GREENSBORO — More than 80 UNC-Chapel Hill students along with dozens of alumni and student-leaders attended the 16th Carolina Awakening Retreat at YMCA Camp Weaver.
Awakening retreats are entirely student-led and encourage faith formation through Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, student talks, group activities and personal reflection.
This year’s theme was “I am the vine; you are the branches. Remain in My love” (Jn 15:5-9).
Peter Tran, a freshman, said the retreat was a way for him to reconnect to his faith and expand his friend group. He especially enjoyed the small group activities, polar plunge, playing basketball and Adoration.
“I had a lot of time to reflect on myself, pray, go to confession and discern what I wanted to do with my future,” he said. “The Holy Spirit was definitely working constantly throughout the weekend.”
Bishop Michael Martin, who participated in many Awakening retreats when he was director of the Duke Catholic Center, sent a letter of prayerful support to UNC Newman Catholic students who attended the event last month.
The retreat was the highlight of the semester for junior Georgia Copenhaver. The president of the UNC Newman Community was a student leader, serving as master of ceremonies, giving a talk on love and ensuring the weekend went smoothly.
“Being a leader, I was able to get so much out of this retreat,” she said. “It was so cool to be able to see the retreatants’ faith light up from an outside perspective.”
Sophomore Matthew Castillo was also a student leader and experienced the power of spreading God’s love to others.
“I had a couple of conversations with the retreatants where they really acknowledged they had encountered God on the retreat and that was really powerful,” he said. “It showed me just how impactful I can be and how I can really make a difference and spread God’s love.”
— Courtney McLaughlin