Many unique qualities allow Mater Dei High School to stand out from neighboring educational institutions. Notable among these are the award winning sports program, numerous resources for college preparation, and hundreds of after school programs and clubs for students to participate in. But above and beyond all these, what makes the school so unique is the commitment to building faith-filled individuals by opening students to resources that allow them to pursue their Catholic faith more deeply if they choose to do so. A major component of this mission is the school retreats, which are led by Campus Ministry, the heart of Mater Dei.

Retreats are held on multiple occasions throughout the year for any student who is interested in attending one. Campus Ministry has assembled a team of about twenty senior retreat leaders this year who are committed to sharing their faith with younger students. These retreat leaders are experienced because they have attended a number of retreats themselves. Among these leaders is senior Cassia Arredondo, who felt called to become more involved in Campus Ministry following a retreat she herself attended in the summer before her senior year. 

“My best friend Eliana asked if I wanted to go to the Notre Dame Vision [retreat],” Arredondo said. “That is when I grew closer with God, grew really close to Campus Ministry, and was asked to be a retreat leader by Mr. Bravo.”

Another retreat leader, senior Clara Wickwire, was personally called by Campus Ministry after being involved within the program throughout her high school career. She immediately accepted the invitation as she understood that this was happening for a good reason.

“One day in the summer, I got a letter in the mail that said, ’you are chosen,’” Wickwire said. “It basically just described wanting me to become a retreat leader, and that I was invited to partake in this special calling.”

This group of seniors work closely with Anthony Bravo, the Director of Catholic Identity, Formation and Retreats, to plan and run the retreats as a team. A great amount of thought and preparation goes into these retreats. It requires the entire team to contribute due to both the spirituality of the event and the practical needs for a trip ranging from one to three days.

“There’s definitely a lot that goes into planning,” Bravo said. “You have to be able to plan the overall theme and the theology behind it. [You have to plan] the different sessions and the different talks. Then you [have to] plan the logistics of the location, food meals, small groups, leaders, and outline the schedule.”

The student retreat leaders also take time to prepare themselves to lead the underclassmen as they accept the immense responsibility to guide others along their own faith journey. This has allowed them to grow closer together as they build friendships, continuing to work in leading others closer to God.

“We do formation [which is when] we all sit in a circle, and it’s really relaxed since we’re all close friends,” Wickwire said. “We just talk about things that we can improve [upon], games that we can play, how we can help get the students hyped up, and just have a good time.”

This job is of great importance to the senior retreat leaders as all of them personally chose to become involved in the program. They all share a similar passion and enjoyment in their work in sharing their faith with others. 

“Being a retreat leader is important to me because the retreat leaders that I had are the ones that brought me closer [to God], and I really want to do the same for others,” Arredondo said.

For many of these seniors, being a retreat leader is how they hope to leave a lasting mark on the Mater Dei community. It gives them the opportunity to inspire the next generation of faith-filled students to continue to build up their relationships with God and potentially bring more students into Campus Ministry. 

“Being a retreat leader is important to me, especially as a senior, because I feel like it’s leaving my legacy to the younger students here,” Wickwire said. “It’s being able to inspire them about their faith and help them live it out in their daily lives.”

Although retreats are immensely beneficial for the leaders themselves, the students who attend these retreats also come out of the retreat with a new perspective or approach to their faith. They learn new things about themselves and others that can change their lives in so many ways.

“[The retreats are] a break from reality, and they center you more and get you focused,” Arredondo said. “They put into perspective that whatever you’re doing or however busy your life is, God is always there, and He brings you peace.”

Members of the retreat team believe that all students should take at least one single opportunity throughout their four years at Mater Dei to experience the power a retreat can have. Each member of the team has had their own powerful experience on a retreat and have witnessed the power it can have on others they are leading as well.

“I think it’s imperative that every student at least attend one retreat because they are giving themselves the opportunity to really grow in that love for God,” Bravo said. “I always say that you have nothing to lose to go on retreat but really potentially everything to gain. And what is to gain, is a relationship with God. That really does change your life completely.”