8th Grade Experience Faith, Fellowship, and Fun!

8th Grade Experience Faith, Fellowship, and Fun!

To “retreat” means to withdraw, to go away to a secluded place. QA creates this opportunity for 8th-grade students to provide a time for faith, fellowship, and fun. A beloved tradition at Queen of Angels, prior to graduating, students have the chance to be away from the regular pace of the school day and, under the guidance of the LifeTeen missionaries at CoveCrest, and spend time in community, pray, reflect, and developing a personal response to God’s love.

Three days in the north GA mountains, coupled with beautiful weather, 8th grade students can draw closer to one another and God. The theme of JOY guided large and small group talks, as well as their time on both the high and low ropes courses. Accompanied by Fr. Paul Porter, Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation were available and enabled students to reflect on and participate in the beauty of the sacraments. Evenings ended in a social event of either an ice cream social or a blazing bonfire with smores. One student remarked, The retreat was spiritual in a way that was hard to grasp. We were outside, with each other, and even though we were not praying, you could feel the presence of God in who you were with and all that you did.

As we prepare for graduation, this annual time together is so meaningful and loved by each 8th-grade student.