school. I always come back feeling refreshed and more relaxed than before. [It] is good timing for this retreat since it is right around midterms.”

Nicole Voci, a freshman, agrees. “I hope to get out a couple of new really good friends and just have a restful experience,” Voci said.

“On this retreat, I hope to grow closer to God, and have a better understanding of what it is He wants me to do with my life,” said Dewey.