Campus Ministry offered an experience for students to take a step back from everyday life and reflect on their personal and spiritual image. The Search retreat was held in the Pocono Mountains of White Haven, Pa., which provided a very scenic aspect filled with stars and lakes for the three-day event.
“The main focus of the Search retreat is for the retreatants to step away from their ordinary pace of life and take time to examine their relationships. We focus upon the relationships with self, others, nature and God during the retreat,” Father Carl Janicki, director of campus ministry, said.
There are very specific guidelines to the Search process. The sense of confidentiality is imperative to the success of the weekend. Both so the participants can fully open up and also so future participants have nothing to expect when they go to Search.
“It’s kind of like seeing a black sky and then when you finally see the stars you appreciate them more since you weren’t blinded by light first,” Matt Kaehler, Cabrini Missioner and Search retreat leader, said.
“Walking into Search completely new to the experience allows you to take the most away it.” This is Kaehler’s fourth Search retreat trip. He was a major factor in organizing and supporting the trip.
The experience of being a retreatant can only be experienced one time and then if one wishes to go on the Search retreat again, they have to serve as a leader.
“Being a leader is [a] whole different experience in itself. We’re there to help guide the retreatants since we have been through the process ourselves and we know what to except,” Madeline Coutu, junior social work and religious studies major, said. She served as a team leader for this trip.
First time retreatant Molly McDougall, junior elementary and special education major, went to the Search retreat because Janicki convinced her that it would be a great thing for her to experience. At first she had no idea what to expect from the trip, but she was pleasantly surprised with her experience.
“I usually never reflect on my feelings, so this was a good way for me to dissect my brain. It was a real chance for me to work on myself,” McDougall said.
The term of “community” was often used when some of the leaders were describing the purpose of the Search retreat. Kaehler stressed that the point of Search is to show how there is love and support in everyone’s daily life and they may not realize this fact. When a community of people come together to share about themselves, this point becomes clearer.
Some refer to the Search retreat as a type of cult and see it as Jesus camp, but the participants would have to disagree with this.
“This is really a community of people who share a lot with each other, this is rare to find so it often scares people,” Mia Scocozzo, junior finance and international business major, said. She was also a Search retreat leader.
She also stressed how all the attendees of the Search trip are not necessarily religious. Whether you are a part of Campus Ministry or not, anyone is welcome to attend Search retreat.
“The point of Search isn’t to make anyone believe something they don’t. If you aren’t religious that’s fine. You may not know your reason for attending and you may not know until years after attending Search,” Scocozzo said.
