Heelan juniors participate in retreat at armory

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
April 5, 2007

"We are Called" was the theme of a retreat that juniors from Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City participated in on March 27 at the Army Guard Armory in Sergeant Bluffs.

The retreat focused on Christian leadership and qualities of Christ including compassion, courage, servant leadership, integrity, forgiveness, listening and interdependence, explained Kathryn Fairchild, director of campus ministry/faith formation at Heelan.

"My ultimate goal is that the students in the junior class are not ashamed to stand for the truth when it is unpopular and who can love, serve and walk humbly with their God," said Fairchild. "I want to have future leaders who aren't just concerned about themselves and getting ahead and getting rich. I want future leaders who care about their neighbors and make decisions with everyone in mind - leaders willing to sacrifice."

The students participated in activity stations facilitated by Army guardsmen. Each group of students made a stop at seven different stations including trust fall, night goggles, standing on a tarp together and flipping over, etc. The stations were used to help the students with teamwork and communication.

One of the Heelan teachers helping with the retreat led reflection and prayer after each station.

"They need time to reflect and think about how they are living their faith," said Fairchild. "I also think it builds class unity. We focus on academics, but we need to equally focus on our spiritual development and take a step back to see how we are following Christ in the day to day."

Fairchild noted that she hopes the students gained "greater unity as a class, with them becoming seniors, as well as better communication and leadership qualities and a stronger character based upon the teachings of Christ. I want them to be courageous in the face of challenges - peer pressure, cheating, drinking, etc. We need young men and women of courage and compassion as our future leaders."

Shantelle Dykstra, one of the juniors, pointed out that she learned to trust others. The trust fall was her favorite station.

"I saw Jesus in my classmates," said Dykstra. "Working with the guards people was really enjoyable. I enjoyed meeting with them and learning about their experiences."

Another junior, Brandon Stewart, mentioned that he enjoyed working together on the tarp. He added that during this activity "we clicked as a group."

"I learned to work together, and gained trust in those around me," said Stewart.

Katie Moore, a Heelan junior, stated that she liked being able to see classmates that she does not see during a regular school day.

"I learned a lot more about my classmates' beliefs," said Moore. "We opened up more about our faith than we do in school."

She learned that she "can accomplish more by working and helping others than I can alone."

Yet another junior, Mary McDevitt, learned that if people trust others and communicate, including listening, they can accomplish tasks more efficiently. Her favorite portions of the retreat were the trust fall and the night vision goggle activities.

"Through each prayer in our reflections, we learned how we are one body in Christ," said McDevitt.