Community of Hope Retreats

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Our Retreat Themes

Great care is taken when planning your group’s retreat: we go beyond typical “talks” and “presentations” to get to the core of our Faith and the teachings of our Church through discussion and active learning.  We don’t believe retreats are for strictly a lecture; instead, they are a time for us to share with the teens and adults, personal experiences of the power of faith in ones life and to allow the participants to get to a “quiet place” and listen to what God has to say to us in regards to our lives.

(Personal reflection time and scripture examination are not to be forgotten). 

Sacramental life and prayer are stressed and receive a lot of attention.  And, of course, we’re dealing with young people...their concerns, their temptations, their joys and their questions...so every retreat is aimed at getting the message to them by every means necessary – and that includes having fun.  Whether it's an afternoon, overnight, or a full-blown weekend...any opportunity for a teen to attend a retreat is a blessing.

Here's a little about the programs we have to offer...or we can build a theme to specifically suit your group's unique needs. These themes are great for teens and adults alike! There are many more that we have done, and even more ideas bouncing around -- but these are some of our favorites.

The Call of Christ

Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

Matthew 11:28-30.

 

This call of Jesus to His apostles is one that He asks of us every day. How do we answer? God is constantly calling us closer to Him – so what is our response? This retreat will focus on our relationship with God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost and the special ways He reveals Himself to us in each Person of the Trinity.  We discuss the difficulty of living our lives without the help of the Holy Trinity and the promise of Christ to give us the grace needed in different situations teens find themselves in.

 

Waging War on Sin

'Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.' Matthew 26:41

Jesus, as a man, suffered temptation just like all of us. He was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.  Jesus’ example shows us that it is not a sin to be tempted.  This retreat focuses on the ten commandments of the Church, what sin is (mortal vs. venial), sin’s effect on the soul, the preventative measures we should take to avoid temptation, and the merciful forgiveness of Christ found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

Sealed with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In whom you also, after you had heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation), in whom also believing, you were signed with the Holy Spirit of promise.
(Ephesians 1:13)

 

At our Baptism, God graced each of us with the Holy Spirit and the Gifts of Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, Fear of the Lord. How have we used these Gifts? As baptized Christians we are all called to share in the work of Christ – and the Holy Ghost gives us all of the tools! We will spend this retreat examining the sacrament of Confirmation, what it means to be indelibly sealed by the Holy Spirit, and the Gifts renewed in our souls and how we are called to use them.  

 

True Love Waits

Or know you not that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God: and you are not your own? For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Helps teens make positive, life giving decisions regarding relationships, dating and sexuality.  We educate the teens in Christ’s charge to all of His children to remain faithful and to live a chaste life in accordance with our state of life.  We challenge all to keep themselves sexually pure and remind them that God’s reward will be great. Purity is rare in today’s world, but extremely valuable.   We also speak to those teens that have made a mistake and let them know it is okay and profitable to start over by asking God’s forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation. 

Other Retreats also offered

Catechism for Adults

The Catholic Man

The Catholic Woman

Heaven, Hell & Purgatory

The Sacraments