Growing in Faith and Resilience — Middle School Retreats 2025
This fall, our middle school students took time away from their usual classroom routines to focus on something deeper — their faith, their friendships, and the strength that comes from resilience. Guided by the passage from Romans 5:3-5 — “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…” — students in grades 5–8 spent their retreat days exploring what it means to persevere and trust in God during life’s challenges.
Each grade level’s retreat looked a little different, but all shared a common purpose: to help students recognize that faith, community, and the Holy Spirit give us the courage to keep going, even when times get tough.
Fifth graders gathered at St. Joseph, where they were joined by Krystal Montgomery and Deacon Rod, who led the students in Adoration. The day began with the reminder that each person is sacred, made in God’s image, and equal in dignity. From that foundation, students explored how recognizing their worth helps build resilience. They participated in a marshmallow-and-toothpick building challenge to see which team could create the tallest structure and made “compliment bags,” decorating them and filling each classmate’s bag with kind and encouraging words. Through faith, fun, and teamwork, students learned how supporting one another strengthens both confidence and community.
Sixth graders gathered at Holy Trinity in Haugen, where teamwork and creativity set the tone for the day. Groups built towers out of straws and twist ties, played “keep the balloon up,” and even designed outfits for a newspaper fashion show. The winning teams received a can of beets — a playful reminder that they “beat” the competition!
Through laughter and challenges (like being told mid-activity they could only use one hand—or none at all!), students learned how to adapt when circumstances change. Mrs. Hyllested shared a story about a tree growing on a rocky cliff — a reminder that growth often happens in difficult environments, especially when we have others to support us.
During prayer time and Adoration, students reflected on their own struggles and heard messages of hope, using the examples of Job, John, and Jesus to see how faith sustains us through adversity.
Later, they spent time in prayer, sharing personal stories about tough times and discussing how God – and the people around us — help us overcome. In small group discussions, students dove deeper into what resilience looks like in their own lives and how they can support one another through faith and friendship.
Eighth graders traveled to Our Lady of Lourdes (Dobie), where they reflected on tough situations that make us want to give up — and explored the strategies and spiritual tools we have to push through.
Father Phil Juza led them in Adoration and a talk focused on Romans 5:3-5, reminding students that endurance and hope are born through struggle and prayer.
Throughout the day, they participated in skits, crafts, and other hands-on activities, all centered on developing resilience and lifting one another up as a class community. Students’ creative projects from the retreat can be seen on display above the 8th-grade lockers and near the back door — a colorful reminder of their growth in faith and perseverance.
Across all grades, the retreats shared one unifying message: we are never alone in our struggles. God walks with us, and our classmates, teachers, and parish communities are part of His support for us. Whether through teamwork, reflection, or shared laughter, our middle schoolers discovered that resilience is not just about standing firm—it’s about leaning on God and one another to rise again, stronger than before.
Seventh graders also focused on the theme of Resilience through a mix of engaging presentations, team-building activities, and quiet reflection. Students played games like stacking cups with only a rope and rubber band, and an “extreme balloon keep-up” challenge that showed how much easier it is to succeed when we work together.
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