Tuesday-Thursday, August 28-30, 2012
The three-day Novus Freshman Retreat offers incoming undergraduate students the opportunity to connect with one another and with Catholic upperclassmen and to learn more about Catholic life at Penn. Student leaders share their experience of balancing social life, faith, and academics while exploring the many opportunities for spiritual and faith formation available through the Penn Newman Ministry. Novus offers time for communal prayer, small group discussion, recreational activities, and individual reflection.
This retreat, held at the Penn Newman Center, will begin on Tuesday afternoon and end on Thursday morning before the beginning of Penn's New Student Orientation.
The three days of the retreat include social, service and spiritual activities that get everyone excited for the start of a great year and future involvement with the Newman Center. The high rate of freshmen that become upperclassmen leaders is evidence of how the retreat is an unforgettable experience no one wants to miss!
Family members are invited to join us for a prayer service and barbecue beginning at about 5:00 pm on August 28. You can park in our parking lot on Sansom St. between 37th & 38th after 4:30pm. The retreat will begin at approximately 6:30pm.
Click here to register for the Novus Freshman Retreat!
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the retreat cost?
The retreat will cost $50 per person. Checks may be made payable to Penn Newman. Separately, the University will charge students a nominal fee for moving in early, but this fee is not associated with or handled by Penn Newman.
Will the retreat conflict with New Student Orientation?
No. On Thursday, August 30, the retreat will end just before lunchtime to give you plenty of time to get lunch and clean up before NSO activities begin.
How does early move-in work?
Students who participate in Novus move into their residence hall on Tuesday, August 28. More details will be provided after registering for the retreat.
Can I bring all my personal move-in items when I move in on August 28?
Yes, you may bring all your items for early move-in! Since you will have access to your college house on the morning of Tuesday, August 28, you will have plenty of time to move into your actual dorm room before joining us at Newman at 5:00 pm for the retreat.
Where will we be sleeping and showering on the days of the retreat?
You will be sleeping at the Newman Center. While the Newman Center does not have sleeping quarters per se, you should bring a sleeping bag, or just a pillow and some blankets or maybe a comforter, and all students will be "camping out" on the floor or on sofas. (Air mattresses or egg-crates are also welcome.) Both freshman participants and upperclass leaders will be sleeping at the Center, under the supervision of a member of the professional staff. There will be separate sleeping areas for men and women (and staff will be sleeping in a separate room).
What service projects will we be doing?
Details for service projects haven't yet been finalized. Our group will be splitting up into several smaller groups to go out to various sites in Philly for projects. You may want to plan to bring "work clothes" that you don't mind getting dirty; if any more specific attire is necessary, registered retreatants will be notified as soon as that information is available prior to the retreat.
Are there safety concerns with the service projects?
The staff memers coordinating the service projects are very wise and experienced about what is safe and would never expose any of our students to unnecessary risks. However, we allow all retreatants to make individual decisions about what they are comfortable doing; i.e., if you do not want to participate in some part of the retreat, you have that choice.
If you have any further questions contact Assistant Director Jeff Klein at jeffklein@newman.upenn.edu.
What Upperclassmen Say About Their Freshman Retreat Experience
I think the Newman Freshman Retreat is by far the best way to begin one's undergraduate experience at Penn. Socially, you leave after a few days with a group of people whom you already know and recognize on campus, no matter where you are from. Emotionally, you are able to step back and take a breath before your whirlwind beginning to collect your thoughts on this transition to college. And most importantly--you are able, at the beginning of your college career, to place it in a spiritual perspective. Holding onto your faith is essential in college, and the retreat offers you a glimpse into the very-much-alive Catholic Community at Penn and in University City. If you are Catholic, want to move in early, and meet some tremendous freshmen, upperclassmen and adult leaders, the Freshman Retreat at Newman is the ideal setting.
Eric Banecker
The College of Arts and Science | University of Pennsylvania '11
Email: ejb@sas.upenn.edu
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The Novus Freshmen Retreat was a wonderful foray into life at Penn. By the time I left Newman to join my classmates for new student orientation, I had already formed a strong group of friends—both freshmen and upperclassmen—who shared in my beliefs. It was so refreshing to find other students who weren’t averse to openly exploring their faith.
And did I mention how much fun we had?! The freshmen retreat was only the beginning of my fabulous experience with the Penn Newman Center. It is a truly well-rounded organization that caters to all aspects of a college student’s life: social events, community service, leadership, spiritual reflection, meals (!), intellectual discussions, retreats, fabulous friends … Newman has it all!
Maria Bellantoni
The College of Arts and Sciences| University of Pennsylvania '12
Email: mbella@sas.upenn.edu
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Deciding to go on the Novus retreat was the best decision I made this year. The retreat was an amazing way to relax, reflect and get in touch with my faith before beginning an overwhelming (and exciting!) NSO. The retreat was an awesome way to meet people that I might never have crossed paths with at Penn -- people who were kind, fun, and shared my faith as well as my desire to grow in faith. At the Novus retreat I was fully welcomed into a vibrant, fun, spiritual, and passionate community. Everyone from the students to the parish staff made me feel like I belonged. I was blessed to meet some of my closest friends on campus at Novus.
Throughout the year the Newman Center has been a home to me, and the community has provided a wonderful sense of support -- I personally can’t think of any better way to have started my time at Penn!
Liz Woods
The Wharton School | University of Pennsylvania '14
Email: elwoods@wharton.upenn.edu
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The Freshman Retreat was an incredibly valuable opportunity for me to find a niche before school even began. Faith is an important part of my life and change requires much faith. Therefore, during the retreat I was able to become oriented with something familiar to me and other people who recognized and followed it too. Then throughout the year, the Newman Center helped sustain that faith and helped it thrive.
Keara Stewart
The School of Nursing | University of Pennsylvania '12
Email: stewartk@nursing.upenn.edu
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I don't think anything could have made me feel more excited to begin my college experience at Penn than the Novus Freshman Retreat did. From the moment I stepped on campus and into the Newman Catholic Center I felt at home, and meeting so many awesome Upperclassmen and Freshmen just like myself before class had even started made the transition into college so seamless and fun! The Novus Freshman Retreat gave me the chance to grow in my faith, as I have found that maintaining that faith is so important throughout college. It allowed me to get to know Penn's campus and dynamics so well, and it also gave me the opportunity to get to know so many fun and unique people! I met some of my best friends at Penn on the Freshman Retreat and, without the Retreat and the Newman Catholic Center, I don't know how I could have started my Penn experience feeling so invigorated!
After the Retreat and getting to know so many new friends, I walked down Locust Walk constantly smiling and excited to have kicked off my Penn experience with a bang. The Newman Catholic Center has given me so much throughout my college career, and it all began with the Novus Freshman Retreat!
Andrew Barr
The School of Engineering and Applied Science | University of Pennsylvania '11
Email: ambarr@seas.upenn.edu
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Click here to register for the Novus Freshman Retreat!
