Students will have an opportunity to renew, refresh or restore spirituality and religious faith at the upcoming Newman Catholic Student Center’s “Northern Illinois Koinonia 19” retreat Oct. 7-9.

Persons of all denominations and religions are welcome to the Koinonia retreat, campus minister Pat Mulheran said, and she hopes everyone comes with an open mind and without an agenda.

“It’s always good to explore other faiths. We don’t discourage anybody from coming,” senior communication major Brian Solar said.

Heather Turner, a sophomore medical assistant major and team member for this year’s retreat, has fond memories of last year.

“Koinonia is a great way to meet new people and a great way to boost your faith,” she said. “There are some really fun surprises as well. My favorite parts of Koinonia last year were the surprises and the breaks where I got to hang out.”

Solar and Koinonia alumna Sarah Read will co-direct the retreat. Monsignor Nelson of the Rockford Diocese will be there as a spiritual director and will perform the masses and sacraments, Mulheran said.

Solar has been working with other team members writing skits, community-building activities and story-sharing activities in preparation for the retreat.

The activities and discussions range from serious and subtle to fun and silly, with a focus on community-building and spirituality, Solar said.

“We try and reach a good balance with the activities,” Solar said. “We’ll have a very serious talk about one of the team member’s personal journeys with God. We’ll also have many personal stories being shared.”

The activities are meant to help participants explore what it means to be spiritual.

“I learned a lot [from Koinonia] about what it means to be Catholic,” Turner said.

The Koinonia team hopes to have a larger turn-out than last year, in which 25 team members attended, with only 16 students.

Koinonia attendees will make the 45-minute drive to the Bishop Lane Retreat Center in Rockford by carpool, Mulheran said.

“[Koinonia] is a very uplifting retreat. Everyone leaves the retreat 100 percent happier than they came,” Solar said. “If you’re having a spiritual crisis, please come to the Koinonia retreat.”

Applications to attend the retreat are being taken and interested students can pick up an application at the Newman Center. Cost to attend the retreat is $25 and financial assistance is available. Though the stated age for persons attending is 17-26, some exceptions can be made, Mulheran said.

The deadline for applications is Oct. 3.

The retreat, which will also take place in February, begins at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 and concludes at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9.

For more information, contact the Newman Catholic Student Center at 787-7770.