Pastoral Ministry
Retreats
Retreats: An Encounter with Christ
In the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, every student at Strake Jesuit takes time during each school year to nurture his spiritual life by making a retreat. The retreat program is a required component of each student's formation, regardless of his religious affiliation, because it is integral to the holistic growth we offer each student and lies at the very heart of our goal of forming the whole person.
Retreats provide us a time not to escape from life,
but rather a time to delve into the very soul and mystery of it.
but rather a time to delve into the very soul and mystery of it.
Freshman Retreat
Each Strake Jesuit student begins his four-year retreat journey with a powerful and immersive Freshman Retreat. Held at our 60-acre Retreat and Leadership Center—away from the noise of the city and surrounded by nature—this overnight retreat provides students a genuine encounter with the heart of our Jesuit mission: to find God in all things, to build brotherhood, and to begin living ad majorem Dei gloriam (for the greater glory of God).
Each freshman is assigned, along with around 60 of his peers, to one of six retreats held throughout the fall semester. Led by over 60 upperclassmen and supported by 20 faculty and staff, the retreat introduces freshmen to the fundamentals of prayer, reflection, and Ignatian spirituality. Through dynamic talks, small group discussions, Mass, Adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, students are invited to consider the deeper meaning of their faith, their identity, and their purpose. Fun, fellowship, and community-building are central, with activities ranging from Olympic-style games to scavenger hunts and night walks under the stars.
The Freshman Retreat is more than a getaway—it’s a foundational experience. It offers a taste of the full retreat program to come, blending the sacred with the joyful, the reflective with the energetic. By the end of the weekend, freshmen return not only refreshed and renewed, but more rooted in the Strake Jesuit brotherhood and in the knowledge that they are known, loved, and called by God.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Director of Pastoral Ministry.
Sophomore Retreat
Father & Son Retreat
Join us for this meaningful opportunity for both father (or father-figure in spirit) and son to grow in their relationship with each other and with God. The retreat includes personal reflection, talks centered on the faith journey, and intentional one-on-one time between father and son.
There are eight rounds of this retreat offered for sophomores. Each student and his father (or father-figure) will participate in one round, with space for up to 35 pairs per retreat. The session includes a two-day, one-night stay at the Retreat and Leadership Center (directions linked) and runs from 3:30 p.m. on the first day until 12:00 p.m. the following day. Please note that each pair is responsible for their own transportation.
Note: For those attending the Friday/Saturday session, students will attend class on Friday morning before being dismissed at noon to depart for the retreat.
If a student’s father is unable to attend, he is encouraged to invite a grandfather, uncle, coach, or teacher who can serve as a father-figure for the experience.
If no father-figure is available and no one is able to fill that role, please reach out to us directly—we are committed to ensuring every student has access to a meaningful retreat and will work with you to provide an alternative opportunity.
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Experience holiness of everyday life through the Trinity in love of the Son and the Father, through the Spirit.
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If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Director of Pastoral Ministry.
Junior Retreat
Kairos
The Kairos Retreat is a powerful four-day experience that invites juniors into deeper relationship with God, self, and others. Held at the Retreat and Leadership Center, this retreat centers on the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ, explored through a series of personal talks given by both students and faculty. These witness-style reflections open space for honest conversation, deep listening, and spiritual growth.
Kairos is the keystone of our four-year retreat program, building upon the themes of prayer, Sacraments, and community introduced in earlier retreats. Over the course of four days, students are invited to encounter the Christian tradition in a personal and transformative way—naming struggles with sin, addiction, and broken relationships, while also discovering the hope, healing, and freedom found in Christ.
The name Kairos—Greek for “God’s time”—reminds students that this is more than a retreat; it is an invitation to pause, reflect, and receive the grace God has been waiting to give.
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Encounter Christ in the cross and resurrection moments through the Love found in your own life.
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If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Director of Pastoral Ministry.
Senior Retreats
List of 4 items.
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Brotherhood Retreat
The Brotherhood Retreat offers seniors a meaningful pause to reflect on where they’ve been and prepare for where they’re going. Held at the Retreat and Leadership Center, this retreat invites students to look back on their Strake Jesuit journey and look ahead with clarity and purpose. Through deep conversations, shared stories, and intentional time together, students explore what it means to pursue true friendship and real virtue—essentials for a life of purpose, meaning, and success beyond academics and athletics.
Location: Retreat and Leadership Center
Capacity: 24 retreatants
Offerings: 3 retreats -
Leadership Retreat
The Leadership Retreat challenges seniors to grow as Christian leaders by reflecting on the example of Jesus Christ and the lives of the saints. Through prayer, discussion, and time together at the Retreat and Leadership Center, students are equipped to return to campus and beyond with the confidence to lead with humility, courage, and faith.
Location: Retreat and Leadership Center
Capacity: 24 retreatants
Offerings: 2 retreats -
Prayer Retreat
This contemplative retreat invites seniors to explore a variety of prayer styles and traditions, including Ignatian and monastic practices. Rooted in silence and discernment, the Prayer Retreat offers students space to listen for God’s call—whether toward religious life, a profession, or another vocation—and to grow more deeply in intimacy with the Lord.
Location: Retreat and Leadership Center
Capacity: 24 retreatants
Offerings: 2 retreats -
Wilderness Retreat
The Wilderness Retreat takes students into God’s creation for a weekend of hiking, prayer, and spiritual reflection. Set at a state park near Houston, this retreat invites seniors to encounter God through nature, community, and silence. Students must be prepared for long hikes, tent camping, and a powerful experience of God’s presence in the wild.
Location: State park near Houston
Capacity: 20 retreatants
Offerings: 6 retreats
If you have any questions or concerns please contact our Director of Pastoral Ministry.
Retreat & Leadership Center
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See The RLC From Above!
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The heart of Strake Jesuit’s spiritual development is the school’s extensive retreat program.
Thanks to the generous donation of a magnificent tract of land less than 2 hours from campus, Strake Jesuit now has its own Retreat and Leadership Center, a facility that few private schools in the country could imagine. The Retreat and Leadership Center serves Strake Jesuit students by assisting in their growth and development into Men for Others.
The impact of this facility on our program has been transformational. The secluded nature of the center is ideal for important team and leadership building as well as emphasizing that God is in our life and in all things. The RLC allows the entire retreat program to grow significantly.
While the Pastoral Ministry Office continues to offer their core retreats, clubs and sports teams will also hold their own retreats. These expanded retreat offerings have been extended to non-student groups such as the faculty and staff, the Dads’ Club, the Mothers’ Club, and Alumni groups.
The property is located is Leon County, just west I-45 near Leona, Texas, and south of Centerville. The beautiful site features rolling hills, large trees, and access to a small lake. It is an ideal setting for students and faculty to encounter God in nature and to enhance their spiritual reflection and growth.
Thanks to the generous donation of a magnificent tract of land less than 2 hours from campus, Strake Jesuit now has its own Retreat and Leadership Center, a facility that few private schools in the country could imagine. The Retreat and Leadership Center serves Strake Jesuit students by assisting in their growth and development into Men for Others.
The impact of this facility on our program has been transformational. The secluded nature of the center is ideal for important team and leadership building as well as emphasizing that God is in our life and in all things. The RLC allows the entire retreat program to grow significantly.
While the Pastoral Ministry Office continues to offer their core retreats, clubs and sports teams will also hold their own retreats. These expanded retreat offerings have been extended to non-student groups such as the faculty and staff, the Dads’ Club, the Mothers’ Club, and Alumni groups.
The property is located is Leon County, just west I-45 near Leona, Texas, and south of Centerville. The beautiful site features rolling hills, large trees, and access to a small lake. It is an ideal setting for students and faculty to encounter God in nature and to enhance their spiritual reflection and growth.
The facilities include:
- Eight individual cabins that can each sleep 10
- Dining Hall with a full kitchen
- Fleming Conference Center with breakout rooms
- Chapel of the North American Martyrs
- Nevle Reading Room
- Bunkhouse to provide housing for larger groups
- Ammons Outdoor Pavilion with basketball court
- Fr. Joe Doyle, SJ playing field
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