This year’s freshmen retreat had the largest turnout that Loyola has seen since the renewal of the program in 2009, according to Laura Alexander, the associate chaplain of retreats and Christian life communities.

With 48 students who attended, the faculty and staff had their hands full from Sept. 14 to 16 at Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, La. The grand total of staff and students attending was 62 people in all.

The purpose of the freshmen retreat is to welcome new students into the Loyola community and help them with their transition to college life.

As students continue going to retreats throughout their four years of study here at Loyola, their retreat experiences become deeper. The freshmen retreat lays the spiritual foundation for students who want to attend the upcoming Awakening retreat. These retreats continue to build upon each other, culminating in either the senior retreat or, for some students, the Silent Ignatian retreat.

Reflections were hosted over the weekend and featured the following topics: Who Am I, Relationships with Others, Relationship with God, Community, Decision-making/ Discernment and a concluding Who Am I to wrap up the weekend.

Elizabeth Rainey, the director of retention and student success, also attended the retreat over the weekend to connect with members of the freshmen class.

“The freshmen retreat is a spiritual weekend with space for reflection and bonding. I hope to make meaningful connections with students that will continue beyond the retreat,” said Rainey in an email.

Shelby Schultheis can be reached at [email protected]