Campus Ministry: Palanca
Dear UP faculty and staff,
We are asking for your support of students attending the upcoming Encounter with Christ Retreat (March 22-24).
Would you consider writing a letter of support for the students you know on the list provided below?
A crucial aspect of this retreat is the tradition of giving retreat-goers surprise palanca*. Palanca are unexpected expressions of appreciation and support that lift someone’s spirits; they usually take the form of a brief note or letter. This is an opportunity to encourage students and express appreciation for them outside the classroom.
The retreatants receive their palanca as a surprise, similar to the way the Kingdom of God unexpectedly breaks into the lives of those who encounter Christ in the Gospels. Please do not discuss this concept with any students, whether or not they are on this Encounter.
Please submit your palanca to the Campus Ministry office in the Pilot House or St. Mary’s, marked "Encounter Retreat—(student’s name)" by Wednesday, March 20.
Please forward any questions to Beth Barsotti (barsotti@up.edu; x7463). Thank you for your assistance. This semester’s retreatants and team are listed below.
RETREATANTS
Adam Mitzel
Alex Varvel
Alissa Strauss
Anna Stucki
Austin Frank
Brett Reeves
Brianna Rodrigues
Caitlin Chu
Christina Bachmeier
Colleen Olinger
David Carruth
Derek Schumacher
Elise Christoferson
Erica Sampayo
Erin Dees
Jake DePledge
Jared Nathaniel Johnson
Joe Cahill
Joe Lambert
Joseph Tomassi
Julia Anderson
Kate Purdy
Katherine Maus
Kaylee Aman
Margaret Persing
Mary McIntosh
Megan DuPuy
Michael Patterson
Nicole Navlet
Philip Stenberg
Phu Nguyen
Rebecca Mion
Rosalind Smith
Sommer McWhirter
Taylor Spooner
Teagan Settelmeyer
Lauren Bene
TEAM
Adrienne Suner
Allie Labrousse
Brock Vasconcellos
Caitlin Greeney
Claire Costa
David Barton
Derek Block
Ellen Holton
Evan Castro
Georgia Wilson
Hannah Billet
John Figueria
Julia Balistreri
Katy Jo Novinger
Matt Geiger
Matthew Sutherland
Mitchell Miles
Nick MacKinnon
Sara Sturm
Sarah Bogert
Tom Bluth
Vincent Dato-On
Y Hoang
(Spirituality Team)
Anthony Paz
Angela Paz
Fr. Pat Hannon, CSC
Beth Barsotti
* The word “palanca” is a Spanish term that literally means “lever” but is used to describe “influence” or “sway” among people; palanca move people like a lever might move an object.
