Father-Son Retreat

One of the annual highlights of Jesuit High School’s comprehensive retreat program are the Father-Son Retreats, and more than 60 Jesuit fathers and sons participated in the overnight Father-Son Retreat on Sunday and Monday (Nov. 8-9) at the Bethany Center in Lutz.

Director of campus ministry Fr. Patrick Hough, S.J., and assistant director Michael Miller ’09 led the retreat, which is for seniors at Jesuit and their fathers.

“The goal of the retreat is for the fathers and sons to build in their relationship with each other as well as together in their relationship with the Lord,” Miller said. “It provides many opportunities for fathers and sons to spend time together in meaningful conversation and prayer. Those ‘father and son times’ are guided by certain questions they ask each other.’’

The retreat is filled with interactive personal experiences with each other and the larger group. Among the fun bonding activities were a father-son game show and an obstacle course, as well as more traditional retreat experiences such as Adoration/Confession, Mass, Stations of the Cross, and opportunities to listen to student speakers, a father’s perspective, and Fr. Hough.

Jesuit's retreat program provides spiritual direction and guidance. It is a reflective experience designed to help a student take an honest look at his life, to know more clearly his relationship with the Lord, and to provide tools for the further growth and development of his faith life.

Every student is obligated to make one retreat during the school year. The standard retreat program for each underclassman consists of a day of reflection each year. Juniors are offered an extended two-night Kairos retreat. Seniors can select from six retreat options: a Senior Pilgrimage, an overnight Father/Son Retreat, a three-day Silent Directed Retreat, a Weekend Wilderness Retreat, a Senior Kairos (for those who did not do Kairos their junior year), and a Discernment Retreat (for select students in Louisiana).

View a photo slideshow from the Nov. 8-9 Father-Son Retreat below: