‘I entered the retreat burnt out and upset’

Fr. Mark McCormick
St. Carlo CSC Chaplain

At the end of February, we had our annual College Lenten Retreat at Terra Sancta, led by our own Bishop Scott Bullock. What a gift to our college students from South Dakota State University in Brookings, Chadron State University in Chadron, Nebraska, Black Hills State University in Spearfish and S.D. School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City. The theme of our retreat was “I Do Will It … Jesus’ Desire to Heal You” from Mt 8:3.

Throughout the weekend Bishop Bullock reflected on God’s healing and the Catholic teaching and understanding on healing, suffering and the cross. Reminding us that God does desire to heal us and will heal us, however, we must desire it as much as Jesus desires it for us.

In Bishop Bullock’s last talk, he broke open the scripture passage for us: Jesus heals the Gerasene Demoniac in Mk 5:1-20. Towards the end of the story, we hear and see how the townspeople now see Jesus’ healing of the Gerasene Demoniac who is now fully clothed and in his right mind. Jesus, now sends the healed man from the country of Gerasene to “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

We too, like Jesus, sent our college students home to their friends to tell them what the Lord has done for them on retreat. Amazing Grace! Thank you, Jesus, for your healing ways.

“At the healing service I was so moved watching all my friends go up and be healed and I was just filled with so much emotion and joy being able to see the Lord bring so much peace to the hearts I knew were troubled. The Lord also brought so much peace and joy to my heart as I was prayed over and experienced healing in my soul. After resting in the spirit, I just felt so comfortable being totally and utterly myself which was such a cool experience.” –Emma Codr, Junior at the Frassati Newman House at CSU

“The 2026 Lenten Retreat was a wonderful time to experience the healing offered by the Lord and grow in fellowship with others. Swamped by the busyness of school, athletics, and life, I entered the retreat burnt out and upset about the near constant work that I’ve had over the past two months. Reflecting on the healing offered by the Lord opened me to a greater understanding, acceptance, and love of the many duties that have been placed in my life. I realized that these duties are not a distraction from my relationship with God but rather an invitation to grow in dependence upon him and to realize he is present in everything we do!” –Caden Ekroth, Junior at St. Carlo’s CSC at SDSM&T

“Resting in the spirit is a grace I received that overwhelmed my soul with the Holy Spirit’s presence for surrender and healing. It quieted my heart, restoring it to a childlike dependence. I received the opportunity to pray over others and serve as a humble instrument through which God helped lift the burdens they were carrying. In those moments, I witnessed Christ working through me, reminding me that he often chooses ordinary people to be channels of his mercy, healing, and peace.” –Tanner Becker, Senior at St. Carlo’s CSC at SDSM&T

“The Newman Retreat this year was incredibly peaceful. Every year the students at CSC look forward to this weekend and it is always beautiful, but it was very clear that my heart and the hearts of the students who came needed healing. I feel lighter, more joyful, and at peace, ready for everything the Lord has planned for me in 2026 bringing the “real world” of retreat to the students who were unable to experience it.” –Kayal Brion, Director of the Frassati Newman House at CSU

“Before signing up for the healing retreat, I had convinced myself that I had no need of healing. However, the week leading up to it, God revealed some deep wounds that I had yet to allow myself to even fully feel. The first night of adoration was the most powerful for me — Bishop Bullock gave the first talk about how Jesus wills us to be healed, and I was starting to crumble. Going to adoration, I truly felt God’s love and was able to stop hiding myself from the abundance of it. The rest of the retreat then felt like an embracing of the Lord, and I came home feeling whole again.” –Mataya Ward, sophomore at Frassati Newman House at CSU