Since the start of this school year, Chaminade has welcomed a new faculty member who is responsible for planning one of the most important experiences that a Chaminade student can have. That is Mr. Hamer, and he is the new addition to campus ministry this year as a Retreat Coordinator.
Mr. Hamer was previously a youth minister at St. Cletus in St. Charles but came to Chaminade as he saw more potential opportunities and generally a bigger future. Like I previously stated, Mr. Hamer’s title is “Retreat Coordinator,” and his job is to ensure that students of Chaminade have an encounter with Christ during a retreat each year. I asked Mr. Hamer various questions in order to learn more about the logistical side of retreats, his personal life, and his outlook on the importance of retreats.
On a daily basis, Mr. Hamer is responsible for figuring out what retreat centers are available for use, making sure every kid is assigned to a retreat, preparing student leaders, communicating with faculty and staff for those who will be on retreat, and also working to help out campus ministry with prayer services and sacraments.
To learn more about his outlook on retreats, I asked Mr. Hamer, “In your opinion, why are retreats so important for building up community and faith?” and he responded, “Being a Catholic school, retreats are one of the best ways to help kids have a personal experience with Christ.”
Having an encounter with Christ is one of the most impactful things you can provide to someone, and that is what makes Mr. Hamer’s role so important. This idea of encountering Christ remains consistent when it comes to Mr. Hamer’s favorite retreat activity, which is when we experience Mass and the Sacraments.
Similarly, I asked sophomore Grant Schindler the same question regarding why retreats are so important. He answered, “They build up a sense of community and brotherhood among the attendees, while also strengthening the individual’s faith and relationship with God.”
Outside of Chaminade, Mr. Hamer is married with four kids, has a passion for running, hiking, and exercising, and is a big sports fan. Additionally, Mr. Hamer also helps out with the cross country team at Chaminade. As a way to learn more about him, I asked him what his ideal retreat location would be. He shared that it was a place he had already visited: a secluded spot in the mountains beside a lake. This says a lot about the type of person Mr. Hamer is, showing that he has an appreciation for nature and God’s creation.
Curious about the future of Chaminade’s campus ministry section, I asked Mr. Hamer if he had any plans for the future of retreats or just campus ministry in general. He said that with this being his first year, he is mostly observing, but at some point he would like to see an expansion of retreat opportunities, including the introduction of a student-led retreat program. He sees this as a way to grow community and develop leadership skills at Chaminade.
