As an effort to respond to the Confirmation Retreat Ministry needs within our diocese, the following option is available for parishes. The intent is to provide quality retreat experiences while fostering the development of parish retreat ministry teams. We support parishes with functioning retreat ministry efforts and offer consulting services as needed.
Diocesan Retreat Team members are available to travel to the parish designated facility to direct a day long retreat experience. If an extended retreat is requested, a 1 ½ day format can be facilitated by the Diocesan Retreat Team for an additional fee. Parishes will be asked to not begin the retreat the night before or anytime prior to the contract.
The format of the retreats will include intentional team sessions during small group time and breaks, which will allow team members to gauge the participants/agenda, current/remaining needs and adjustments. When the retreats are scheduled, parishes will be asked to designate leaders who will join the retreat team during these discussion sessions rather than assigning them to small groups. This strategy is an effort to encourage those designated adults to promote the development of a parish retreat team and/or join the Diocesan Retreat Team in the future.
As standard procedure, the parish sponsored retreats are to follow diocesan safe environment, travel, first-aid, adult ratio, and registration/waiver guidelines. Click here to contact the Diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator to confirm the status of the adults who will participate in the retreat as well as other safe environment issues. Assigning youth and adults to small groups, handling copies/supplies, and hospitality/meals are the responsibilities of the sponsoring parish. A detailed list of supplies/equipment/copies will be provided to the parish.
Dates are on a first come first served basis, and dependent on the availability of the team
Retreat themes have been pre-determined. Additional themes will follow in the future
Moral Decision Making
Connecting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, Theology of the Body, Life Skills, future planning, goals and commitment, make straight your path
Beyond Confirmation
Vocations, commitment to church ministry, life-long formation, witness to others
Love
Saying YES to a relationship with Jesus, God loves you, concept of Heaven/Hell and Life/Death, and a place for Eucharist/Reconciliation in our lives
Prayer
A look at symbols and rituals within traditional prayer structures including the Mass and Reconciliation, importance of prayer in our lives, opportunities to explore various prayer styles/spiritualities/traditions through interactive activities