Bishop John Noonan | Diocese of Orland website

On May 17, alumni from the University of Central Florida Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) gathered for their second retreat to reconnect and renew their faith. The event brought together graduates from as far back as 2009 and as recent as December 2024.

Kimmy Zeiler, a Catholic Campus Minister and alumna of the ministry's early years, emphasized the enduring community spirit fostered by CCM. "My experience of being a student here was that I met a community for life and met a spiritual family who have continued to journey with me through the highs and the lows of my life," she said. Zeiler highlighted the retreat's purpose: “We wanted to provide an opportunity for alumni to see each other again, but also to plug into the many generations of students and alumni who’ve come through CCM because they can learn from those just getting married or these parents who are just starting their families.”

The retreat served as a platform for alumni like Tyler Beach, a 2024 graduate and software engineer living in Altamonte Springs. Beach has found it challenging to connect while working remotely but credits CCM with instilling a mindset that encourages forming supportive communities anywhere. "It’s not always easy to find other people who want the same thing they do… Our goal is to empower them to go back where they are and build community there," Zeiler explained.

Clare Lawrence and Tripp Abshire, both 2023 graduates, are set to marry over Memorial Day weekend. They appreciated how the retreat's theme, Be Still, reminded them of God's presence amidst life's changes. Lawrence noted its significance ahead of her wedding: “Things are not as still as they used to be in college...to learn to be still with Jesus in every moment is very important for me right now.”

Alumni Kelle Thompson shared how she remains connected with her peers through a group chat formed after graduating in 2009. "These aren’t people that are here for a moment. They’re in your lives because you’re rooted in Christ," she said.

Scott Thompson, Kelle's husband and Purdue University alumnus, recognized UCF CCM's unique environment: “For a public university, this is something you don’t see too often,” he remarked.

Christina Angel, along with her husband Dan Angel, helped launch these retreats two years ago. Reflecting on their mission, Christina stated: “The idea was of coming back to the beginnings of where most of us really took our faith into action – reigniting that fire...then taking them back to our respective homes.”

The theme Be Still was inspired by previous retreats focused on finding calm amidst chaos. Christina observed that it symbolized finding peace despite life's turmoil: “That image is so serene while the rest of the painting is chaos."

Dan Angel expressed gratitude for his involvement: “It meant so much to us in our own lives...coming to CCM and being formed into the people we are today."

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff