Beginning this weekend, all undergraduate and graduate students will have the opportunity to experience a spiritually reflective journey.

The Emmaus Retreat, which is held from Jan. 25 to 27, is an occasion for students to escape their hectic campus lives and reflect on their theologies. The Emmaus Retreat, as well as other retreats hosted by the Office of Mission and Ministry throughout the semester, all aim at offering students chances to explore their spirituality and open themselves to God.

Loyola New Orleans’ graduate assistant and resident chaplain, Joseph Albin, described the Emmaus Retreat as one of great importance to both the students and the university.

“At a Jesuit university, it is important to create opportunities and contexts where students may draw closer to God,” Albin said.

Surrounded with the natural silence of Fontainebleau State Park outside of Mandeville, La., the students attending the Emmaus Retreat will be able to immerse themselves in prayer and the tranquility of God.

“Saturday is largely spent in silence, which I love because it gives me a chance for introspection that I don’t normally get,” Bridget Kratz, economics senior and retreat participant, said in an email.

Kratz highly recommended the retreat to any student willing to participate.

“This will be my second time on the retreat, and I genuinely think the Emmaus Retreat is the best retreat Loyola offers,” Kratz said.

The students will also be challenged to consistently grow and develop in their religious assurance into spiritually-committed men and women.

Although this retreat centers on the Catholic and Jesuit values, Loyola welcomes every student wanting to participate.

“Emmaus is entirely staff run and everyone working it goes out of their way to make sure the retreaters are relaxed,” Kratz said.

Mary Graci can be reached at [email protected]