St. Clare of Assisi
Luke 18 Retreat 2018
Dear Confirmation Class Parents,
On the weekend of February 17-18, 2018, St. Clare of Assisi parish will hold its annual “Luke 18” retreat weekend, which is an integral part of the Confirmation program. The weekend offers the opportunity to experience God’s love on a personal level, directly relating to the life of 8th graders. The weekend is extremely powerful, and has been described as “life changing” by many past participants.
The “Luke 18” retreat is organized and coordinated through St. Clare’s Offices of Religious Education and Youth Ministry. High school students lead the 8th grade students through games, music, and sharing, as well as present a series of faith-centered talks. Catechists will lead them through Dynamic Catholic Decision Point Sessions to aid in their sacramental preparation. With the help of “youth ministering to youth,” the 8th graders are able to relate to the experience of living a Christian life at home and school. The weekend helps them see how real God’s love is, and that God is present in every facet of their daily lives—in their relationships with family and friends, at school, at home, and in their community. In turn, the 8th graders are challenged to share that love with others.
The retreat begins with check-inat 8am on Saturday, February 17, at the St. Clare Gym, starting with a full breakfast in the cafeteria, and ends with the 5:00pm Mass on Sunday, February 18.
Saturday, February 17 - Drop off student at 8:00am in Gym, pick up at 10:00pm in Gym.
Sunday, February 18 - Drop off student at 8:45am in Gym, then join us for 5:00pm Mass! Dismissal after Mass ends
We still need a few more volunteers to help make our “Luke 18” a success! If you have not already volunteered, please prayerfully consider one of the following ways you can help. Please call Jackie in the Religious Ed office
(636-394-4368 X184)to sign up for one or more of the following volunteer opportunities:
Meal Preparation: Help as part of a team of volunteers to prepare and serve the meals for the retreat participants at the St. Clare cafeteria. (3 hour shifts)Please know that FULL BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES and DINNERS are served during the retreat.
Set Up/Clean Up: The classrooms and cafeteria have to be set-up for the retreat on the evening of Friday, February 16, and be back to their original state before we leave on Sunday, February 18. (3 hour shifts)
Nurse: We are in need of Registered Nurses to be at St. Clare for the duration of the retreat. In the past, we have assigned 1-2 nurses for each four-hour shift throughout the weekend.
All parent volunteers must complete our “Protecting God’s Children” Program prior to the retreat.
If needed please contact Jackie in the Religious Ed office at 636-394-4368 x184.
The Luke 18 retreat has a long and rewarding history in the St. Louis area, as well as here at St. Clare. But as they say, you can only get out what you put into the weekend. It’s SO important for participants and parents to be open and supportive to this retreat weekend! This weekend shouldn’t just be seen as a requirement, but an incredible opportunity to grow in faith and community. Please pray for us as we prepare for this weekend in the coming weeks, and know that we will be praying for your young adults as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation! Thank you again for your witness to your child during this important time in their spiritual life!
In Christ,
Fr. Brian Hecktor
(636) 394-7307