University Ministry
Retreats are offered throughout the year and vary from one day to one
week depending on the nature and intent of the retreat. Most retreats
take place during a weekend and offer time for reflection, rest, and rejuvenation.
The intention of the University Ministry Retreat Program is to develop
spiritual leadership and create sacred spaces and opportunities for the
USF and extended community to become:
- Reflective
– exploring faith, relationships, self-identity, and challenging
issues with conscious and thoughtful attention.
- Spiritually
Attentive – aware of and present to the human
experience of God.
- Engaged
– relating with compassion toward others and growing in community.
- Rejuvenated
– experiencing a sense of rest, well-being, balance, and invigoration.
- Active
– responding to the world with a deepening sense of God’s
activity and presence while being empowered to live with passion and
intention.
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Welcome to our 2003 – 2004 Retreat Program! |
Outdoor
Adventure Retreat
August 18-22
Occidental, CA
This retreat offers students an experience of connection with
God’s creation through an outdoor time of adventuring and
learning how to respect and live within nature. The retreat is
focused on the development of community and theological reflection
within the experience of physical challenges including hiking,
rock climbing, a ropes challenge course, rafting, discussion,
reflection, and group activities. Students will return with a
deepening sense of their own ability, gifts, and a strong community
connection as they begin the new academic year. |
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The
New Student Retreat
September 5-6
Westminster Woods, Occidental, CA
This overnight retreat offers incoming students the opportunity
to connect with one another and learn more about Jesuit education
and life at USF. Student leaders share their experience of balancing
life, faith, and studies while exploring the many opportunities
available through University Ministry. The retreat offers time
for small group reflection, outdoor activities, and individual
exploration. |
Contemplative
Retreat
October 24–26
San Damiano – Danville, CA
This weekend retreat offers time for silent reflection, prayer,
spiritual direction, and exposure to a variety of discernment
practices. Retreatants are invited to deepen their awareness of
God’s activity in their lives and focus specifically on
the way they make choices and live out their faith. Specific exercises
in group and individual discernment will be offered and retreatants
will leave with concrete resources to bring into their lives as
discerning persons. |
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Kairos
November 21–23 and April 2–4
Our Lady of the Oaks, Applegate, CA
This retreat is an opportunity to explore our relationship with
ourselves, our community, and with God. Student leaders facilitate
presentations on faith, spirituality, and self-knowledge. Retreatants
are invited to reflect on their own faith journey and begin to
deepen their spiritual lives. Conversation, prayer, social activities,
and community reflection allow for a powerful and enriching retreat
experience. |
Ignatian
Silent Retreat
January 22–25
Presentation Center – Los Gatos, CA
This four-day retreat engages retreatants in the traditions of
Ignatian spirituality – offering time for contemplation
and silent reflection as well as individual spiritual direction.
Retreatants deepen their experience and practice of the Spiritual
Exercises of St. Ignatius and meet several times with a spiritual
director who companions them through the retreat. This directed
retreat allows for a deepening of attention and expression of
God’s presence and activity in our lives. |
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L’Arche
Retreat – Community for the Disabled
March 13–20
Toronto, CA
L’Arche is an international federation of faith-based communities
creating homes and day programs with people who have developmental
disabilities. The word “L’Arche” is French for
“the ark,” referring to Noah’s ark, the biblical
symbol of deliverance, a place of safety. Students, staff, and
faculty are invited to live together in a L’Arche community
for a week serving and working with members of L’Arche.
This experience will include prayer, reflection, service, and
engagement with an intentional faith community. |
Vision
Quest – Pilgrimage to the Desert
March 13–20
Death Valley, CA
The intention of the Sacred Quest journey is to invite people
to abide in the wonder of who they are and the gifts they have
received so that they might serve their community. The Journey
invites people to set aside time to pay attention to how God is
in their lives and in so doing to discover the gifts and talents
created in them. Returning to live out of these gifts enables
them to serve others. The journey is a wilderness retreat in which
participants prepare as a community in advance to engage in a
four day fast and time of aloneness so that they might return
full of the love of God to share with the people of God. The return
process involves community reflection, welcoming, and integration
into the life settings of the participants. The whole process
is a 7-8 day experience with advance work and reading done as
a community before departing to the wilderness. |
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Leadership
Retreat
April 30-May 2
Westminster Woods, CA
This retreat is offered for students who want to explore their
gifts and skills for leadership and who want to expand their involvement
with the University Ministry programs. Students will be invited
to discern their particular qualities for leadership and explore
the practical expression of those gifts. This involves a ropes
course, leadership activities and exploration, and community building. |
Greetings
from the Dream Team!
The Dream Team is
a group of Student Leaders and Resident Ministers who help envision
and animate the Retreat Program at USF.
The Dream Team supports
the retreat program in the following ways:
- Creating
long-term goals and objectives consistent with the mission of USF
through the retreat program;
- Developing
retreat ideas and planning retreats;
- Providing
leadership in retreat formation and implementation;
- Spreading
the word about retreats to fellow students within the USF community;
- Being a
community of fun and fellowship!
The Dream Team meets
once a month and does social activities throughout the semester.
For further information,
contact Dina Gardner at gardnerd@usfca.edu |
