The biggest Fall retreat in USF Catholic Student Union (CSU) history kicked off on Friday, October 11, with an opening session, a shared dinner, and an engaging talk titled “Reclaimed by the King,” by Brother of Hope Clinton Reed. Followed immediately by small group discussions, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and Confession, students were able to open their hearts to their community and to God. 

In many ways this retreat was a culmination of five years of community growth. Through tireless on-campus outreach, weekly community meetings, and other fellowship events, the CSU had taken evangelization to new heights. Coming into retreat, the staff made sure everything was just right for their students, even down to its discerned theme: Thy Kingdom Come

“We had a sense for a while…of the Lord wanting to do a work of healing in a number of different ways in our community. The healing that Jesus brought in his public ministry was always a sign of the coming of God’s kingdom,” shared Fr. Kyle Bell, the union’s spiritual leader and executive director. “So this sense… [is where] you get Thy Kingdom Come.

After a hearty breakfast and morning prayer, students listened to Fr. Kyle Bell talk about “Security in the Father,” where he outlined the effects of wounds on internal thought patterns and creation of false vows, highlighting how God desires to break every chain (i.e., the lies we hold within ourselves).
A time of silent personal prayer followed, offering students a beautiful opportunity to connect with God in their own individual, unique way. New students were especially touched by this intimate moment with the Lord, as USF dance and economics major Adriyanna Kushner shared, “After Fr. Kyle’s talk, we had time to reflect in silence, in prayer, and God gave me the opportunity to let him reveal himself to me. Being here…has really given me the time to be with God and let stresses go and find out more things about myself so that I can get closer to him.

The retreat also provided a time for peace and reflection for more veteran members of the CSU community. One student, Evan Donaldson, captures the experience of retreat beautifully through his witness: “Retreats are a place where the soul can really be released and have time to just relax. The mask comes off [from our] daily life and you can just be out in nature, be with your friends, be with the Lord, and learn about yourself and learn about the love that Christ has for us.”

Prayer time transitioned into an uplifting mass, followed by a delicious lunch and engaging small group discussions. The second talk on Saturday, “Healing through the Son,” was then excellently delivered by the passionate Kelsie Baumlin, former Life Teen counselor and inspirational speaker. She tenderly shared insights into humanity’s internal struggles and emphasized how Christ's incredible willingness to meet every person in their imperfections can transform lives. This powerful message was something that campus minister, Catherine Kuizon, hoped would resonate deeply with all the students, sparking a wave of healing and hope

“Something that was coming up for me in prayer was this lie we can believe that we just have to ‘suck it up’ spiritually,” she explained. “To be able to invite people into the truth that God doesn’t want us to white-knuckle our way through life…is really an honor.

With compelling new perspectives to consider, students dove into a vibrant time of community recreation, dinner, and the third talk of the weekend: “Freedom in the Spirit!” Delivered by Elizabeth Stein, the supervisor of Saint Paul Outreach’s (SPO) Florida Mission, this talk ignited a spark of enthusiasm among everyone in attendance. Elizabeth emphasized the incredible importance of believing in God’s promises, embracing a life of freedom in the spirit, and transforming into a vessel for God’s glory. Her powerful message both resonated and reflected what was already in the hearts of many students, including CSU student leader, Ella Lombard, a business finance major at USF. She reflected on how the CSU community has enriched her life, helping her forge lifelong friendships, deepen her relationship with the Lord, and inspire her to give back to fellow students.

“I originally joined the CSU last year at the start of my freshman year…[and] I actually came on fall retreat…as my first big event with the CSU. I met all of my best friends, my (current) roommates, and all of the students from last year. They gave me such a different perspective for how to deal with the growth in healing. Not only in a physical and emotional way, but also in a spiritual way, which really allowed my faith to grow. So because of how they helped me…I started to get slowly involved in planning [CSU end-of-semester] formals and singing worship. This year, I’m...part of the Bull’s Night [Tuesday] team, …a woman’s small group leader… [and] for this retreat, I’m on the worship team.”

After Elizabeth’s talk, students eased into a time of Adoration coupled with praise and worship, along with the opportunity to pray with members of the CSU staff and student leadership.

The retreat wrapped up on a high note that Sunday morning with breakfast and an inspiring talk by SPO missionary Theodore May on “Living in the Kingdom.” It was a truly uplifting experience that included a vibrant mass and a beautiful Eucharistic procession. USF students left feeling refreshed and energized, filled with new memories and strengthened friendships. They returned to their daily lives with a renewed sense of the Lord’s presence guiding them every step of the way! What an incredible weekend!