Shenandoah University Catholic Campus Ministry held its second annual “First-Year Getaway (with Chick-fil-A)” Sept. 3 at Jim Barnett Park next to the main campus in Winchester.
Thirteen “first-years,” or freshmen, attended this student-run, two-hour evening event organized by five CCM student leaders. After enjoying lawn games and a picnic highlighted by Chick-fil-A nuggets, participants decorated personal bookmarks to take home as a souvenir.
To conclude the event, student leaders led small group discussions where the first-years shared their expectations and trepidations of the college journey ahead. The leaders invited the first-years to rely on their faith in Jesus and on the CCM community through the ups and downs of college life.
The mini-retreat and community-building experience capped off a successful Welcome Week on campus, which included two other annual events to introduce the first-years to CCM: “Luau with Ice Cream Truck” and the first Mass of the year, followed by “New School Year’s Eve Party.”
Filamor is campus minister at Shenandoah University in Winchester.
