The Office of Youth Ministry is offering Confirmation Retreats to parishes around the diocese. Confirmation is a tremendous opportunity for an individual to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit. In order to develop an open heart for this encounter, a person must enter into a time of preparation. Retreats are great steps in this preparation where an individual can take a step back from the world and quiet their hearts.
Many parishes provide their own retreats but if parishes wish to do so, they may opt to rely on the Diocese for support in planning and facilitating a retreat. Retreats can be customized to a specific theme or the parish(es) need.
To sign up email tmessenger@worcesterdiocese.org. Parishes can sign up for an already scheduled retreat or may request to have their own. This can be one or more parishes combined. Once your registration is confirmed, let us know your numbers and any food allergies we should be aware as soon as you know who's coming. Have the teens and the chaperones fill out and bring their release/consent forms (see the the safe environment tab or click here for the forms). Adults need one too. The teens or the parish can bring a check for $25/teen made out to RC Bishop of Worcester to the retreat. Lunch/snack provided. Chaperones free! 1 small group leader per 8 teens needs to attend. The leader should be their catechist if possible. Below are current retreat that the Diocese is either running or assisting in.
Sunday, September 23, 2018 at St. Patrick, Rutland
Saturday, January 12, 2019 at St. Theresa, Blackstone
Monday, January 21, 2019 (MLK Day) at Our Lady of Providence, Worcester
Saturday, March 9, 2019 at Holy Rosary, Gardner
Sunday, March 24, 2019 at St. Edward the Confessor, Westminster
If the above dates do not work for you or if you'd like to have your own retreat we can plan and facilitate a retreat and send a retreat team out to you! Retreats can be customized to whatever your needs are. To have the Diocese put on a retreat, you must have at least 20+ participants either from your parish or a group of parishes. We can do any type of retreat whether it is Confirmation, middle school or high school youth ministry retreats, or anything else! Fee for day retreats is $25/student. If it is an overnight retreat, contact the office for further details.
If you have questions, please contact Tim Messenger at 508-929-4360 or at tmessenger@worcesterdiocese.org.