Pre-Freshman Retreat

LoyolaThe Pre-Freshman Retreat (previously known as the 8th Grade Night of Reflection) is the first opportunity students have to invest in their religious formation at Jesuit. Each year, students take an opportunity to reflect on where God is calling them in their lives as men of faith and men for others. They will have similar retreats each year during their time at Jesuit. The talks given by upperclassmen at this event focus on the conversion of St. Ignatius in the castle of Loyola, where he sat admiring the lives of Jesus and the saints and dreaming about what his life could be if he were to follow their example. Students are invited to do the very same thing, inviting Jesus into their lives of discipleship while at Jesuit.

Schedule

Pre-freshmen will arrive at Jesuit as usual, except to attend the all-school Mass of the Holy Spirit. After Mass, they will be given instructions for changing out of their coats and ties. Faculty and upperclassmen will be on hand to instruct them on where to go. A pizza lunch will be provided during the day.  Students should keep their Student Prayer Books in their lockers so that they do not lose them during the retreat, but will be able to retrieve them for Mass on retreat.

Dress Code and Behavior

Dress for the Mass is coat & tie. Pre-freshmen will be given time to change out of coats and ties after Mass. Dress for the retreat is casual but respectful: jeans or decent shorts, pullover shirt or presentable T-shirt (no T-shirts advertising liquor or bearing suggestive messages), and tennis shoes are all acceptable.  Basically, the young men should wear something that would be acceptable at a casual family function.

Cell phones are not allowed at the Pre-Freshman Retreat. This day of reflection is a required Jesuit school function; thus all school rules of conduct apply.

Pick-up Procedures

Parents should plan to pick up their sons using the normal dismissal route (via Solomon St.). Please enter the yard via the Banks Street entrance and line up in the same manner as a normal school day dismissal. Parents may park outside of the campus and walk to the courtyard to pick up their sons; however, students will not be allowed to leave the courtyard to meet their ride outside of school grounds.

Please contact Jeff Ryan Miraflor, SJ, the director of campus ministry, at miraflor@jesuitnola.org with any questions.