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School News
Pius X holds annual retreat day
On March 15, Pius X held its 11th annual Retreat Day for its
sophomore, junior and senior students.
The sophomore retreat theme was “Respect: Respect for
God, Self and Others.” At the boys’ retreat, students listened
to three speakers, Bill Schlautman, a math teacher at Pius
X, Jeff Schinstock, Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the
Diocese of Lincoln and Michael
Zimmer, seminarian for the Diocese
of Lincoln. A dodge ball tournament
was one of the highlights of their day.
At the girls’ site, they heard talks
from Fr. Joseph Faulkner, theology
teacher at Pius X, Molly Davies,
director of the Magis – Catholic
Teacher Service Corps and from
college student Ryan Heier. They
also enjoyed a skit and discussion
with the drama group R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
from Omaha.
The junior retreat theme was
“Servant Leadership.” They began
their day by listening to Molly
Davies and created skits that helped
them understand what it means to
be a servant leader. For part of their
day, the juniors went to 25 various
organizations and volunteered for
a service project. Organizations
included Villa Marie, St. Mary’s,
St. Patrick’s and St. John’s Schools,
Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach, the
Peoples’ City Mission, St. Vincent de
Paul, The Gathering Place, Madonna
Rehabilitation Hospital, Partners in
Recovery, the Marian Sisters, the
School Sisters of Christ the King,
Bright Lights, City Impact, Clark
Jeary, Clyde Malone Community
Center, Friendship Home, Habitat for
Humanity, the Indian Center, KVSS
Spirit Catholic Radio, Pius X High
School, Sewing for Babies, Tabitha
– Meals on Wheels and the YWCA.
Over 800 hours of community service
were performed, and over 40 parents
volunteered to drive the students and
participate in the day with them!
Photos courtesy of the yearbook staff
At the senior retreat, the students
gathered together for a breakfast prepared by St. Peter’s Food
Service Staff, which was paid for through donations from the
senior parents. Taylor Ashburn’s reflection framed the retreat
for all the seniors as he spoke to them during breakfast.
After the breakfast, the boys and girls went to separate sites
for the remainder of their retreat. The senior boys examined
various aspects of Catholic manhood in their future roles as
husbands, fathers or priests. They heard from Fr. Buhman,
Doug Barry, John Hyland, Tom
Korta and a panel of college students
during the day. The ladies witnessed
powerful examples of faith in Pius
X teachers Katie Elsener, Sally
Burt and superintendent, Fr. Jim
Meysenburg. The speakers focused on
the power of prayer in their lives and
the importance of faith. The girls also
asked questions to the college panel of
recent Pius X graduates, and enjoyed
a period of personal testimony which
focused on their reliance in God and
prayer during times of struggle.
All five of the retreats had a
Eucharistic Holy Hour with an
opportunity for Confession, and
they also had time to participate in
small groups led by parents, faculty,
college students and other volunteers.
The retreat officially concluded on
Tuesday morning with a closing allschool
Mass celebrated by Fr. Joseph
Faulkner.
The faculty and staff at Pius X led
by Fr. Joseph Bernardo, Sr. Veronica
Volkmer, Tom Korta, Jan Frayser
and Emily Wyatt, were responsible
for planning and leading the retreats.
Nearly 200 volunteers helped to make
this retreat day a reality. Pius X is
grateful for all of the support from the
priests and religious of our diocese, as
well as parents, alumni, and all other
volunteers. It would not be possible
without the generosity of so many
supporters of Pius X!
9 Pius Connections ❖ Spring 2010