Retreats

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

The heart of the mission of Bishop O’Connell High School is to be a place to encounter Jesus Christ. Retreats are one of the ways that Campus Ministry provides an opportunity for students to have a true encounter with Christ. Each student is required to participate in one class retreat a year. These retreats provide each student with an opportunity to experience the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist, to experience His healing power in the sacrament of Reconciliation, and to enter into a relationship with Him in personal prayer through different activities. Each retreat has a different theme and structure to the day, but each has a goal of introducing Jesus to the individual student so that when the student graduates from Bishop O’Connell, they have a deep personal relationship with God.

Retreat Information - By Grade Level

Grade 9 - Dignity of the Human Person

Using Theology of the Body and the freshman curriculum theme of the Dignity of the Human Person, the 9th grade retreat is a single-day experience that introduces students to the traditions and faith of Bishop O’Connell. Through team builders, small group discussion, and sacramental opportunities, freshmen begin to learn how to build healthy Christian relationships within the community.

Students who choose to attend an overnight retreat option are not required to attend the day retreat.

Date: October 11, 2023

Grade 10 - The Grace of a Catholic Community

This retreat is offered three times per year, and is based around a day of service in which students participate in a service revolving around working with the poor. There are three sophomore retreat options in the fall and spring, which serve to introduce students to the changes in their service requirements for junior and senior year. During the retreat students will experience team-builders, and community service, paired with a day of adoration and confession with their religion class.

Dates: November 6 and February 26, 2023 (students will be assigned one of the two dates)

Grade 11 - Using Your Faith as a Guide

Grade 12 - The Christian Life After O'Connell

Seniors choose from a range of options to fulfill the requirement to attend an overnight retreat some time between the end of their junior year and the 3rd quarter of their senior year. Students may attend Renew, the single-night retreat described below, or choose one of the optional overnight retreats to fulfill their requirement.

Plan Early - Students are encouraged to review their commitments to athletics, fine arts, or other significant extracurricular activities to ensure that the retreat opportunity selected will not conflict with those commitments. Overnight retreats listed on this page that are open to seniors will fulfill their retreat requirement.

Renew, Senior Overnight Retreat
This single-night retreat experience examines life after graduation in a very practical, hands-on way. This retreat is designed for seniors who have not been on an overnight retreat before and is a re-introduction to the sacramental life to "renew" their faith.
Location: Concord Retreat Center, Yellow Spring West Virginia.
Dates: October 16-17, 2023 or December 4-5, 2023
Cost: Free

SENIOR RETREAT FEE: Families pay a $60 senior retreat fee at the time of registration. Seniors who chose to substitute one of the other retreat options on this page for the RENEW retreat will have the $60 applied to the retreat of their choice.

Optional Retreat Offerings

Several other optional and meaningful retreats are available for students looking to further build their relationship with Jesus.

Students should not be deterred from attending a retreat for financial reasons. Please contact Mr. Fitzpatrick for more information.

For registration information and more, contact ministry@bishopoconnell.org.

Kairos (Grades 11-12)

November 9-12, 2023
February 15-18, 2024
April 25-28, 2024

Offered three times a year for Juniors and Seniors, Kairos is a four day retreat exploring: “Who am I and how do I build a relationship with God?” Students step back and look at how God interacts with us on a personal level. The retreat offers teenagers practical ways to see and experience Jesus in everyday life.

Cost: $250

DeSales Service Works (Grades 9-12)

Bethany (Grades 9-12)

March 21-24, 2024

Bethany is a retreat for students from our four Diocesan high schools. This retreat aims to form missionary disciples and leaders through the lessons of Jesus at Bethany with his beloved friends by providing reflections, talks, team-building activities, silent prayer, and opportunities to be formed as disciples and develop leadership qualities. Bethany will capacitate students to engage peers and invite other students to have a closer relationship with Christ.
Location: Camp High Road
Cost: $250

One in Christ (Grades 9-12)

Fiat (Grades 9-12)

Come and See (Grade 9)

September 22-24, 2023

This 2-night retreat experience is designed to provide Freshmen an opportunity to Come and See what an active faith life in high school looks like. The weekend will be filled with talks, time for prayer, and fellowship. The benefit to being an overnight retreat allows for a more impactful faith retreat experience with more opportunities for deeper discussion and sacraments.