Ignite Retreat Returns Off-Campus

After an hour of waiting in the dim basement of St. Ignatius Church and a mysterious bus ride through the dark, an unfamiliar shelter full of warmth greeted the cheering envoy of young freshmen.

Following a limited 2021 retreat, the Ignite program was back in full swing, offering Boston College freshmen an opportunity to step back from the chaotic hustle of student life to develop new relationships and engage in purposeful conversation.

This year, directors Tom Sarrouf, LSEHD ‘22, and Jill Sherwood, CSOM ‘22, led the forty retreatants over the February 4-6 weekend at Rolling Ridge, a retreat center in North Andover, Massachusetts. This manor sits atop a rolling bluff overlooking Lake Cochichewick.  Frozen at the time of Ignite, several bold freshmen shuffled onto the ice, tempting nature.  Luckily, all retreatants survived the weekend.

Directors Sarrouf and Sherwood were joined by Kelly Hughes from Boston College Campus Ministry, professor of the School of Theology & Ministry Fr. Bart Geger, S.J., and a team of previous retreatants serving as group leaders.

On the retreat, it was clear to see how BC’s Jesuit values were emphasized. The most notable example would be the guided Examens, a tool of prayer and reflection developed by St. Ignatius himself.

The Emmaus Walk, in which retreatants partnered for a walk and discussed personal spirituality, was an opportunity to meet new people and grow in understanding of each other. This exercise harkens back to the Jesuit emphasis on accompaniment, a central idea of the order’s championing the importance of shared pilgrimages, especially evident in the Jesuit practice of partnered missionaries.

Outside of these spiritual exercises, Ignite served as an escape for its retreatants. Whether it be in icebreakers, late night games, or simply during meals, the retreatants were removed, if only for a couple dozen hours, from the stress of exams, clubs, and roommates.

When asked about his favorite icebreaker, Sean Reiners, CSOM ‘24, answered, “All my friends and neighbors, for sure.  It was chaotic, and that was fun.” This game entails one person standing in a circle surrounded by watching eyes. He/She then lists a trait and whoever matches with it stands up and switches seats. It was a great opportunity to see how similar the participants were to each other.

Luke Sanford, MCAS ‘25, says his favorite retreat memory is an Ignite tradition which he prefers to remain a mystery. “I never would have expected it to happen and hit me that hard, but when it did I was filled with such warmth and relief flowed through me. If you can go, I highly recommend.”

On Sunday morning, just a few hours before the scheduled departure, Fr. Bart led a final Mass for the retreatants, complete with student-proclaimed readings, guitar accompaniment by Jackson Claflin, MCAS ‘25, and a lively closing hymn of clapping and cheering.

Featured Image Courtesy of Frank Wilhelm IV, CSOM ’24