Retreats

Freshmen Retreat focuses on the three foundational pillars of the Mount: Service to the Dear Neighbor, Unity and Reconciliation, and the History of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia. Because of Covid-19, Freshmen students will participate in 5-6 retreat sessions throughout the school year. Not only will this allow the students to have a continued retreat experience throughout the year, but it will also allow for students to get to know each other better. Students will have different small groups each retreat session and meet with only 5-6 other students spread out in our classrooms. Students will experience these retreat days on flex mornings. The first session will focus on the History of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia starting in Le Puy France and continuing to the foundations in the United States. The second session will be a class mass in the auditorium. The third session will focus on the History of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the United States, especially the Philadelphia area, and their work to facilitate unity and reconciliation for all people. The fourth session will focus on unity and reconciliation in our school, among peers, and in our world today. The fifth and sixth session will focus on service to the dear neighbor and students will participate in a service project that benefits a local service site and a sponsored work of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Sophomore retreat focuses on Service to the Dear Neighbor. Typically, students would spend a day doing service projects in and around the Philadelphia area. However, due to Covid-19, Sophomore students will participate in 5-6 retreat sessions throughout the school year. Not only will this allow the students to have a continued retreat experience throughout the year, but it will also allow for students to get to know each other better. Students will have different small groups each retreat session and meet with only 5-6 other students spread out in our classrooms. Students will experience these retreat days on flex mornings. On each of these flex days, students will participate in an icebreaker activity, prayer sessions and a service project that benefits a sponsored work of the Sisters of St. Joseph or a local service organization. The focus of these service activities is to expose the students to Racial Justice as informed and promoted by the Mission and Charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph and their sponsored works.

Junior retreat focuses on Unity and Reconciliation. Typically students attend this retreat near the date of their Ring Liturgy as one class. However, due to Covid-19, the Junior class will attend a few smaller grouped retreats and have a smaller gathering of Ring Liturgies throughout Junior week. This will allow for a smaller, more intimate experience of retreat with classmates. This retreat will focus on unity and reconciliation among peers at the Mount. Students will be encouraged to reflect on various elements that bind together but also cause division among peers. The goal of this retreat will be to reach true unity among the Junior class so that they will be better able to lead the school as examples during their Senior year. These retreats will take place in the Spring.

Senior retreat focuses on Unity and Reconciliation between God, self and others. Typically, students attend a three day version of this retreat. However, due to Covid-19, students will attend a day long intensive version of this retreat at the St. Raphaela Center. There will be six of these retreats. This will allow students for a smaller, more intentional retreat opportunity. Students will participate in both large group and small group activities. Students will focus on creating and maintaining unity among peers, friends, family members, God, others and self as well as creating an atmosphere of reconciliation as informed by the Sisters of St. Joseph. These retreats will take place in the Spring.

This retreat is a three day long retreat for Junior students who have applied and been chosen to be a Senior student retreat leader. These students participate in a similarly modeled retreat to UNITAS. These students are led by current Senior student leaders and will act as the student leaders on all the aforementioned retreats.