Fiat Retreat

Fiat: Faith, Friendship, and Fun

By Club Writers, MJ Selwood (class of 2028) and Mairin Dziepak (class of 2028)

The theme for the 2025 Fiat Retreat, from October 3 - 5, was to “persevere,” and to practice the virtues of tenacity and determination not just during the weekend, but throughout the year. The bus full of eager O’Connell girls left Friday afternoon to head to Camp Maria, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. The property includes ten acres of multiple lodgings, a religious center, a dining hall, a picnic area, and a beautiful view of Breton Bay on the Potomac River. The pier served as a peaceful environment for reflection and praying the rosary each night. 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every sin and burden that clings to us and persevere in running the race, while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.”

• Hebrews 12: 1-2

This verse from Hebrews was the focus of the whole weekend, driving the central theme of Perseverance. The girls on the retreat were led in talks, activities and small group sessions centered around different parts of the verse and learned to apply it to their everyday lives throughout the year. 

Chaperones, including Ms. Bruni and Ms. Dunlop, discussed the meaning of perseverance and how to apply the theme through the races that we run not only on Earth but also spiritually. They gave personal testimonies of their challenges and advised all girls to keep pushing during hard times. Ms. Bruni reminded everyone that the smallest ounce of faith can go a long way, while Ms. Dunlop advised that in the face of challenges, it is best to turn to God and persevere in “running the race.”

Seniors Vanessa Aragon and Kacie Truong spoke about what a cloud of witnesses is and what it means to be a witness. A cloud of witnesses refers to the people in tight-knit communities who speak to the Faith. They lead as examples and support aspirations, specifically the goals of young students. A cloud of witnesses can be anyone with admirable qualities that keep the Faith, for example, family, friends, teachers, coaches, and chaperones. The seniors, leaders, and chaperones of Fiat may serve as an example for many girls who look up to them for their passion and commitment to the Fiat Ministry. 

After these talks, the girls were invited to journal and discuss with their small groups about their own personal experiences. The goal was to become closer to Christ while reflecting on how they resonated with the presentation, considering the themes of determination and persistence. Each group came up with a unique name and a corresponding poster. In other hours, there were activities like painting and games such as icebreakers and charades. To wrap up the festivities, the rosary was prayed near the water in a calming, candlelit setting to help each girl reflect and grow in the Faith. Mass was celebrated twice, along with a holy hour in which the girls participated in adoration and confession led by Father Daniel. 

While the retreat was a spiritually enriching experience, it was also a lot of fun. In classic Fiat fashion, girls enjoyed bracelet making during movie time, along with a big campfire after adoration. The Fiat Olympics especially brought out the competitive spirits of both girls and teachers. Each small group earned points in competition and tallied on the team posters. The games included activities like Fishbowl, pie-eating contests, and guessing the flavor of baby foods as fast as possible. All girls learned to recite the verse of the weekend, which scored the most points for each team. Other impromptu activities the girls participated in during their free time included crabbing by the lake, playing football with Father Daniel (who can throw an awesome spiral), and games of cards.

The Fiat Retreat brought many girls closer to God and their peers. A hugely successful experience against a picturesque backdrop, the retreat taught the girls the importance of persevering through their struggles, building a connection with Christ, and letting go of their burdens so they could fully achieve peace. The 2025 Fiat Retreat was an amazing experience and will definitely be a favorite for many girls at O’Connell. 

Girls' favorite thing about the Fiat Retreat:

“Growing closer to God and meeting new friends” - Ellie Selim (‘28)

“Playing football” - Lily Salva (‘28)

"I enjoyed giving a presentation, talking with all the girls and everything, and strengthening the faith in the O'Connell community” - Kacie Truong (‘26)