Description: Head outdoors with young adults and enjoy this summer weekend retreat, which focuses on the inspiring life of the Blessed Pier Frassati, a great example of faith and courage for young adults.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: Start planning about two months in advance. You’ll need time to reserve the space and plan activities. Also take time to familiarize yourself with the life of Blessed Pier Frassati, so you (or a volunteer) are ready to talk about him with young adults.
- Volunteers Needed: 4-6
- Ideal Group Size: 25-40
- Who is this for? This weekend experience is ideal for single young adults and married young adults without children.
- When is a good time for this? Summer weekends are great, but it can also extend into the early fall.
- Supplies: Each camping group should supply their own tents and sleeping bags. You can either ask participants to coordinate their own meals or you can have volunteers coordinate the purchasing and cooking of meals. Other supplies should include coolers, water coolers, cooking supplies for a campfire, a bucket to douse the fire, materials for starting the campfire, beverages, snacks, a first aid kit, Bibles/Scripture passages/reflections, prayer aids, and music. You will need to coordinate with the celebrant for any Mass supplies (hosts, ciborium, chalices, etc.) if you will be including Mass as part of your experience.
- Reserve the Space: Find a campground with decent facilities (running water and showers/restrooms available) or a camping location near a town with decent facilities (i.e. Laundromat, grocery store). Also the campground must be near other sources of outdoor recreation such as hiking, swimming, river rafting, canoeing, or kayaking. It is best to reserve the campground and any recreational events well in advance to ensure availability.
- Publicize the Program: Promote the retreat on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, use word of mouth, announce it at other young adult ministry events, and use bulletin and pulpit announcements. Encourage young adults who are already a part of the community to invite their friends. Also, listing the event via a poster or flyer at local outdoor/camping stores with a community bulletin board is a great way to find unaffiliated but interested young adults. Here’s a sample announcement to use.
Prayer for Program Planner: God, Give me the courage to strive for the highest goals, to flee every temptation to be mediocre. Enable me to aspire to greatness, as Pier Giorgio did, and to open my heart with joy to Your call to holiness. I want to be Lord, firmly and forever, united to You, Amen.
Community Building: Being together in the outdoors, sharing meals, coffee, campfires, and group activities really facilitates getting to know one another in a more comfortable and intimate way. Going on one-on-one ministry walks or having coffee one-on-one with young adults are excellent ways for the young adult minister, as well as any priests attending, to develop a more intimate relationship with young adults. This bonding process is one of the primary benefits of this event and should not be overlooked.
