The Spire

George Caldwell ’24

News Editor

This past Friday, the College of the Holy Cross offered its “Big Chill Retreat” at the Joyce Contemplative Center in nearby Holden, Massachusetts. What was special about this retreat in particular was that it gave students freedom to choose however they wanted to spend their time. As the event’s description says, “Take some time away from campus to rest, recharge, and breathe. Come away to the Joyce Contemplative Center for 24 hours to disconnect from campus and connect with yourself and others. You may want to take time to do artwork, snowshoe in the trails of the JCC, take a nap and eat good food! Whatever you feel like you need, you are welcome to do for this brief time away!” Ralph Carbone and David Brush, both Seniors, took this retreat as an opportunity to recharge and reflect on their final semester on the Hill. Carbone explained his motivations for going on the retreat, saying, “I wanted to get away from campus and connect with my friends. The retreat was a great opportunity for introspection especially amidst the season of lent. Also, I didn’t want to graduate without going to the JCC at least once.” The fact that this was one of his last chances to go to the JCC was also an excuse for Brush to go on this retreat. As he explained, “I decided to go on the Big Chill Retreat because I couldn’t let myself graduate without experiencing the JCC.”

Carbone spent most of the retreat meditating and simply taking a break from the daily hustle of campus life. He reflected on his time at the JCC, saying, “The retreat gave students the opportunity to learn a new type of meditation, which can be helpful alongside prayer. In particular, my friends and I walked along the trail, reminiscing on the old days. Overall, I thought the experience reminded me of what reality is.” David Brush seems to have been very happy with the lack of a set itinerary for the trip “The retreat was mostly unstructured, allowing me to hang out with old friends and meet plenty of new ones. Everyone on the retreat was super friendly, and we bonded through hikes, games, delicious meals, and failed attempts at holding yoga positions,” he said.

From their time spent away from campus, both seniors learned valuable lessons and left with an improved state of mind. David Brush explained, “The retreat left me feeling rested and recharged for the remainder of the semester. It allowed me to slow down and remember how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many people that I love.” Ralph Carbone also seemed to receive  profound satisfaction from his time in the woods, saying, “From this retreat, I gained a sense of direction. Being a senior and all, we’re left asking ourselves the question: “Now What?” The most important aspect of retreats like the Big Chill is coming away with the ability to discern where your desires are coming from.” Every student has a different experience when they spend time at the Joyce Contemplative Center, but Brush and Carbone seem to have had a similar experience.  Both Seniors were able to reflect on the time they have spent at Holy Cross and on how they want to spend the time that remains.

Copy Edited by Lilly Baumfeld ‘27