Always making the top 10 list of challenges facing most college students is finding time to cram for exams, to catch a meal on the run, socialize with friends or maybe even sleep.

Seeking to add prayer and meditation to that list, the Diocese of Sacramento has organized an event aptly named the “busy student’s retreat.”

Sponsored jointly by the diocese and members of the Dominican, Franciscan and the Sisters of Mercy religious orders, retreats are being held this fall at the Newman Catholic Centers at California State Universities in Chico and Sacramento and at the University of California at Davis.

The goal, said Dominican Sister Maureen McInerney, co-director of vocations for the diocese, is to assist students to build a stronger relationship with God.

Mercy Sister Lenore Greene blesses Jennifer Allan during a busy student’s retreat at the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Catholic Center in Chico. The retreat includes Mass, daily prayer and opportunities for students to meet with individual spiritual companions.

“Students have told us they want to grow in their spiritual life…but they’ve got too many things to do,” she said. “We want to help them structure their lives in such a way so they can pray.”

The five-day retreat schedule begins with a Mass, orientation session and opportunities for students to meet with their individually assigned spiritual companions. The next four days require participants to spend 30 minutes in daily prayer and in a half hour meeting with their spiritual companions.

“We’re present whatever time fits their schedule,” said Sister McInerney, who is participating at two of the retreat locations. “I’ve given retreats at 5:30 in the morning or 9:30 at night.”

The retreats focus on three common elements of Christian prayer, including Scripture, quiet time and the presence of a spiritual guide.

Mercy Sister Michele Gorman, who served as a spiritual companion at the Newman Center retreat in Chico last month, met with a variety of young people from an aspiring nurse and future teacher to technology and graduate students.

“Some went in pretty scared, not knowing what to expect,” said Sister Gorman, “but they soon discover God’s unconditional love. We send them away knowing their religion in an adult kind of way.”

Joe Denzel, a senior majoring in English at Chico State, was one of nearly 20 students attending the retreat. Denzel, who is a pastoral associate for the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Catholic community, said the retreat experience came at a perfect time in his life.

“I’m thinking of all the things I want to do with my life,” said Denzel, who is considering a vocation to the priesthood. “The retreat was very thought provoking, very affirming, helping me see what gifts I had.”

One of the key discoveries many students made, Sister Gorman said, was that by spending a half-hour in prayer, they actually had time for their other work as well.

“When we are able to send young people away knowing God and prayer, it encourages us in our own faith,” she said.

An upcoming busy student’s retreat is planned for Oct. 28-Nov. 1 at the Newman Catholic Center in Davis. Registration fee is $5.

For more information on the retreats, call Sister Maureen McInerney at (916) 733-0260.

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