Confirmation Retreat

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Vittorio23

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I’m in the middle of planning a Confirmation retreat for a class I’m in, and hopefully, if it turns out, I may submit it to my parish for possible future use. At any rate, I’m trying to get a broad array of thoughts and ideas for retreats in general. What are certain features that you think are essential to a successful retreat? What works well? What doesn’t work? Problems one might generally encounter? Number of volunteers? Good activities to do?

I’ve never been on a retreat, so my practical knowledge from experience is limited. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I have a general idea of where I’m going with it, but I’d like to hear about what others think and experiences you’ve had.

Thanks!
 
I strongly urge you to attend a retreat before you try to plan an experience for others.

until then, your confirmation program probably has a guide or outline for a confirmation retreat, or your diocese can help you. might be a good idea to hook up with another parish the first time out, help with the planning, learn from them what works and what doesn’t, supply volunteer help and assist in other ways, so your kids can participate.

If you have never supervised teens on an overnight don’t even think about it without specific training from your youth ministry office.

look at the time frame, the facilities and resources and your disposal, the aim of the retreat, the number of participants and their ages, and the volunteers available to help you. sure way to fail: try to do it all yourself.

tip: choose one main point you would like to convey, one thought you would like participants to walk away with. Plan an activity to introduce the concept, a way to impart the concept through scripture, a way to reflect on that scripture, a way to reinforce the concept through any of a number of activities: game, journaling, skit, brainstorming, art project, etc. Then provide a way for the participants to restate the concept in their own words, and a way to share with each other in small group format their understanding of the concept. End with a prayer experience designed to related the key concept to their receptivity for Confirmation.
 
I second everything Annie said above - and will add one thing. FOOD. Have someone who is a mother of teenagers plan the food. Every retreat or youth conference seems to underfeed the kids. You have to feed teens, you have to feed them more than 3 times each day - you need a substantial snack in the afternoon as well as a late night/before lights out snack.
 
Overnight retreats are a real hot potato in our diocese. Many parents will not allow their teens to attend, especially if it is a co-ed retreat. For that reason, amoung others, our parish does a day long retreat with confession, time for quiet/silent reflection, activities etc. Parents are most welcome to participate.

If you do have an overnight retreat, some issues to consider (vis a vis this issue) are: to what extent will parents be involved, will the kids be sleeping in one big room or separated at bed-time by sex, what alternative will be available for teens whose parents won’t let them attend an overnight retreat, what other parish leaders will be there, will your pastor or another priest be personally supervising?

As far as what to include, I think it is essential to include time for silent, personal prayer. Many retreats I know of seem to schedule and try to fill every hour with some kind of activity. This is best if it is an individual rather than a group activity - maybe adoration. If possible, try to get each participant to have the chance to spend one-on-one time with the priest or another spititual leader (religious, lay SD, etc.). If it is the priest, it should be separate from Confession, if that is part of your program.

Many retreats put a great deal of emphasis on bonding with the group. While this is a good goal, since the confirmation age is generally older teens, these are kids who need to know how to experience their faith when they are not part of a group.

Just my :twocents:
 
Thanks for the advice, keep it coming!

And just for the record: this is an assignment for a youth ministry course I’m in currently, not for a real retreat, although if it turns out decently, I might give the outline to my parish for future use.
 
kage_ar said:
I second everything Annie said above - and will add one thing. FOOD. Have someone who is a mother of teenagers plan the food. Every retreat or youth conference seems to underfeed the kids. You have to feed teens, you have to feed them more than 3 times each day - you need a substantial snack in the afternoon as well as a late night/before lights out snack.
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I agree! I’ve always, truly, and fully believed that when dealing with teens you absolutely have to use the “lion tamer’s approach” – throw large quantities of food at them and hope they don’t eat you alive.

They are much more receptive when well fed . . . 👍
 
If the Confirmation retreat is for high school students, especially any over the age of 16, please deal with the smoking issue upfront. If you don’t allow the students to smoke (and please don’t allow the students to smoke 😉 ), then all adults involved should not be allowed to smoke either.

I’ve seen more time wasted on this issue than most any other . . .
 
The confirmation retreats I have been involved in usually involve a speaker. We have found some dynamic local speakers who can really reach the kids. Then we have some sort of group sharing on what was said in the talk, then each group reports back to the entire group. Usually we have confessions and mass. Of course lunch is usually involved as well as quiet time. We often use a local retreat house with beautiful grounds. We do not do an overnight but make it a full day.
 
IF you come up with games and other activities that would sound goofy to the average adult over 50, check them out with your pastor or DRE first, child safety, child safety, child safety, don’t jeopardize your career before it starts.
 
Here’s how I do everything: I go find someone who has done it before and is very very good at it. (Sometimes it takes awhile to find that person and that event. Some things look great from the outside but are hollow). Then I go and watch and learn. Then I tweak it to fit my situtation. Works every time.
 
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