February 26, 2020

Dan Dougherty, President, Cristo Rey New York High School

Cristo Rey New York is a co-sponsored ministry of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

Students at Cristo Rey New York participate in grade-level retreats each year. They spend the day together off campus, taking a break from CRNYHS while getting to know themselves and one another a bit better. Freshmen reflect on the topics of service and justice, sophomores focus on their personal stories, and juniors discuss the theme of virtues.

Then in January of their senior year, students participate in an overnight retreat. This year, senior boys traveled upstate to Linwood Spiritual Center on the Hudson River, and senior girls headed to San Alfonso Retreat House on the Jersey Shore to spend a day and a half on their own personal “Camino.” Retreatants took an inward journey through their past, present, and future by participating in a variety of different activities. Students listened to reflections from their teachers and mentors, spent time in personal meditation, and participated in small group discussions.

During each phase of the retreat, seniors were encouraged to find where they felt the presence of God in their lives. They found comfort in realizing that God was with them in their past, is with them in their present, and will continue to be with them into their future. The feeling of God’s presence in their lives is the most important takeaway for the student retreatants, especially at a time in their lives when they are on the cusp of so much change. These mini-Caminos returned to CRNYHS campus, where faculty and staff surprised the seniors with a “Welcome Back” reception!