During the sophomore “live the call” retreat at the end of February, students learned to package food and explored how to budget grocery shopping for a family of five. This experience gave students a break from the everyday routine of school and gave them a chance to grow closer to their friends and have a day focused on faith and gratitude.

Students started out by playing icebreaker games that “were really fun and I feel like I got to know people I barely knew before,” Eva Smith ‘27 says. The students were also able to go to Mass to refocus their minds on their faith and enter into a calm mindset before the rest of the activities.  

Sophomores then rotated between stations where they packaged food and played games. Sophomore Kristine Bickler says, “I learned a lot about food insecurity and I am now really grateful for being able to help other families get the food they need.” The new Zak Myers food pantry on campus also helps families get free groceries that they may not be able to afford or get on their own. 

Students also learned how to budget grocery shopping for a family of five with just $50 to spend. It was a real challenge and helped them to see what it’s like to have to limit the amount of food you have. Many Cathedral students almost always have fridges and pantries full of food so it’s hard to imagine not being able to get the food you need. 

This retreat was overall a great experience for sophomores and leaders as they were exposed to new experiences that helped them to gain knowledge about food insecurity while also growing closer to their classmates. Retreat leader Natalia Velayudhan ‘25 explains, “Leading the retreat gave me the ability to show sophomores that they can make a difference for many families who need food.”

Looking forward, sophomores can also sign up for the junior retreat next year, which is an even longer retreat held at Whispering Winds Conference Center in Julian. It is a great way to grow in faith and be closer to friends while also making new friends.