Retreats
Freshmen Day of Recollection
The Freshman Days of Recollection are held at St. Martin de Porres parish. Mr. Joe Schoen, the music and youth minister for the parish conducts these days. He is assisted by Ms. Janice Koziatek. Mr. Schoen, who has been a contestant on American Idol and recently won the Rigali Award for excellence in liturgical music. He and Ms. Koziatek, who recently finished her nursing degree and volunteers with the parish youth program, were both actively involved in putting together the North County Catholic Youth Rally held several years ago at Trinity.
The focus of the Freshman experience is on building community. Mr. Schoen and Ms. Koziatek focus on such topics as friendship, respect for others, self esteem and personal pride, and the inter-connectedness of all people. Their program is highly interactive and lays the foundation for all that will follow.
Sophomore Day of Recollection
The Sophomore Day of Recollection is held at the John XXIII Center at St. Mark’s Parish in South St. Louis. The experience is presented by the Sacred Heart Sisters who administer the Youth Ministry office for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
The Sophomore experience centers on Gospel values and incorporating those values not only into the students’ personal lives, but into the life of the community they began forming in their Freshman experience. The Day of Recollection features formal presentations, discussions and sharings, making sand art, and a class celebration of the Eucharist centered on the theme and values presented during the day.
Junior Day of Recollection
The Day of Recollection for the Juniors is regularly scheduled at Pallottine Renewal Center and is presented by Mr. Greg Robeson. Mr. Robeson is the Regional Youth Coordinator for Southside Youth Ministry in south city and coordinates a youth ministry and parish support network called Life of Peter Ministries.
The Junior experience generally focuses on applying Gospel values to teen issues and decision making. In a lively and engaging fashion, Mr. Robeson challenges the Juniors to act maturely and responsibly in accord with conscience and sound values. He encourages them, individually and as a group, to be a force for what is good and right in the world.
Senior Retreat
Seniors participate in a two day, one night retreat experience. Members of the class share in the experience at three different sites, Il Ritiro, Revive Us Again, and Marianist Apostolic Center. Members of the Marianist Apostolic Center’s youth ministry team, under the direction of Mrs. Becky Ruppar, present the retreat at MAC and Revive Us Again, and Kyle Klosterman, a local youth minister and former affiliate of the REAP Team, is presenting this year’s program at Il Ritiro.
The goal of the Senior Retreat program is to allow Seniors the opportunity to reflect on and integrate what they have gained in four years of faith formation at Trinity, celebrate what they have shared as a class, and look forward to the opportunities they have after high school to be active, involved and contributing members of the church.