Retreats

dark photo of students gathered standing on stage with spotlight on altar

Contemplation in action

Every year students are invited to attend grade-level retreats that are planned by teams of faculty and upperclassmen. The heart of Ignatian spirituality is the belief that God can be experienced in all things; retreats set aside critical time to help students enter more fully into a personal relationship with God in everyday life.

large group of young men outside, arms around each other, smiles

Our 4-Year Retreat Program

For dates and details, please see calendar or contact Howie Place, Retreat Coordinator.

For Freshmen: Pilgrim Retreat

A faculty and senior-led 24-hour overnight retreat looking at the gifts God has given each of us, and the call to use those gifts for God’s greater glory.
The retreat begins with a Commissioning Mass at De Smet Jesuit (family invited to attend with student), then retreatants head to a local retreat center for an overnight.
Through talks, discussion groups, and activities, retreatants are encouraged to see their lives within the context of God’s gifts and with a call to action rooted in their response of gratitude to The Giver.
Students return to school at the end of the second school day.

For Sophomores: AMDG Retreat

A faculty and senior-led 24-hour overnight retreat examining our relationship with God and responsibility through God to each other.
The retreat begins with a Commissioning Mass at De Smet Jesuit (family invited to attend with student), then retreatants head to a local retreat center for an overnight.
Through talks, discussion in small groups, and activities, retreatants consider the call to deepen their relationship with God through the sacraments, service, prayer, and relationships.
Students return to school at the end of the second school day.

For Juniors & Seniors: Kairos Retreat

Kairos means "the Lord's Time” and is an intense three-day, faculty and senior-led retreat. The motto of Kairos is “God first, others second, and I am third.”
Through a series of talks and small group discussions, students face issues such as: knowing yourself, discipleship, results of God's friendship, who is Jesus Christ, obstacles, sacraments, and love in action.
Kairos stresses peer leadership and ministry in an effort to help students realize the similarity and solidarity we all share.
The talks of the Kairos program are grounded and centered around the revelation of God's love in our lives through all the persons and experiences of our days. In accepting God's love and life, we have the responsibility for service in the Lord's name.

For Seniors: Deep Dive Retreat

A chance for motivated seniors to take a deep dive into their personal relationship with Christ.
Offered through the White House Jesuit Retreat Center and led by one of their trained Jesuit Spiritual Directors
Structured around the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Unlike the other retreats we offer at De Smet Jesuit, which involve small group sharing and group processing throughout, the Deep Dive retreat is much more individually focused.
Retreatants move through the day on the same schedule, but more time is spent either in
- individual prayer and reflection,
- in conversation with a Spiritual Director, or
- in celebration of the Sacraments.

This retreat experience could be characterized as more "vertical" in focus than the "vertical and horizontal" approach of the other De Smet Jesuit retreats.