This spring, nearly 40 students journeyed to a Norbertine Abbey for a retreat centered on the theme of the Jubilee Year: “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). Amid the peaceful rhythm of monastic life, we stepped away from the busyness of campus to reflect more deeply on the hope we find in Christ—and how that hope sustains and sends us.
Throughout the weekend, students heard powerful talks rooted in Scripture and Church teaching, led by both the staff of Aquinas and fellow students. One reflection on the Prodigal Son moved many to tears, reminding us that no matter how far we wander, the Father’s love runs to meet us. Another reflection on the Jubilee Year invited us to claim the freedom Christ offers—freedom from fear, shame, and the pressure to prove ourselves—and to begin again in grace.
Mass and Adoration became the anchor of our retreat. During Adoration, students knelt in reverent silence—some returning to prayer after weeks away, others emotional as they poured out their hearts in gratitude. Many students received the Sacrament of Reconciliation—some going to confession for the very first time, and others for the first time in years.
In a world that often equates hope with wishful thinking, this retreat reminded us that Christian hope is rooted in something unshakable: the love of God poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). As we returned to campus life, we carry with us not just peaceful memories, but a renewed conviction that we are never alone—and that in Christ, hope never fails.
