By: Reegan Ledet
Novice – Richmond, CA

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(Novice Christopher Green leading an activity at the Sophomore retreat
Credit: Fr. John Puntino, SDB)

Thursday April 15th, Salesian College Preparatory had their first Sophomore Retreat in the past 5 years, and the Sophomore Class of 2023 had the ability to be the first to participate. In years past, the Sophomore Retreat experience was a Service Day that included serving at St. Anthony Dining Room in Downtown San Francisco, assisted by the Novices. This year, however, Covid-19 has invited the Campus Ministry Team (CMT) and the Novices to think creatively. Working together, CMT and the Novices were able to do the impossible; create a 3 hour Sophomore retreat in under a week. The retreat’s theme…”Together”. This class only had half of the freshman year together (before Covid hit) and half on their sophomore year together. As a Salesian School, the bonding and sense of unity in a graduating class is so important, so the retreat lent itself to reinforcing these bonds with prayer, activites, and talking. All and all, it is nice to see a group of young people recognizing their need to be together in order to move forward. As the school strenna goes, “ Walking in faith, working for justice, together in hope.”