On March 6th, 10th, and 11th, Cathedral High School sophomores embarked on a retreat to Saint Mary of the Woods College, just northwest of Terre Haute, organized by Mr. Dave Neeson, Cathedral’s Director of Campus Ministry. The retreat provided students with an opportunity to explore the history and holiness of the sisters of Providence, particularly say Mother Theodore Guerin. Through guided tours, discussions, and moments of reflection, students deepen through other understanding of faith and community.
To encourage meaningful connections, students relinquished their phones for the day, even during the bus ride to the retreat. Instead, they engaged in trivia games covering topics such as the Bible, the Holy Cross and Cathedral High School religious heritage. Upon arrival they toured the grounds, learned about the miracles attributed to Saint Theodore and visited the sisters’ burial cemetery.
“There’s always a challenge with creating something new,” said Neeson. “The fear that I always have in the back of my head is that whatever we are creating has to have the opportunity to impact the hearts of those attending it without connecting to the heart, we risk students feeling like it’s just an extended class.”
For many students, the retreat was more than just a day away from the classroom. It was a transformative experience. Sophomore Cecilia Weingart found the sisters’ burial site particularly moving. “I saw it as a physical sign of just how many women dedicated their lives to God as well as building up the school to be what it is today,” she said.
Beyond historical exploration, the retreat encourages students to examine their own faith journey. Weingart noted that the experience allowed her to connect with God on a deeper level. This sentiment echoes the retreat and core mission to give students a space to live out their faith rather than just learn about it.
“I think by the second semester of sophomore year, you learn a lot from our amazing religion department,” Mr. Neeson explained. “It’s about time that you took the information shared in class and lived it out in a very real way. It’s nice to know, but it’s better to participate.”
The retreat centered around the legacy of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, the first canonized saint who lived in Indiana. Mr. Neeson empathizes with her and states that her life serves as a reminder that faith can persevere through adversity. “My hope is that each student knows that they have an advocate in heaven and that they get a chance to pray with her at the shrine at Saint Mary of the woods,” he said.
Ultimately, the retreat was a chance for students to step away from the daily routines, reflect on the faith and build stronger connections with one another. Neeson said, “Prayer when ‘experienced’ can change a heart. Just one change of heart impacts a community.”
