This past Monday on March 24, 2025, the Grade 12 spiritual retreat was held for St. John Paul II Secondary School. This cohort of students had never, in their high school career, experienced a retreat, due to pandemic restrictions and limitations, so this day meant a lot to them.
The day began with a beautiful mass in the chapel. This was followed by; Wali Shah, a spoken-word poet. The pizza lunch was supported by Nikki at PIZZA NOVA. The students were then joined by Grade 7s and 8s from the neighboring elementary St. Thomas More Catholic School. In true Catholic fashion, the Grade 12s welcomed them and shared the space graciously. The afternoon included interactive games and activities, like scavenger hunts, cards, guessing games, trivia and musical chairs.
Spider Jones graced us with an entertaining motivational talk and we finished with a magic show by "Wonderphil". The students left with a celebratory piece of cake and a smile on their faces. The students left with a feeling of community and inspiration.