Catholic Memorial Welcomes Newest Class of Knights to Campus
The incoming Catholic Memorial Class of 2022 attended Day One of the overnight Freshman Experience Retreat.
West Roxbury, Mass.— With a pillow in one hand and drawstring bag in another, members of Catholic Memorial School’s Class of 2022 arrived to a campus full of smiles, welcome signs and firm handshakes from over 60 peer ministers, faculty and staff at the annual Freshman Experience Retreat on Tuesday morning.
Seniors from the school's Peer Ministry Program led an opening prayer service in the Ronald S. Perry Gymnasium before the freshmen’s parents said their goodbyes. After meeting their small group leaders, the freshmen returned to the Perry Gymnasium where senior peer minister Tommy Fisher delivered his talk on how to navigate “being new” at the high school.
“You got to get involved, boys,” said Fisher, a member of the varsity baseball team who use to see himself as shy and quiet before starting at the high school.
“Get out of your comfort zone, like I have, and trust that soon enough this will be your second home.”
Director of Campus Ministry Kevin Durazo launched the retreat’s current format in 2016. The retreat integrates freshmen who attended middle school at Catholic Memorial School with those who attended middle school elsewhere. This year, over 125 freshmen registered for the mandatory overnight retreat.
“The emphasis of our current program is to both familiarize students with our facilities, but more importantly to have an experience of belonging and brotherhood-building prior to the academic start of the year,” said Mr. Durazo.
Over the next 48 hours, the school’s senior peer ministers work with the incoming freshmen to ease the transition into high school. The freshmen engage in small-group discussion and team-building exercises while hearing talks from upperclassmen about their own life-changing experiences at Catholic Memorial School.
The Peer Ministry Program intends to leave the incoming students with an understanding of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers culture, a greater sense of belonging, and supportive relationships with faculty, staff, student leaders and fellow incoming freshman at the high school.
The Peer Ministry Program intends to leave the incoming students with an understanding of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers culture, a greater sense of belonging, and supportive relationships with faculty, staff, student leaders and fellow incoming freshman at the high school.
The program concludes with a closing ceremony and reception alongside the freshmen’s parents on Wednesday afternoon.
Follow our Instagram story @catholic_memorial for live updates of the Freshman Experience.
Become a Man of Action at Catholic Memorial
CM prepares students for the rigors of college and beyond. While here, boys embark on service-learning opportunities, leadership development, and character formation programs inspiring them to become confident, courageous young men motivated to do good in the world.
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Catholic Memorial
Catholic Memorial
235 Baker StreetWest Roxbury, MA 02132P. (617) 469-8000F. (617) 977-5689
About Us
Catholic Memorial, the Christian Brothers School of Boston, prepares boys for college, manhood and a world full of unknown challenges, ambiguity and complex problems and the importance of relationships.
