The Benilde-St. Margaret’s senior retreat was held on Friday, February 6, 2026. The retreat started with Mass, which was led by Mr. Jeremiah in the chapel. After Mass, students left campus and took buses to St. Thomas More Catholic Church in St. Paul. The campus ministry team, peer ministers, and senior student leaders worked together to plan a day of fun activities that built class unity, strengthened relationships, and helped students grow in their faith.
The retreat aimed to encourage seniors to continue their strong leadership and to serve as role models for the rest of the high school. Jeremiah reminded seniors to lead by example and set a strong precedent for the rest of the year.
Students arrived with different expectations; some were excited for the day to come, while others just waited to open their freshman letter. Freshmen also have a retreat every year, and one of their activities is writing a letter to their future self. Senior Brandt Kaltsas looked forward to reading his letter and believed it was one of the most anticipated activities. “I’m excited to open my letter from my freshman self, and I hope to find myself at the retreat,” Kaltsas said.
After getting dropped off at the church, the students began with icebreakers. Nadia Ehlert is a senior who looked forward to the activities at the retreat. Activities included students showing off unexpected talents, dances, and trivia, such as knowing the school’s address and phone number. Seniors also took the time to write letters to incoming freshmen, giving them future advice and encouragement for their years to come in high school. These activities are not only fun and engaging for everyone, but they also help break down social barriers, giving students a safe space to express themselves. “The icebreaker activities helped me feel like I could be myself during the retreat,” Ehlert said.
The retreat was not just fun for students; its goal was to strengthen relationships and have students grow as people. The retreat was centered around the scripture theme, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” from the gospel of Matthew. Other activities during the retreat revolved around this theme, with discussions about values and where students put time and energy. One activity students found very impactful was the open mic, which closed the retreat. Colton Hilger was one of the speakers during this open mic. Students went up to share stories of their high school experience, took the time to thank classmates, or just because they felt a calling. “It just felt right to share my thoughts and views,” Hilger said.