The Saint Paul’s Senior Retreat is an extremely highly anticipated moment in a Saint Paul’s student’s career. To many graduates, it is the most impactful experience a student goes through.

“It shed light on the true brotherhood within Saint Paul’s,” stated Kaiden Klebba, Class of 2024.

If asked about the retreat, nearly every student will bring up the brotherhood. Although the term “brotherhood” may seem cliché, its constant mention attests to its authenticity.

The effectiveness of the retreat is evident through the alumni body. “If I see a classmate of mine when our paths cross, I am able to have an easy conversation with them all because of our shared experiences at Saint Paul’s, which, of course, culminated at the senior retreat,” remarked Director Andrew Dart (Class of 2003). Dart has taught at Saint Paul’s for 17 years, all of which he has been a retreat staff member.

The memories and connections one builds during the retreat genuinely last a lifetime.

However, the retreat’s mystery, as much as its hype, makes it such a notable moment. Beginning in eighth grade, students quickly realize the futility of trying to discover the retreat’s secrets.

“That’s a great question” is a response every student will hear at least once before they become seniors.

For current senior Trey Rather, and many other seniors, the confidentiality adds to the retreat’s allure. “In hindsight, knowing the secrets of the retreat would have lessened the overall experience.” The surprise, as much as the actual events, makes the retreat what it is.

For Director Dart, this shared bond is evident during the retreat and continues to strengthen with time. He sees firsthand how it shapes the men who graduate from Saint Paul’s, particularly in his role as part of the retreat staff for the past 17 years. “I can see in my students and each graduating class the profound impact it has on them and the memories each one shares with their classmates when I see them at their own reunions,” Dart explained.

His dedication to the retreat speaks volumes about its importance in the formation of Saint Paul’s students. “There’s a reason I have been a part of the senior retreat staff for 17 years — it’s something I believe plays a vital role in the formation of the men of Saint Paul’s,” Dart concluded.

For Coach Jeff Drivon, the retreat’s lasting impact is evident even 24 years after his own experience: “What I remember most about my Saint Paul senior retreat experience is the feeling that my class really had an oneness about ourselves after we left the Gulf Coast Baptist Assembly Center. We might have come from different friend groups, backgrounds, etc., but we as a class were one unit and truly became brothers over the course of the three days we were there. Till this day, if I see a classmate, we catch up with what has been going on in life, and we will discuss how things are here, at Saint Paul’s, and I will give the updates and beyond.”

“The impact it has left me 24 years later is this,” Coach Drivon continued. “We are truly blessed to be at a school where relationships can take on a bond forever, and we can experience retreats, the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and other liturgies. My hope and wish is that the students today see this and let it sink into their souls so that they may let God work in their lives.”

As Freshman Connor Ayala looks ahead to his own senior retreat experience, and he shares his excitement. “I think senior retreat will be a very bonding experience with my class, and I imagine it being very fun with a lot of different things on a campsite. I hope to just get a fun experience with my class, but overall, I hope to get closer with my class and enjoy my time.”

Indeed, the senior retreat at Saint Paul’s is more than just a memorable event. It is a transformative experience that shapes the relationships among students and their connection to their faith.

From the bonds of brotherhood to the personal growth that occurs through shared spiritual experiences, the retreat remains one of the most defining moments for a Saint Paul’s student.

As for details of what actually goes on at the retreat…

“That’s a great question.”