Using Faith to Navigate the Pressures of High School and Beyond

Marianist Team at Retreat — MORE team members Paul Masek, Wayne Burbach, and Jen Duncan dramatize how giving in to social pressures can make one less free.

Eric Seiffert
Director of Marketing

This year has been full of fresh retreat experiences for Duchesne students, and our sophomores recently joined the journey. On April 14, the class, guided by a dedicated group of junior leaders, headed to the Marianist Retreat and Conference Center in Eureka. It was a day dedicated to connection, community, and discovering how faith in Christ provides the strength to overcome life’s inevitable hurdles.

The day’s program was facilitated by the Marianist Outreach Retreat Experience (MORE). The team offers a unique and engaging approach to sacramental retreats, intentionally using jokes, games, and skits as a doorway to deep conversations about self-worth. “The motto of MORE is ‘seriously fun Catholic retreats’,” said Program Director Paul Masek. “We love to mix things up between fun stuff, breaks, food, serious activities, and time for discussion and reflection.”

Masek explains that this delivery is specifically tailored to reach students in a fast-paced, overstimulating world. “We are increasingly finding that ‘less is more’ when it comes to retreat ministry. We try not to cover too much serious content; our style allows the retreat, and the attendees, to breathe.”

By disarming the students with laughter early on, the MORE team, supported by Executive Director Jennifer Duncan and Mission Engagement & Communications Manager Wayne Burbach, created a space where the sophomores felt safe to be vulnerable. The theme of the day centered on freedom, featuring personal testimony from Masek, the MORE team, and Duchesne’s own Campus Minister, Mike Fitzgerald. The energy shifted from high-octane fun to quiet introspection as students broke into small groups to discuss the “hurdles” in their own lives and how various temptations can lead to feeling “bound up.”

The afternoon wrapped up with two powerful talks on forgiveness given by junior leaders Tiana Newman and Athena Zimmerman. By sharing their own stories, these upperclassmen modeled the courage it takes to open one’s heart, a move that resonated deeply with their sophomore peers.

Athena gives forgiveness talk. — Junior Athena Zimmerman speaks to her classmates about the importance of forgiveness.

“I was able to share my story on forgiveness and help the sophomore class learn what God can do in our lives,” said Athena. “ One thing that I did to prepare myself was think of ways that I could connect to the sophomores, and how can my story help them. The one thing that will always be true is: God will always forgive you.”

Tiana added, “I also enjoyed giving a talk on forgiveness. I spent a lot of time tweaking and adding parts. One thing I knew I needed to include from the beginning was to forgive, let go, and let God.”

Being involved with the MORE team for many years, Fitzgerald knows the impact the experience can have on young people.

“The day was absolutely wonderful. The MORE team is amazing,” said Fitzgerald. “I went on almost the exact same retreat [as a sophomore]. That retreat helped me find my way back to the faith and the Church. It was really inspiring, and still is for me to go and relive that experience and share that this retreat can change lives.

It was certainly a day to look back on positively, with the students in attendance agreeing that the day helped them to grow closer to God, and each other.