On a Friday afternoon in late April, while my fellow classmates became permanent residents at the library and scrambled to pull together their last shred of sanity to prepare for the final few weeks of classes, I loaded on a stuffy, yellow school bus along with 30 other Saint Louis University students for a 45-minute ride to the middle of nowhere. We neglected our upcoming deadlines, put off the 20-page research paper and abandoned our group projects for a weekend of reflection and discovery at the SLU Encounter Retreat. I originally planned to attend Encounter to learn more about myself and determine my path in life. While these goals were accomplished, I found so much more. As a somewhat shy person, I began the retreat in a more reflective and isolated manner. This is not to say that I was unfriendly; I just wanted this weekend to be a time to analyze my faith. However, over the two days, the leaders and retreatants transformed my solitary focus and revealed to me the significance of community. Some of the prayers and activities would have normally made me incredibly uncomfortable. For example, group prayer involved speaking out loud to God while others sat and listened, as well as praying to God for those in your group while they listened to what you said. Oddly enough, the experience was amazing and fulfilling-not at all awkward. I left the retreat so inspired by the other retreatants. These were people whom I could relate to because they shared in my doubts and obstacles; people whom I confided in and who confided in me; people who were practically strangers but became my confidants during our brief interaction. Now that about five months have passed, I have a better understanding of my initial enthusiasm after the retreat. That weekend, I experienced a community, one where the people supported each other and loved each other. During the final liturgy, I felt fulfilled and satisfied as we sang and shared the Eucharist. I was missing a religious support system in my life, and its reinstitution has made all the difference. As a VOICES intern, I am currently developing a community both with my fellow interns as well as with the people at College Church with whom I work. Though I have yet to reveal my deep thoughts, fears and desires to these people, simply having them there to worship with and pray with is refreshing. In just my first couple of weeks at College Church, I have met amazing people at every turn. The people I work with are uplifting and always positive as they teach me how to build a community. The parishioners are willing to volunteer as acolytes, Eucharistic ministers and collectors. The priests are welcoming as they stop to simply say hello and see how my day is. Every day when I go to work, I feel the same emotion that I felt after SLU Encounter. There are truly extraordinary, beautiful people all around and I am blessed to have the opportunity to get to know them. The religious community, grounded by the liturgy, is something that is essential to my faith that I found at SLU Encounter and continue to nourish through the VOICES internship. Mollie Henle, a senior studying communication, is in the Liturgical Internship Program at the Center for Liturgy.