In mid-September, our senior high students stepped away from the busyness of daily life to dive deeper into what it means to follow Jesus with joy and authenticity.

The day after our first Monday discipleship assembly of the year, the students gathered for a day of fellowship, prayer, and reflection. The goal wasn’t to add “one more thing to do or obligation to fulfill,” shared Dean of Students Rhea Dricken, but to “invite students to get real – with themselves, their friends, and with God.”

“I told them, ‘the only thing I want you to do is to get real. Real relationships only happen when you’re genuinely presenting yourself to the other person’”, she said.

Highlights of the retreat included:

Fr. Jared’s talk on true freedom and the parable of the Prodigal Son

Eucharistic Adoration, attending Mass, and the opportunity to go to Confession

Time to deepen friendships and grow in relationship with Christ

We pray that God continues to bless our students and work in their hearts, leading them not into a faith of mere obligations, but into the freedom and joy of life with Christ. Living an integrated life of faith is a gift and we are grateful to the parents who choose to send their children to St. Ambrose Academy, partnering with us to help equip young men and women for a life of joyful discipleship.

Thank you to all who planned, led, and chaperoned this beautiful day!