Twice a year, upperclassmen at OLSH are presented with the opportunity to grow in their faith on the Chi Rho retreat at the Villa Maria Retreat Center in New Castle, PA.
This 4-day overnight retreat is available to juniors and seniors who are interested in developing their relationship with Christ. Students are encouraged to take this time as a break from the pressure of being a high school student and instead find rest within the Christ-centered environment. By choosing to spend the weekend at Chi Rho, students grow closer to God and each other while developing a deeper understanding of their faith. Under the love of Christ, the retreat unites all those present and worshiping Him.
Whether they are running to God for the first time or rediscovering His forgiveness, this retreat is an open invitation to talk with Him.
As the campus minister and sophomore theology teacher at OLSH, Mrs. Snatchko has seen significant growth and changes within the student body after each retreat. “Honestly, my favorite part of Chi Rho is watching the students grow so much in such a short amount of time,” Mrs. Snatchko said. “Being with them for such an intensive long weekend is one of my favorite parts of the school year.” Mrs. Snatchko is one of the many teachers who dedicates significant time each year to making the retreat possible.
In February of 2023, freshman theology teacher Mrs. Buettner attended the Chi Rho retreat for the first time. Once returned back to OLSH after the retreat, she noticed a change throughout the school. “I think of the people in the Gospel who saw Jesus heal the sick, give to the blind, and raise the dead, and that message of Jesus spread like a wildfire,” she says. “When the kids come back from Chi Rho, you can feel that same Spirit moving throughout the school, due to the love radiating through them.” This retreat unfailingly aids in creating a God-filled environment each year and establishes a loving bond within the student body.
Overall, this life-changing retreat allows young adults and leaders to know what it means to be a true Christian by exhibiting the same love that Christ shows us.
