Kaitlyn Richards ‘29
News Editor
In today’s culture, the typical American college experience is defined by schedules packed to the brim, a constant pressure to meet demanding deadlines, and a strong culture of unstoppable productivity, yet true stillness can feel unfamiliar for most. The same fast-paced environment is echoed amongst the hills of Mount St. James, but for one weekend, Holy Cross students are invited to slow down, take a pause, and unwind.
Hosted by the Office of the College Chaplains at the Joyce Contemplative Center (JCC), in West Boylston, Massachusetts, the annual Big Chill Retreat invites students regardless of class year or major, to step away from the fast pace of everyday life on campus and engage in intentional rest, reflection, and even community. Rather than focusing on stressful assignments, time consuming activities, or high-stakes athletics, the JCC retreat emphasizes the importance of radical presence, encouraging students to unplug and unwind. The retreat’s design reflects a counterbalance to the demands of academic life and the students benefit from structured rest.
Taking place Feb. 20-21, 2026, the Big Chill Retreat provides students with an experience away from campus designed to foster personal growth and reflection. In a statement to The Spire, Director of Retreats Emily Rauer Davis ‘99 described that the Big Chill “is an overnight retreat that begins with dinner on Friday and ends in the late afternoon on Saturday.” According to Davis, the retreat offers students “a chance for students to get off campus to rest, reflect, and recharge”.
“The retreat is loosely structured,” Rauer Davis explained, offering students opportunities for “collective prayer and large or small group reflection” as“for the most part, though, students are free to use this time away to pray, read, create art, hike the trail at the Center, participate in yoga, eat great food, and get some good sleep,”. The flexibility allows students to create their own personal experience, different from their peers who attend the same retreat, making it accessible to all.
Beyond rest and reflection, the Big Chill Retreat offers students a unique connection with peers in an intentional setting. By bringing together students from various class years, majors, and social backgrounds, students are encouraged to engage in meaningful conversation and group reflection, without the pressure of campus life. The flexibility of the weekend cultivates a positive atmosphere to help students feel supported to participate. In the past, many found the retreat to be a space where conversations with peers felt truly genuine, and they created bonds that extend beyond the weekend at the JCC.
However, space for the retreat is limited, therefore, interested students must register in advance to secure a spot. The retreat is capped at forty students in attendance; interested students must register through the form on the Chaplain’s Ignite page, and pay the $55 registration fee to Laura Nelson at the Office of the College Chaplains. Since the retreat fills quickly each year, students are encouraged to register early if they hope to attend.
Ultimately, in a campus culture that rarely slows, the Big Chill Retreat offers a meaningful reminder that rest is not a luxury, but rather a necessity. Students will return from the JCC refreshed and ready to take on the many challenges of college life, but also look at the challenges with a new perspective. For most, the retreat will serve as a reminder that stillness does belong in college life.
Featured image courtesy of College of the Holy Cross
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