Freshman Retreat Day focuses on self-image, friendship, community & service. The freshman class is separated into three groups and travels to locations with their Peer Leaders. Held the week before classes begin, this retreat allows the freshmen to build community and focus on their faith before entering into the busyness of the school year. Peer leaders give talks and lead small group discussions. The retreat concludes with a guided meditation: “Fishers of Men.”
Sophomore Retreat Day
Sophomore Retreat Day begins with a service trip to the Community Foodbank of N.J. in the morning. Students participate in a variety of ways: cleaning, sorting and/or boxing donations, and/or stocking shelves. Parents are invited to join us. Sophomores return to the school for an afternoon guest speaker, reflection on Social Justice, information on service opportunities, and a commissioning prayer service.
Junior Retreat Day
Junior Retreat Day takes place during Holy Week and begins with the Celebration of Eucharist. The day continues with two talks given by seniors on “Life, Death & Resurrection” in their own lives, and a written reflection on the Passion of Christ.
Senior Retreat Day
Senior Retreat Dayis held in September. Seniors are joined by a guest speaker and two returning graduates who share their personal experiences of “Self” and “Faith.” After small and large group discussions, the day concludes with a guided meditation.
Kairos
Kairos is a Greek word meaning “the Lord’s time” and the title of an optional, extended retreat program open to juniors and seniors. Jesuit in origin, Kairos is grounded in Christian Incarnational Theology. Kairos focuses on the revelation of God’s love in our lives through all the persons and experiences of our days. Kairos stresses our responsibility for service in the Lord’s name. An important component of Kairos is the adult participation by faculty, staff, and administration. In the beginning, SHP traveled to St. Joseph’s in Philadelphia to experience their 86th Kairos, and was the first to bring the retreat to this area. Now into our “30’s”, Kairos has greatly influenced the SHP’s exceptional culture of Brotherhood. Kairos retreats are held at various times throughout the year.