Connections Retreat Weekend

Connections is a three-day, two-night retreat for incoming freshmen that will be held during the summer at Villanova University from June 29-July 1. It is an opportunity for first-year students to make “connections” with other first-year students, with the campus of Villanova, with the city of Philadelphia through a day of service and an afternoon of touring and to also make connections with their faith through talks and small group discussions. Once we have received your registration, you will receive an e-mail from the Connections team with information and directions for the weekend.

Want to Apply?

Download the application below. Fill it out and return it to Campus Ministry's office in St. Rita's Hall with a check for $150. Please make checks payable to "Campus Ministry Retreats." The application is due by June 11, 2012.

ConnectionsApplication12.pdf
Connections Retreat Application 2012

Schedule

Check-in time for the retreat will be 2-4 pm on June 29. Our team will be unable to receive you before 2 pm unless you make other arrangements with us in advance. When you arrive on campus, come to St. Monica's Hall (#49 on the full campus map ) to register with our student leaders and get settled.

The weekend will conclude at approximately 2 pm on Sunday, July 1, so please plan your travel arrangements accordingly. We will conclude with a Mass at which all are welcome, including your parents or whoever might be picking you up!

What to Bring?

Because you will be staying in a dorm room, there are a few things that you should bring: toiletries, a pillow, a blanket, towels, and sheets or a sleeping bag. You will be staying in an air-conditioned residence hall on campus so it will be cooler at night. Also you will use community bathrooms, so bring your flip flops for the shower! The dress for the weekend is very casual. There are many outdoor activities. Be prepared to be in the sun. The University Shop on campus takes credit cards and cash if you want to stock up on Villanova T shirts, etc! You may want to bring one nicer outfit for Mass on Sunday. All retreatants are staying in Double Rooms in St. Monica.

If you have questions, please contact contact John Edwards at john.p.edwards@villanova.edu or 610-519-3507.

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Arrival Information

Please plan on arriving between 2 and 4 PM. If you will be much earlier due to train/plane schedules, please let us know by email. You can hang out on campus and in the Good Counsel lounge before registration starts, but your rooms might not be available until 2 PM.

Flying into Philadelphia? If you would like a flight pick up, let us know when you are arriving and we will send a van. Once we know the schedules, we will let you know WHERE and WHEN the van will pick up. We will have more than one van run if necessary! Even if you already sent us flight info, send a quick note to make sure we have the information. Our final pick up will be at 3 pm.

Taking the Train from the Plane? Trains run at least every half hour, and take about 25 minutes. Buy one ticket all the way to Villanova station. You will have to change at 30th Street station. The trip could be as short as 45 minutes or as long as 1 hr and 45 minutes, depending on the timing of your connections. If you make perfect connections it could be as short as 45 minutes! About $6.00- $7.00, pay cash on the train.

Train to Villanova University? Take the SEPTA R-5 from Center City Philadelphia to Thorndale/Malvern/Paoli. Get off at Villanova Station. Cross back under the tracks and you will be on Main Campus. Continue walking under the arch of the building in front of you and follow the signs throughout campus. Once you reach the end of Main Campus near Bartley Hall, cross the street and continue walking toward South Campus. Good Counsel is the building facing you. Connections Retreat leaders will be there to welcome you!

Parking - FREE PARKING for the weekend of Connections. Park in the Good Counsel and Stanford Parking Lots on South Campus. Do NOT park in the STAFF spaces. You will get a parking pass when you register! Parking on Main Lot or Main is not allowed. From Lancaster, head south on Ithan Avenue, away from Main Campus (if you are coming from 476, this will be a right turn) and you will see the parking lots on the left hand side. A Connections team leader will direct you to Good Counsel lounge for registrations.

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