Peer leaders unite school

By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Quinton Pierson's freshman retreat at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady had a profound impact on him.

"I came as a new student in ninth grade," he explained. "I didn't know any other kids. On retreat, I learned that I wasn't alone."

His positive retreat experience led Quinton, now a senior, to volunteer this year as a peer retreat team leader. At ND-BG, the teams lead retreats for each grade level in the school. The retreats include icebreakers, activities and witness talks designed to help participants open up to one another and see they are not alone as they struggle with the challenges of being a Christian teen today.

Sharing faith

The witness talks delivered by the youth often have the biggest impact on retreatants, according to Sheila Wahl, campus minister at ND-BG.

"They share with their peers their faith," she said. "They share personal things that are difficult for adults to share."

Often, Mrs. Wahl said, young people feel as if they are all alone in their struggles. Through the peer-led retreats, the youth can see they aren't alone.

"The retreats help them realize that we all experience the same feelings," she said. "Maybe the circumstances are different, but the feelings are the same."

Eager to participate

The retreat team members, like many youth involved in service projects, approach their task with enthusiasm. Karla Schumaker, a senior retreat team member at the school said, "I do school retreats and parish retreats. I like it a lot because it shows it's okay to have fun and bring kids closer to their faith."

Classmate Brian Edwards agreed, saying, "We have a lot more fun than people might think."

According to the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, peer-led retreats can be a powerful experience. The NFCYM's document, "From Age to Age: The Challenge of Worship with Adolescents," states, "Their first professions of personal belief are deeply moving to those privileged to hear them on retreats, during service experiences and in other catechetical settings. Their enthusiasm supports our taking risks as a community to spread the Gospel."

Mrs. Wahl has been impressed with the peer leaders. "It's wonderful," she said. "They share positive attitudes."

Role models

The peer leaders represent a cross-section of the school community, from football players to the leads in the school play. That provides retreatants with a variety of role models.

"We're real people," senior Michael Purcell said. "Before I came here, I thought retreats were for religious fanatics. But on our retreats, they know where we're coming from."

Having seniors share with younger students is important for faith development as well as for fostering a sense of community. According to Jessica Michael, a retreat team leader, "it's good for them to see us as vulnerable."

Carry-over effect

Retreatants often see their classmates as well as the peer leaders in a different light. The end result is a stronger sense of unity within the class, a sense that spreads through the entire school community.

"You can see the affects of the retreats at the bus stop or in the halls," said Jessica. "It brings the school together. It's a connecting force."

Classmate Bryan Mattice agreed, saying: "It carries on outside of retreat and outside of school. It's not just in the realm of the retreat."

The peer leaders know they play an important role in the faith development of the retreatants. According to peer leader Katie Hauck, "we're bringing them our faith. They see it's okay to have God in your life. This is especially important in the younger grades. The retreats show them they could all get along."

Working at it

Serving as peer retreat team leaders, while an enjoyable experience, is more than fun and games. The peer leaders meet before retreats to plan the activities and determine what will work with different age groups. They also set a theme for the retreat and prepare witness talks.

And the peer leaders know that their ministry isn't over when the retreat is over.

"As a peer minister, it's a test of our faith," said Bryan. "Wherever we go, people are watching. You talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?"

(11-04-99) [[In-content Ad]]