Retreat: Chi Rho Retreat for Seniors & Juniors @ Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center (Pulaski, PA; Questions? [email protected]))
- What
- Retreat: Chi Rho Retreat for Seniors & Juniors @ Villa Maria Education & Spirituality Center (Pulaski, PA; Questions? [email protected]))
- When
- 3/15/2018 – 3/18/2018
LEAVING OLSH AAC - 3:30 pm on 3/15/18
ARRIVING BACK at OLSH AAC - 3:30 pm on 3/18/18
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This generation of teens has been termed by some as “The Loneliest Generation”. Although our students have many online friends and are more technologically connected than ever, they struggle to engage in the here and now and feel more isolated than ever.
The upcoming Chi Rho retreat is an opportunity for students to put down their phones, engage with each other and take a deep look at their relationship with God. This student-led, adult-run retreat will take place from March 15-19 at the Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center in Pulaski, PA.
This is the third year OLSH has held a Chi Rho retreat and it has been a resounding success, so much so that students began asking in September, “When is Chi Rho, we are doing it aren’t we?” This multi-day retreat, which is open to juniors and seniors, is powerful and popular because it combines Faith, a strong community, healthy competition, involved and caring faculty and student leaders, and the challenge of a virtuous life.
On the Chi Rho retreat, students are asked to put technology aside and experience what it means to connect with people in real time and in person. They will learn about their peers' struggles and victories in their spiritual lives. They will hear their teachers speak about their faith lives, and they will learn that they are not alone in their struggles and victories as teenagers approaching young adulthood.
The central purpose of the Chi Rho retreat is to lead retreatants into a relationship with Jesus Christ through His Church and give them the vision, the tools, and the community to continue living out that relationship throughout their lives. We encourage you to discuss this opportunity with your child and encourage them to talk to their Theology teacher if they are interested in attending the retreat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost to attend Chi Rho?
The cost to participate in the Chi Rho retreat is $165, which covers transportation, overnight accommodations, food, materials, and a priest stipend. Scholarship money is available, and students are encouraged not to let cost be a factor in their decision to attend. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please contact Nancy Jarocki at [email protected].
How does my child register for Chi Rho?
Permission slips will be available in Theology classes.
Will my child have his or her cell phone?
Students may bring their cell phones to the retreat, but we will collect and hold onto them during the retreat to minimize distractions. Students will be able to call home whenever they ask for permission. You will have an emergency contact number in case you need to get in touch with us.
What is the structure of the retreat?
Generally, each day will include multiple athletic and mental competitions between student teams, talks given by senior student leaders and faculty, free time that students can use as they see fit, prayer time and time for group reflection, and sacramental opportunities.
How is Chi Rho different from other retreats OLSH Campus Ministry offers?
Other retreats usually focus on a single theme and are centered around lectures to large groups by a speaker. Chi Rho has many small talks on a variety of themes that work together as a whole. Furthermore, this retreat focuses on helping students develop a holistic Catholic lifestyle of self-reflection, gratitude, friendliness, willingness to sacrifice, and regular prayer.