Oldenburg, In. — Oldenburg Academy, a Franciscan Catholic high school in southeastern Indiana, was able to provide students with the opportunity to deepen and strengthen their faith. Through the collaboration of other regional Franciscan high schools, students were given the opportunity to expand their spiritual journey. Recently, OA students joined forces with students from Roger Bacon (Cincinnati) and Padua (Parma, OH) High Schools on a retreat sponsored by St. Bonaventure University where they explored themes integral to the Franciscan intellectual tradition. It was such a positive experience for all involved that plans are underway for this to be an annual event.
For the second year in a row, OA and Roger Bacon students and staff embarked on a pilgrimage to the sacred Franciscan sites in Rome and Assisi as part of an Assisi Scholars program. The following are a few reflections from students on this life changing experience for all:
Sam Hubert ‘18- “Seeing all of the holy sites, and all of the people visiting them, really showed how unified the Catholic faith really is.”
Rachel Stoll ‘18- “The pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi was a once in a lifetime experience that allowed me to see the universality of the Catholic Church and to understand what it means to be Franciscan. Learning about the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare has inspired me to be more attentive and open to God’s voice in my life.”
Delaney Bruns ‘18 – “This trip was an amazing opportunity that I will forever be grateful for. A big take-a-way for me was realizing that we actually had Mass in front of St. Francis’s tomb, which made the experience even more valuable.”
Oldenburg Academy will continue to partner with other regional Catholic high schools continuing to inspire students. For more information, please contact President Diane Laake at [email protected]
