Dear Sophomore Parents/Guardians,

We are excited to have the opportunity to share a retreat day with your daughter next 
Wednesday, January 22. The focus of the retreat will be service and justice. This retreat is an all school day event and is mandatory for all sophomores.

We will be walking to and from the Mercy Center next door to the school. We ask students to email Campus Ministry as soon as possible if walking is problematic and we will need to make alternative transportation plans. The walk next door is short and only takes about 5 minutes through the paths behind the school. Since we are in the midst of a wet winter, students should dress appropriately for the brief walk outside to the Mercy Center. It is an out of uniform day, so it should be easier to dress warmly and comfortably.

Your daughter will report to school as usual, but will participate in an assortment of engaging activities. While we have intentionally not shared the full details with your daughter, the day will involve opening as a whole class with a prayer service and then moving through a variety of smaller group sessions in groups of about 35 girls.

Sessions during the retreat include:
  • Crossroads: This is CRS (Catholic Relief Services) activity where students interactively identify with the life of a teenage girl in another part of the world.
  • Women of Faith Panel: 4 or 5 women will briefly share their story and students have an opportunity to ask questions.
  • Service: Students will make tie blankets for those in need.
  • Care Packages: Nate Gangwer from Central Detroit Christian will have an interactive experience about poverty and the girls will assemble care packets for that ministry. We are asking students to bring 2 small travel size deodorants to contribute to these care packages. Campus Ministry is providing everything else.
  • Taize Prayer: Students will have a session devoted to Taize prayer which is unique ecumenical style of prayer used by a variety of denominations all over the world.
  • Lunch: Please pack a lunch from home to bring with you.
Reminders for Sophmore Retreat Day January 22:
  • This is an out-of-uniform day for your daughter, so they may dress in comfortable clothes. Jeans and other appropriate casual dress are allowed, no shorts or leggings. 
  • Students need to pack and bring their own lunch and donation of 2 small deodorants to contribute to assembling care packages.
  • It might be helpful to carry around a pen/pencil and notebook, but it is not entirely necessary.
  • It is a full school day retreat beginning at 8:00am in the Chapel and ending at regular 2:37pm dismissal.
  • This is a mandatory retreat. If your daughter is absent, a make-up activity of some sort will be assigned.
We have spent a lot of time putting together this wonderful Sophomore Retreat day and look forward to active participation by the Class of 2022.

In Mercy,