Austin Prep Seniors Gather at Merrimack College for Annual Senior Retreat

As Austin Prep seniors enter the final year of their High School Journey the Class of 2027 gathered at Merrimack College for a day of reflection, faith, community and preparation for the next chapter ahead.

This year's senior retreat represents a milestone that gave students the opportunity to step away from their daily routines, spend time together as a class and reflect on who they are and who they hope to become as they prepare to graduate from Austin Prep.

The retreat was centered on the theme of freedom and the call to use that freedom to grow, serve others and live out their faith. The retreat was led by Augustinian Fr. Michael Ssenfuma, alongside a group of Austin Prep junior and senior retreat leaders who helped guide their classmates throughout the day. The retreat was framed around the Augustinian vision of using personal freedom to live out one's faith and serve others. The day provided space away from daily academics for students to evaluate where they are and where they are called by God to go. The day was led by Augustinian Fr. Michael Ssenfuma and student retreat leaders, featuring personal reflection, shared prayer, interactive workshops, and a guided tour of the college campus.

A Morning of Reflection

The day began with an opening prayer and welcome before students took part in the first of two talks, “Free for What's Next.” The presentation encouraged students to reflect on the choices, expectations and fears that can shape their lives as they prepare to move into a new chapter.

Following the talk, students took part in a personal writing activity, Letters to My Future Self. Given time for quiet reflection, students wrote private letters to themselves about where they are now, what they hope for their future and the commitments they want to carry with them after graduation. Each student sealed their letter in an envelope to be returned to them later.

For Jonathan Malley ’27, the retreat also provided an opportunity to look back on his own journey at Austin Prep.

“Being on my last retreat at Merrimack as a senior felt like a full-circle moment that brought back memories from freshman year and reminded me how much we’ve all grown. It was really special to spend that time with my classmates, grow closer to God, and share one of our last retreats together. I had a great time, and I’m grateful that we were able to make these memories together as seniors.”

The morning continued with a second presentation, “Free to Leave a Legacy of Love,” which focused on relationships, service and the impact students can have on the people around them.

For senior retreat leader Caroline Forlizzi ’27, being part of the retreat as a retreat leader provided an opportunity to help create a meaningful experience for her classmates.

“Being a senior and being able to lead my fellow classmates is very important to me as it gave me the opportunity to make an impact on my fellow classmates. I am grateful to have the trust of my classmates and want to use my leadership role to make our senior retreat meaningful, inclusive, and memorable for everyone.”

Hands-On Activities

Following the talks, seniors participated in three hands-on stations that gave them an opportunity to work together and reflect on the themes of the retreat that were rooted in Austin Prep’s theme for the 2026-2027 school year: “Called to freedom, United in love.” 

At the Freedom Wall, students reflected on something they wanted to let go of, such as a fear about the future, comparison or doubt, and placed their thoughts on a large cross or banner.

At Chains to Change, students identified things that can hold them back, writing their thoughts on paper strips before joining them together into a chain. Students then broke the chain together as a visual representation of moving forward.

The Fruit of the Spirit Tree focused on the nine Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Students selected qualities they hoped to strengthen in their own lives and identified specific ways they could practice them before graduation.

The activities also gave the junior retreat leaders an opportunity to step into a leadership role alongside their senior peers. Junior retreat leader Ellie Poulos ’28 reflected on the experience and the opportunity to build connections across grade levels.

“I think that being a junior leading seniors gave me and the other junior volunteers an opportunity to step up and be leaders in our community. At the end of the day, we are all members of the Austin Prep community and it is important to look at each other as peers and not be afraid to branch out and make new friendships. Leading the senior retreat gave us a sneak peek into the leadership role we will be taking next year in the retreat leaders club, and I think I speak for all of the junior retreat leaders when I say that we are so grateful for everything that Sister Maria does to make all of this possible!”

The retreat concluded with students and Fr. Michael Ssenfuma leading the rosary for the group. This prayerful moment allowed students the space and time necessary to build interiority and reflect more deeply on the key themes of the day. 

The afternoon concluded with guided tours of Merrimack College, giving seniors the opportunity to explore a college campus together as they look ahead to their own college experiences.