Mother-Son Retreat Offers Renewal and Adventure

On Saturday, January 24, mothers and sons gathered for Xaverian’s first-ever Mother-Son Retreat. This retreat was not only an opportunity for students to foster a deeper connection with their mothers, but it was also a powerful reminder of the importance of families finding faith together. “In our busy, screen-filled world, it can be hard for families to find time to spend together and to grow in faith,” said Xaverian’s Director of Staff Formation, Dr. Carolyn Herman, P ’26, ’29, ’30, who helped facilitate the retreat and also took part with her son, Jack. “The motivation for the Mother-Son Retreat was simply to carve out a day of dedicated time for mothers and sons to be together in a meaningful and purposeful way.”

The day started with lively, team-building activities led by the Hale Reservation team, an organization that aims to unite communities through “nature, education, and recreation.” During this time, students were encouraged to form new relationships with other families as they engaged in various activities requiring trust, patience, and energy. Many students noted that the team-building exercises were their favorite part of the day, allowing them to form quality friendships with students they had never met before.

Later in the day, Xaverian mother and Superintendent of the Boston Catholic Schools, Eileen McLaughlin, P ’30, delivered a keynote address exploring the nature of prayer and collective faith. This address gave students the opportunity and the space to reflect on their relationship with their families right before a writing activity during which students and mothers journaled their thoughts about their relationship with each other, God, and themselves.

After an ice cream treat from Crescent Ridge Dairy, students joined together with their mothers to share their reflections. This moment was particularly valuable for many participants. “I really appreciated sharing my answers with my mother because it was one of those honest moments on the retreat that really helped grow our relationship,” said Rodrigo Aranguena ’26, emphasizing the retreat’s mission of fostering renewal, growth, and unity. 

At the end of the day, all reunited for the celebration of the closing Mass. Father Bryan Parrish ’80, Pastor of Saint Joseph’s Parish in Needham, reflected on the importance of families holding onto both one another and their faith, echoing the retreat’s core mission: to create a space where mothers and sons could build their relationship with each other, fellow participants, and God in meaningful ways.

“Our planning team hoped that the retreat would inspire participants to carve out daily, intentional time to talk, play, and have fun together," said Dr. Herman. “I hope all of our families are encouraged to connect, and express love and gratitude to each other.”