Best Practices

Jesus Christ

Across the country Catholic high school ministers scramble to find volunteers, programs, and activities for their high school retreat programs.  These in school programs are often mandatory.  After speaking, planning, and participating in countless retreats, I have noticed the ends don’t justify the means.

Many times students are not changed.

Change?  Yes one will only change if you give them something real to believe in.

Many current retreat programs are water downed Catholicism.  Teens attitudes towards each other, themselves, and the Lord stay the same.

Teens face many challenges today an It is for that reason giving them time to encounter Jesus Christ is so important.

Catholic retreats which produce results have two things in Common

1. Scripture
2. Sacraments

Retreats that provide a deep encounter with Christ through the scriptures and the Sacraments have shown better results.

Results that last because teens have an interior conversion and develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Many coming into a retreat have never even prayed and are sacred of the idea of God desiring an intimate relationship.

How Do You Plan a Retreat that Encounters Christ

• Start your planning with prayer
• Make your first events opportunities for the teens to relax (get a lively Catholic Band)
• Find a good speaker to preach the Gospel
• Give witness to a relationship with God
• Offer opportunities for reconciliation and mass
• Show ways to continue to learn and get to know about Jesus
• Pray for the participants before and after the retreat
• Lastly, Food and Fun must be a priority

A Four Year Catholic High School Retreat Model

Catholic High Schools would benefit from redeveloping their four year plans.  The idea would be for the entire year to be focused on each topic.

1. Scripture – Freshman
2. Liturgy – Sophomore
3. Evangelization – Junior
4. Vocation – Senior

This model builds off of each year.

To Jesus

• First students develop a loving relationship with the Father and are nourished through the reading of scripture.  They can carry this through the rest of their life.  A prayer life, if it was lacking before, could be developed.
• In the second year the Word would become Flesh and be experienced through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
• Their Junior year would be on proclaiming the Gospel and living as witness to Jesus Christ.  It would be embracing the mission of the Church.
• In their final year before heading to college, attention would be given to asking “What does the Lord desire for me?”  Priesthood, Religious Life, Married Life, Single Life.

What do you think?

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