Sacramental Retreats

This 2-hour interactive retreat is designed for 2nd grade students.  Parents are always welcome and are encouraged to attend this retreat with their child. The children will learn how sin affects others and about God's desire to heal us through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

After recalling that Jesus came to teach us how to live as the sons and daughters of God,  the children dramatize several stories of Jesus' kindness, revealing his merciful heart.

The children participate in several games and activities that further expand on the ideas of free will, and making choices with a loving heart or a "hard heart".  Our powers of thinking and choosing are discussed throughout these activities.

The retreat concludes with a symbolic ritual in which the children are given a stone and are lead through a brief prayerful examination of conscience and then are invited to trade in their stone for a soft heart like Jesus'.  The soft heart is theirs to bring home and use as a reminder to examine their actions each day, give thanks for the good they were able to do and ask for forgiveness for the actions from a "stony heart."

This 2.5-hour interactive retreat is designed mainly for 2nd grade students.  Parents are always welcome and are encouraged to attend this retreat with their child.  The children learn how God wants to be close to His people and has chosen to remain with us as food for our journey.

The children will be introduced to "Mystery" using the signs of Spring.  The children will sit in a tent prepared for them as they hear of God's journey through the desert with His chosen people and His desire to remain close to them.

They will then view the Tabernacle and its contents and remember that God remains with us in our Church.  There will be discussion and activities about how God's greatest wish is to come to us and make our heart his living Tabernacle.

The children will "relive" the Last Supper with a ritual retelling of the event and how we relive Jesus' paschal mystery at each Mass.  The children will also participate in a craft activity reminding them of God's presence; this is something the children can bring home to recall what they have learned. 

The retreat concludes with the making of the alter bread and reflection on the transformation of the elements used for the Eucharist and our ultimate transformation in receiving Jesus in Holy Communion.

*If time permits, children will also practice receiving the host once.

This is an interactive one-day retreat (6-8 hours depending on the need of the parish/school).  Confirmation candidates will work individually and as a group to re-examine the meaningful Gifts they have already received while preparing themselves spiritually to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The retreat day begins with a warm welcome and introductions within the group, so everyone is familiar with and comfortable with each other.  This is followed by a quick prayer and a Baptismal talk that includes the renewal of the candidates' Baptismal promises and blessing.  Candidates reflect on the Gifts they have received and there is further discussion of Baptism and Reconciliation, identity and dignity.  The candidates participate in a "Sensory Signs Trust" activity. This is followed by a 1 hour break for lunch and recreation time which also includes a quick retreat activity.

Candidates then reflect on the Gifts they will receive - the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  There are several group activities and skits concerning these Gifts. This is followed by group sharing, a short video and a quick break.

Candidates return from break for more activities, including a quick craft they will bring home with them, revealing how special each person is in God's eyes.  There is time for individual reflection.  There is a discussion about the Eucharist, followed by Adoration prep and Adoration in the Chapel.

The retreat day concludes with a symbolic letter activity and small group sharing.