On Monday, November 19th, the St. Dom’s Senior Class trickled into the school, carrying backpacks, sleeping bags, and pillows. It was 7:30 in the morning and almost everyone looked tired, but behind the sleepy exteriors was relief that they wouldn’t have to go to classes that day (or for the rest of the week, for that matter.) While the rest of the students would be stuck in school three days before Thanksgiving break, the class of ’08 would be at Senior Retreat.

Once all seventy members of the class were gathered in the Commons, they were split into groups and boarded the buses. It was about an hour and a half ride to Alfred, Maine and most people spent it sleeping. When they arrived at the Spiritual Center, everyone was sent to one of two buildings, divided by boys and girls. They settled into their rooms, got their bearings, and met back in the main building for a morning activity. What was left of the morning was spent talking about their experiences at St. Dom’s and recounting the past four years of high school. After a lunch of tacos, the seniors had another session followed by free time. Outside, there was a football game going on, and inside, an intense game of catchphrase. Despite some mixed feelings about Retreat earlier, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

As the sun sank and the sky became dark, the seniors gathered in the main building for Mass, followed by dinner in the dining hall. When they returned after dinner, they had one more session left, the most intense one yet. For about three solid hours, the senior class talked about their personal lives and got to know each other better in one night than they had in almost four years. Afterwards, they all mingled in the basement of the spiritual center, talking about the day and making conversations with people that they didn’t usually talk to. There was laughter, tears, and some amusing pictures taken. At midnight, the boys went to their building and the girls retired upstairs. It had been an exhausting day and some fell asleep right away, while others stayed up until about 3 a.m. talking.

Everyone rolled out of bed to be downstairs for one last Mass at 8:00 the next morning. After breakfast, the seniors packed up their bags and waited outside for the buses to arrive. They were met by one final surprise: snow. The flakes came down slowly, not like a violent storm, but more of a cheerful reminder that winter was here. They finally boarded the bus and headed back to Auburn, singing along with Usher on the radio. When they pulled into the St. Dom’s parking lot, they were closer than they had ever been before.