As a Catholic school, John Carroll’s spiritual formation is a crucial part of education. Each grade level has the privilege to go on enriching retreats each year, planned and overseen by the ministry team.

These retreats are not mere check boxes to fulfill graduation requirements; they are intentionally designed to be transformative, nourishing, and healing experiences that help students grow in their faith and personal development.

Religion Teacher Katie Smith, said, “The primary goal definitely would be to create an encounter, mainly because I think we live in a culture that in a lot of ways has neglected Christ or just isn’t aware of his presence.”

As students grow from freshmen to seniors, the retreats grow in intensity and length, the first overnight retreat not being until junior year. This ensures that students are given time to mature and build strong foundations in their spiritual lives.

This year the class of 2028 got to experience a new retreat for the freshman class on top of the traditional Baltimore Basilica trip.

Shortly before school started in August, freshmen gathered on campus for a few hours of bonding activities where they had the chance to meet their peers, play games, and connect with their teachers. This retreat set the tone for the rest of the year, fostering a sense of community and spiritual connection among the new students.

Sophomore Retreat, meanwhile, focuses on the importance of service and charity as they go on a day of volunteering with the students at the Saint Joan of Arc School, helping them in the classroom.

To end the day, students go to the chapel for some games, prayer, and reflection.

The Junior Retreat is a significant milestone in the spiritual journey at John Carroll, as it is the first overnight retreat.

Held at one of the only retreat houses in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, students are given the opportunity to disconnect from the world around them, giving up their phones to fully experience the games, small groups, adoration, and prayer service.

Junior Anthony Modeste encouraged his peers to make the most of the experience. “Fully participate, there’s nothing you can really lose from participating. If you open yourself up to what’s going on, you could have a really good experience.”

Senior Retreat, held at Black Rock Retreat Center in Pennsylvania, a new location this year, is a two-day retreat.

Along with the normal prayer service, small groups, and adoration, there will be a high ropes course, laser tag, and glow-in the-dark dodge ball.

On top of these retreats, students have a chance to attend any of the multitude of extracurricular retreats offered.

These include Mount 2000, Camden service retreat, Catholic Heart Work Camp, and Steubenville 2025. Anyone interested should contact Mr. Rhys Gadbois.