Make It Happen
- Before the Retreat
- Six weeks prior — Reserve space for the retreat, recruit volunteers, decide how to handle the meal or refreshments (you might allow people to “graze” on snacks at the beginning and throughout the retreat or plan a meal for the conclusion of the retreat), create announcements and flyers to publicize your event.
- One week prior — Gather (or go shopping for) all necessary supplies and send out reminders to everyone about the retreat.
- Day of the Retreat
- Arrive at your retreat venue at least one hour before the retreat’s start time to set-up and prepare the space. Cut large circles out of the cardstock for young adults to use later to create their own mandalas.
- Welcome young adults as they arrive and point out places for them to put their coats, where the restrooms are, etc. Give each young adult a journal and pen if they didn’t bring their own to the retreat.
- Retreat Schedule (see Help section for “Retreat Schedule and for Leaders PDF”)
Use the detailed “Retreat Schedule and Details for Leaders” in the Help section to guide you through the activities/agenda below.
- Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
- Icebreaker (15 minutes)
- Quieting Exercise (15 minutes)
- Making a Mandala (1 ½ hours)
- Creating a Spiritual Mission Statement (45 minutes)
- Forgiveness Session (20 minutes)
- Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
- Refreshments/Meal (45 minutes)
- After the Retreat
- Clean-up the space you were using. Send home extra food with young adults.
- Send a thank-you e-mail to young adults with a message of encouragement for the busy days of Advent/Christmas that lie ahead.
Ideas
- Incorporate videos/clips where it may be appropriate to introduce a talk/activity. Even funny videos like clips from Sister Act can be relevant.
- Be sure to allow for a block of free time on Saturday afternoon, but have some activity options available (e.g., art room, kickball, conversations with a priest, etc).
- Hold an outdoor physical activity that relates to the theme. A trust walk can be a great metaphor for those times in life when we feel blinded and have to rely on others to help us through a particularly hard time.
Watch
- Video from the 2013 Winter Retreat at St. Paul the Apostle, New York City, themed “You are Not Alone, Walk with Me”
Help
- Retreat Schedule and for Leaders (PDF)
- Day Planner Handout (PDF) — this is for the icebreaker activity
- Spiritual Mission Statement Handout (PDF)
- Developing a Mission and Vision Handout (PDF)
- “The Potter’s Hand” by Darlene Zschech, which you might choose to use at the close of your retreat.
