Exploring the Avila community value of developing “right relationships, with God, self, others, and creation”, a group of 15 undergraduates participated in the 2019 Adventure KC retreat this past weekend.
During the annual kickoff event for the Office of Ministry, Spirituality and Action (OMSA), students examined each of those right relationships during intimate, small-group discussions on campus and at Precious Blood Renewal Center, in Liberty. In between the discussion sessions, the students and office staff participated in a Kansas City scavenger hunt in the Crossroads and River Market.
“The retreat is an opportunity for our office to study the core values of the University passed onto us by our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet,” said Julie Cowley, assistant director of University Ministry. “The development of right relationships with all of God’s creation is essential to Avila’s mission and we hope to show our students how we can maintain and grow those relationships every day.
“Going out into the community, meeting people and exploring Kansas City are excellent ways to begin seeing those relationships in the real world.”
Open to students from all faith backgrounds, OMSA affirms the universally-relevant values of Avila’s founders. The office welcomes all Avila students, staff and faculty to participate in their numerous activities, prayers, retreats and community service or justice ministries. In addition to service opportunities in Kansas City and on campus, the OMSA offers both domestic and international Service-Immersion Trips at various points in the academic year.
Click here for more information about the Office of Ministry, Spirituality and Action and for upcoming and reoccurring events.