The staff of Thornhill Centre, with other personnel, provide Retreat days or half-days for a variety of year groups in second level schooling.  These may take place in the school or at a venue suitable to the needs of School Retreats.

The Retreat Days for Second Level students are very different, depending on the year group that is participating on the day.  Schools often prefer a half-day for pupils of Key Stage III/up to Junior Cert.  These days are planned in conjunction with the teacher responsible for the pastoral care/spiritual development of the pupils.  Where possible, the Chaplain/s to the school are included.

For more senior groups, a full day is preferable and is usually timed to come either at the beginning or the end of a significant year for the students.  Where possible, such days conclude with a celebration of the Eucharist.  The dynamic of Retreat Days with more senior students (where the pupils really know each other well) is quite different from days with younger students.  These Retreats afford the young people an opportunity of a deeper level of sharing and reflection.  Often the imagery and poster work generated by the students in their groups evidences the depth of spirituality and strong sense of social justice that an emerging generation of young Catholic girls and boys possess.

Components of such Retreat Days include ice-breaking activities, journalling exercises, reflection and personal questionnaire work, role-play, focussed group work, imaging/working with clay, prayer and meditation, world view perspectives and liturgy.