Retreat awakens faith
Catherine Pillsbury
Staff Reporter

Students from every denomination on campus are coming together this weekend to grow in their own faith and beliefs, said Nick Breaux, a senior international marketing major.

Catholic Ministries has invited all denominations to their Awakening Retreat to explore spiritual topics.

“The two main goals are individual spiritual growth and spiritual development in the community,” said Brooks Zitzmann, a senior biology and religion major. “It’s about knowing people on more than a superficial level.”

This will be the third semester that Catholic Ministries has hosted the retreat that started in Alexandria, La. Catholic Ministry groups throughout the South participate in Awakening retreats. However, the TCU group retreat is made to accommodate every denomination so that more people can attend and no one feels uncomfortable, said Breaux, a co-director.

Students have the chance to play games, worship and get to know others on a more personal level without the stress of everyday life.

“It’s a welcoming, fun environment,” Breaux said. “And it’s a good way to let other people worry about your schedule for a weekend.”

Charles Calabrese, Catholic Ministries director, said this will be the biggest retreat with about 60 participants, because people who had attended in the past are encouraging others to go.

Though students are invited to attend each semester, they can only go once as a participant, Calabrese said. Any other times they go, they would be a leader or a co-director, he said.

“It’s a one-time experience as a retreater,” Calabrese said.

Two co-directors organize the trip and make sure things go smoothly. Twelve students who attended in the past are table leaders and act as facilitators for the small group discussions.

“The table leaders share their stories and ask questions to make the retreaters think about their faith,” Breaux said.

This year’s theme, “Elements,” is about renewing people’s faith as Christians, Calabrese said.

“We’re really hoping to bring people closer to God,” he said.