The Office of Mission & Ministry has added several new retreat opportunities for 2024. This includes three local retreats and a few international options as well. These trips support the school’s educational mission for “students to discover, develop, and share their God-given talents for the greater good.”
All retreats directly stem from JC’s Mission Statement. “Through innovative practices and curriculum, we prepare students to positively influence a global society as critical thinkers and creative problem solvers while being socially responsible, spiritually centered, and morally grounded in our Catholic beliefs.”
The first retreat opportunity will be the JC Kairos Retreat which will take place on January 2-5.
“This retreat is an opportunity to find meaning in the highs and lows of your life. Kairos is a journey of the heart, mind, and soul,” said Director of Mission and Ministry Deacon Ken Goedeke. The retreat is in Adamstown, Maryland and will be available to 30 to 35 juniors and seniors. It will cost $350, including all overnight accommodation and meals.
The Camden New Jersey Service Retreat will take place February 8-11. Students will spend this time at the Romero Center in Camden, New Jersey where they will participate in the urban challenge program. This program “provides an experience to show the root structures of poverty, what puts people at a disadvantage, and how others can contribute to helping them,” said Deacon Goedeke.
Students will be asked to connect with the people they meet and learn from their stories. This retreat opportunity is available to 12 sophomores and will provide over 16 direct service hours. It will cost $300, including all overnight accommodation and meals.
The third and final local retreat will be the Baltimore/Appalachia Work Camp at Camp Galilee in Terra Alta, West Virginia on June 23-29. Students will engage in various home repair projects. The mission on this retreat is to build and repair homes for those less fortunate.
Students will learn the necessary skills for home repair and will have worksites to complete home repair projects. Up to 30 students from any grade level can sign up, and the trip will provide over 32 direct service hours. The anticipated cost is between $425 to $450.
John Carroll will also hold an international service opportunity which will travel to the Dominican Republic during the summer of 2024. While the Honduras trip will not be taking place this school year, it is hoped that the Honduras Service Trip will return in the 2024-2025 school year
Additionally, JC’s Service Learning Administrators are working to provide a monthly service opportunity for any students in need of service hours. This opportunity should be available second semester and will be a once-a-month afternoon service to directly serve the poor and less fortunate through the Harford Family House and Welcome One Shelter organizations.
For anyone interested in these service opportunities, there will be information consistently updated in the weekly updates. To sign up, links will be available through Mobile Serve and Sign-Up Genius. Please reach out to Serve. Learning Coordinator Kate Webb or Deacon Goedeke with any questions or concerns.
Additionally, there are a limited number of students for the retreats, and some are already full with waitlists. Reach out as soon as possible if interested.