First-year students invited to sign up for Compass Retreats before deadline on Dec. 1

Beginning college can feel overwhelming, and Salve’s Compass Retreats are designed for first-year students to get away from everything to process their college experience. Compass Retreats are free and open to all first-year students. There are four different retreats with 50 spots available for each retreat option, and the deadline to register is Friday, Dec. 1. For more information on the four first-year retreats, go here.

These Compass Retreats are part of the four-year, experiential Salve Compass program that Salve has developed for its students.

“When designing the Salve Compass program, a lot of planning went into what a common experience would look like for first-year students that would help them to establish a sense of belonging, feel supported through their continuing transition to college life and connect with one another as a class,” said Kathleen Farley, executive director of Salve Compass.

The four different retreat options are designed to give students an element of choice and flexibility as they decide which one fits the best with their schedules. There are combinations of both on- and off-campus retreats, as well as overnight and one-day options.

“In general, the word ‘retreat’ means to ‘withdraw,’ ‘unplug’ or get away from the busyness of daily life for rest and renewal,” said Dr. Linda Forsberg, assistant director of retreats and discernment and leader of the Compass Retreats. “Often people go on retreat when they have an important decision to make in their life and are seeking the path they should follow.”

One of the off-campus Compass Retreats is being held at Blithewood Mansion, pictured here.

The goal for the First Year Compass Retreat is for students to gain clarity for their unique path or vocation, according to Dr. Forsberg.

“What is the need of this world that will not let them sleep at night?” Forsberg explained. “How can they share their unique strengths, talents and gifts to help that critical concern? How can they work in community with others here at Salve and in the wider community, to help to create a world that is more harmonious, just and merciful?”

The four retreats are listed below. For more information and to register for these four first-year retreats, go here.

Option 1: Overnight On-Campus Retreat

Friday, Jan. 12, at noon to Saturday, Jan. 13, at 9 p.m.
O’Hare Academic Building

Option 2: One-Day On-Campus Retreat

For more information, go here.