Some are faced with the temptations that the world puts in front of them each day. In those times of need, how many people actually turn to God? How many people only turn to God in times of need? Everyone’s faith is tested every single day and sometimes people fall short because the heart is too weak and blinded by what the world says is valuable. In those times of need, Cabrini has a special retreat every year that helps students who are struggling in times of needs. “Search” is a three day off campus retreat that helps them build their relationship with God and those around them while also mending their relationship with themselves.
Junior Darianny Gutierrez has attended the “Search” retreat for the past two years and was a leader last year. Gutierrez was able to give her insight on perspective of the “Search” retreat. “Search is an opportunity for students to get away and learn new things about themselves by connecting to other students. I feel that the retreat is called search because people never fully understand who people are so technically,” Gutierrez said. “People are still searching things about ourselves that people want to improve or learn. When I went on search for the first time it was beautiful! I felt at peace with no worries surrounded by so much love.”
Gutierrez felt as if she was a whole new person once she left the retreat. She is looking forward to being a leader next year.
“Search made me see things in myself that I didn’t even see,” Gutierrez said. “I would for sure recommend this trip to others because it changed my life. Peaceful would be the word that I’d use to describe search.”
Members of the retreat felt that having time for themselves to talk to God strengthens individuals in many ways and is believed to even save those who are lost and in times of need. People try to rely on times when they need him most.
The retreat starts Friday, April 1 in the Poconos in Pennsylvania. For people to apply, they can go to the campus ministry and it cost $20 to go, which would go mostly go towards food. About 20 people are present on the retreat.
Senior Dan Luner was another student that was a leader for the “Search” retreat. Luner expressed how he first felt about the trip.
“At first, I was really against going on the trip, but once I decided to go I definitely felt that there was a reason I was there and I got a lot out of the weekend, both personally and spiritually,” Lunar said. “This retreat has a positive outcome and helps people realize their relationships with God and others. I felt a difference personally and spiritually and I definitely have a closer bond with those who were there alongside me during the retreat.” Lunar stated when asked if he felt a difference after the retreat.
