Since 1923 • For a greater Loyola

The Maroon

Since 1923 • For a greater Loyola

The Maroon

Since 1923 • For a greater Loyola

The Maroon

Awakening retreat creates tight knit community

Students+bake+homemade+cookies+from+scratch+during+the+retreat.+Students+prepared+all+the+food+for+the+weekend+from+scratch+under+the+direction+of+Sr.+Madonna+Baudier.+Photo+credit%3A+Courtesy+of+Diane+Blair
Students bake homemade cookies from scratch during the retreat. Students prepared all the food for the weekend from scratch under the direction of Sr. Madonna Baudier. Photo credit: Courtesy of Diane Blair

The weekend of Friday Oct. 21 to Sunday Oct. 23, students gathered at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville for this semester’s Awakening retreat. The spiritual event is held once a semester and is an opportunity for students to reflect on their relationship with God through shared experiences.

Laura Alexander, university minister for retreats and Christian Life Communities, who works closely with student leaders planning and implementing the retreat, described the empowering effects Awakening has on participants.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to be accepted and loved just as they are, to connect with a wonderfully accepting and fun community and to reflect on who God is for them,” Alexander said.

The weekend-long event encouraged students to share their personal stories related to identity and spirituality. Students are given the time to reflect both on their own and in small groups.

A’Niya Robinson, A’15, attended seven Awakening retreats during her time at Loyola.

“People share their stories and personal experiences, but there’s also time to have fun, laugh and enjoy yourself. Even though it’s only a weekend, you grow and share a community with everyone else on the retreat,” Robinson said.

Robinson had such a powerful experience on her first retreat that she returned as a staffer for the next six Awakenings she attended.

“A lot of people who go on Awakening the first time come back as staffers because they want to give the same experience they received the first time,” Robinson said.

She commented on the hard work and planning that goes into making each Awakening unique and memorable for students.

“There are several different staffs that have different responsibilities in order to keep the retreat running smoothly. For example, there’s the cook staff, they prepare the food, music staff, they keep the energy up, and table staff who mostly keeps the retreaters focused and centered,” Robinson said.

Alexander echoed that sentiment, saying, “The ideas, energy and hard work needed to pull everything off all comes from the students.”

Due to the personal nature of the retreat, attendees are not able to share details about the specific events or stories. However, in regards to her overall experience, Emma O’Reilly, accounting freshman, described the experience as accepting and positive. She was interested in attending the Awakening Retreat in order to strengthen her faith and broaden her horizons. She hoped doing so would allow her to meet new people.

“Awakening is a tight knit and close community that will be there for you forever,” O’Reilly said about her time at the retreat.

“There’s honestly something in this retreat for everyone, whether you want to find a new community, learn more about others and yourself or just want to get away for a weekend,” Robinson said.

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