Retreat Opportunities

St. Stephen the Witness Catholic Student Center offers a variety of retreat opportunities during the school year.  The dates for retreats offered during the 2010-2011 school year are noted below, followed by brief descriptions of the retreats for the St. Stephen community. 

For information regarding vocation discernment retreats/events offered by the Archdiocese of Dubuque or by vowed religious communities in or near the Archdiocese, click here.

 

 St. Stephen Retreats

For Student Leadership

  • Peer Ministers Retreat: August 15-18, 2010 (for 2010-2011 Peer Ministers only)
  • Discipleship Council Retreat: August 21, 2010 (for 2010-2011 Discipleship Council members only)
  • Discipleship Council Mid-Year/Transition Retreat: (date to be determined; for 2010-2011 Discipleship Council members only)

For the St. Stephen Community

  • Connections Retreat (a.k.a. New Student Retreat): August 28, 2010
  • Pre-Marriage Retreats: September 24-25, 2010 and January 28-29, 2011
  • Antioch Retreats: October 16-17, 2010 and February 19-20 or 26-27, 2011 (spring semester dates not yet certain) Click HERE to learn more!
  • Journey Retreats: November 6-7, 2010 and April 9-10, 2011
  • "3-D" (Dreams - Decisions - Discernment) Retreat: (date(s) to be determined)
  • New/Transfer Student Retreat: January 22, 2011
  • Busy Person's Retreat: March 27-31, 2011 

 

Connections Retreat

This evening retreat is for new UNI students.  It provides an opportunity to "connect" with other students who are new to UNI, as well as the team of current students who lead the retreat with the guidance of the St. Stephen campus ministers.  New students discover how current students made the adjustment to UNI while keeping their faith as Catholic Christians on campus.  

 

Pre-Marriage Retreat

The pre-marriage retreat is a brief journey away from a busy world and into a time of solitude, reflection, and discernment.  Couples are given an opportunity to think about the meaning and purpose of marriage, its promise and its obligations, and the implications of a life-long commitment to each other.  Married couples make presentations that draw upon their experiences of courtship and the cross-currents of marriage.  Successful ways of viewing marriage and effective ways to grow a marriage are emphasized.  Common relationship challenges, stresses, and issues are addressed.  Engaging workbook exercises and handout materials are used to inventory the rich resources the couple brings to marriage and demonstrate adaptive strategies and problem-solving techniques.  Couples better understand and appreciate where their lives converge and diverge, helped to use their unique perspectives and traits to nourish and solidify their faithfulness to each other.  Marriage is viewed as an "I love you" joined by intentions and ideals, connecting one to a dream and the divine.

 

Antioch Retreat

Antioch is a weekend retreat for college students that provides opportunities to pray, listen to talks, engage in personal reflection and small group discussions, and build community with other students.  It is led by a team of college students, with guidance from St. Stephen campus ministers.  Click here to go to the Antioch Retreat page.

 

Journey Retreat

 

Journey is a weekend retreat for students who have participated in the Antioch retreat.  It has more of a "guided retreat" format, with focus talks followed by personal prayer and reflection.  Communal prayer, group discussion, and time for conversation with other retreatants are also included, but the emphasis is on more "one-on-one" time with God.  This retreat is also led by a team of students, with guidance from St. Stephen campus ministers. 

 

"3-D" Retreat

 

Choices are a part of our everyday life, and making good decisions can be challenging.  This evening retreat focuses on helping retreatants narrow their options, bring God into their decision-making process, and choosing well.  It will provide an opportunity for reflection, input, and dialogue, as well as development of decision-making skills retreatants already have.  This retreat will be lead by 4 representatives from the Dubuque Area Vocation Association (DAVA): Sister Jeri Cashman, OP; Sister Carla Popes, PBVM; Virginia Heldorfer, OSF; and Len Uhal, Divine Word Missionary.

 

Our Faith Is UNIversal: A Retreat for New/Transfer Students

This evening retreat provides an opportunity for new/transfer students starting at UNI, Hawkeye Community College, or Allen College, to meet others who have "been in their shoes" (transferred or started at spring semester instead of in the fall) and hear about how they made the adjustment, made friends, and kept their faith.  It's also a chance to pray and connect with other students who are new to/have transferred to UNI.  The goal of the retreat is to help new/transfer students learn how to "fit in" and live their faith as Catholic Christians on campus.

 

Busy Person's Retreat

 

The Busy Person's Retreat takes place over the course of five days (Sunday evening - Thursday evening).  It is intended to help people become more aware of God in their daily lives and develop patterns of personal prayer, including quiet time with God during which there is an emphasis on "being" instead of "doing."  Participants are expected to commit to at least a half hour of personal, quiet, private prayer and, on the weekdays, to meeting with a spiritual guide for a half hour.  The spiritual guides are trained spiritual directors who will affirm, guide, and perhaps challenge retreatants in their faith journey.