In the Gospel of Matthew (Mt: 5:16) Jesus said, "Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father".

On Thursday, Sept. 25, sixty-two 7th graders from John Paul II Catholic School came together for its annual class retreat at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Beaufort. The theme of the day was finding the light of Christ within and learning how to share it with others. The day was prayerful, joyful, and filled with opportunities for our young Golden Warriors to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ and with one another.

Leading the retreat was the JPII ACTS29 Peer Ministry Team, a dedicated group of seniors who planned and carried out the entire day. They gave presentations, led small group discussions, and guided both faith and recreational activities. The witness of these student leaders—sharing their own faith and walking with their younger peers—made the retreat especially meaningful.

The retreat concluded with a powerful time of Eucharistic Adoration, in which each student was given a prayer card filled out by one of their classmates earlier in the retreat with an intention for prayer. Each student prayed for a classmate’s need while experiencing time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

“This retreat was a beautiful opportunity for our 7th graders to step away from the busyness of daily life and simply focus on Christ," said JPII Campus Minister Deacon Brent Heathcott. "It was also inspiring to see our ACTS29 seniors serving as role models, walking side-by-side with our 7^th graders through prayer, deep discussions, activities and fellowship. I could not be prouder of our ACTS29 team!”

The retreat was truly a success, not only for our 7th grade students but also for the ACTS29 Peer Ministry Team, who continue to live out our SHIELD values of Service, Leadership, and Discipleship in powerful ways.