This March, the 31st Encounter retreat took place for a group of Padua Girls. As a former Encounterite, I was excited to hear about the girls’ experiences. Encounter is a four day retreat where you feel completely disconnected from the rest of the world, but in a good way. I can say I have never felt so at peace, as many of the other girls would agree. It is a good time to connect with your faith, make close bonds with your Encounter sisters, and get away from any stress. I don’t want to say too much about the retreat because one of the best things about it is all of the little surprises that make the experience so great. All I will say is that Encounter is it will change the way you see things.
The other girls who attended Encounter XXXI agree. Natalie Roddy, a junior who became an Encounterite this weekend said that she has never experienced anything like it. Encounter allowed her to relax and also express herself and open up to people she would never feel comfortable opening up to usually. Chaney Giordano, a senior attendee, said that her weekend was one of the best she has ever had. While this group of Encounterites hit a snag in scheduling when the usual Encounter house was double booked, many of the girls said they loved staying in the cabins and being around such beautiful scenery. Pictures from the retreat show a beautiful lake and perfect weather, making the weekend great for hikes and spending time outdoors.
The weekend ended with a mass in Roberto Hall, where the girls received their Encounter crosses. The mass was very moving and you could see the close bonds the girls had made over the weekend. Overall the weekend was successful. For any girls thinking about going on Encounter, I would definitely recommend it. It will change your life!