SJU Campus Ministry Dog Sledding Retreat
This past January, Fr. Nick Kleespie and Br. Travis Spillum co-led a dog-sledding retreat for a group of eight SJU Students. This annual retreat is hosted by Paul and Susan Schurke at Wintergreen Dogsled Lodge near Ely, Minnesota. The retreat is designed to bring together students who participate in the Johnnie Brothers program at SJU and give them the opportunity to experience the awe and wonder of Dogsledding in Northern Minnesota. Johnnie Brothers (formerly named Men’s Spirituality Groups) are intentional groups of 10 students led by monks or lay men and commit to four years of having deep conversations about life, faith, and relationships. This year the Dogsledding retreat focused on “Encountering Each Other” “Encountering Creation,” and “Encountering God” After 4 days of dogsledding, retreating, and even jumping into the frozen lake, Fr. Nick and Br. Travis returned filled with the comradery, spirit, and faith of the students who participated.
