Page 91 - Gonzaga at 60
P. 91
91
GONZAGA AT SIXTY: A WORK IN PROGRESS
of two day large group school retreat. Atempts are made to cater for all tastes and appeites.
The Fith year retreat is provided over four days, in Clongowes or Manresa, by a range
of staf members to their own students, which does much to enhance mutual pupil-teacher
understanding and friendship. Transiion year students spend a day of relecion, prayer
and group dynamics in Tallaght Priory. Because of the increasing emphasis on the quality of
interpersonal relaionships, this retreat is becoming ever more efecive.
The Third year, one day retreat is given in the school by a Belvederian, Gerry Keegan, who is
one of the most sought ater retreat directors in the country. Because of his background, Gerry
has a paricular commitment to the Jesuit schools and ive of his nephews are Gonzagans.
In an atempt to integrate new pupils into the life, ethos and values of the College, the First
year’s experience a Peer retreat given by the Sixth year. Topics covered include: Ethos of Gonzaga
[Men for Others], School Community, Co-Curricular Aciviies, Bullying, Respect, Homework and
Study, all in a context of Prayer. Of the ninety-two Sixth year’s, thirty-two can be involved in
delivering the four day retreat programme to First year. This does much to breed the type of
Community to which it’s aims aspire.
Beginning in 2011, a Scripture Union Team will administer the Second Year retreat and
also ofer a variety of Teen Faith Group weekends at their centre in Ovoca Manor, Wicklow.
These thrice annual young faith gatherings can be enormously efecive in making God real and
meaningful, and in building solid and sustained relaionships with God, which is what all faith
formaion is surely all about. Exciing imes and enterprises, certainly!
Ambiions such as these, and the concern for their fulilment, is what makes my lifelong
involvement with Jesuits and Jesuit educaion, in a variety of schools, so meaningful and most
uterly worthwhile.
Not only that, but Ignaius of Loyola, that ulimate visionary pragmaist, who once assured
that the Greater Glory of God was paramount, might perhaps approve!
Daniel McNelis
June 2010
GONZAGA AT SIXTY: A WORK IN PROGRESS
of two day large group school retreat. Atempts are made to cater for all tastes and appeites.
The Fith year retreat is provided over four days, in Clongowes or Manresa, by a range
of staf members to their own students, which does much to enhance mutual pupil-teacher
understanding and friendship. Transiion year students spend a day of relecion, prayer
and group dynamics in Tallaght Priory. Because of the increasing emphasis on the quality of
interpersonal relaionships, this retreat is becoming ever more efecive.
The Third year, one day retreat is given in the school by a Belvederian, Gerry Keegan, who is
one of the most sought ater retreat directors in the country. Because of his background, Gerry
has a paricular commitment to the Jesuit schools and ive of his nephews are Gonzagans.
In an atempt to integrate new pupils into the life, ethos and values of the College, the First
year’s experience a Peer retreat given by the Sixth year. Topics covered include: Ethos of Gonzaga
[Men for Others], School Community, Co-Curricular Aciviies, Bullying, Respect, Homework and
Study, all in a context of Prayer. Of the ninety-two Sixth year’s, thirty-two can be involved in
delivering the four day retreat programme to First year. This does much to breed the type of
Community to which it’s aims aspire.
Beginning in 2011, a Scripture Union Team will administer the Second Year retreat and
also ofer a variety of Teen Faith Group weekends at their centre in Ovoca Manor, Wicklow.
These thrice annual young faith gatherings can be enormously efecive in making God real and
meaningful, and in building solid and sustained relaionships with God, which is what all faith
formaion is surely all about. Exciing imes and enterprises, certainly!
Ambiions such as these, and the concern for their fulilment, is what makes my lifelong
involvement with Jesuits and Jesuit educaion, in a variety of schools, so meaningful and most
uterly worthwhile.
Not only that, but Ignaius of Loyola, that ulimate visionary pragmaist, who once assured
that the Greater Glory of God was paramount, might perhaps approve!
Daniel McNelis
June 2010
