News Post

St. Joseph’s Academy and Catholic High School students traveled to Estes Park, Colorado, to take part in this year’s Catholic Leadership Encounter (CLE). The intensive workshop was held at the YMCA of the Rockies May 24 through June 2. Thirty-five SJA students participated. 

CLE invites high school students to cultivate their God-given leadership potential, grounded in Catholic values with a focus on encountering God in all that surrounds us. The program includes opportunities for prayer, mass and active participation in the sacraments. 

Participants engaged in team-building exercises in their small groups, outdoor challenges, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and exploring the unique charisms of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. They were encouraged to apply faith-centered approaches to real-life leadership scenarios, including real-life applications of Catholic Social Teaching.

SJA Director of Mission Integration Jade Spears said the CLE program is an intensive look at who we are as Catholic leaders, who we are called to be and how to encounter God more closely in nature. “I hope that students have genuinely met Jesus in a personal way through prayer, the Eucharist and spiritual reflection and recognize His presence in their lives as we return home,” she said. “After CLE, students should feel called and empowered to lead in their schools, parishes and communities, not for recognition but to build the Kingdom of God. My prayer for each student is that they have experienced true Christian fellowship, realizing they’re not alone in their faith, and can support one another beyond our time in Estes Park.” 

Faculty member Jennifer Nola said the CLE experience was enriching, reminding participants that they are created in the image of Christ and called to reflect His presence in every aspect of life. “My hope is that the young women encountered meaningful, non-traditional forms of prayer, developed a deeper awareness of the injustices present in our world and drew closer both to Jesus and to one another,” she said. “As they return to their families, school and broader communities, I pray they carry with them a renewed sense of purpose, one rooted in hope, compassion and the desire to affect meaningful change.”

Faculty member Timothy LaBauve also accompanied the group, as did alumnae Ainsley Sonnier ’17, Jordan Mathis ’20, Macen Melancon ’22, Analiese Dufrene ’24 and Jennie Belle Holder ’21.