Help with a retreat I'm leading

[Aerickus17]

Hello there!

I am a member of the Chicago chapter of Couples for Christ Youth for Family and Life, and I’m going to be leading a youth camp this May. I have a bit of a situation on my hands.

Every youth camp my chapter holds includes the participants going to Confession and Sunday Mass. The thing is, I’ve invited some non-Catholics to the retreat (meaning those who are not baptized Catholics), and I was wondering as to how I could approach this in a way that I don’t make those non-Catholics feel excluded due to their inability to receive the Sacraments at this point.

Oh, and I’ve also invited some from the Assyrian Church of the East. I don’t know if the ACOE has a Sunday obligation, but if they do, would attending a Catholic Mass count because they lack access to the Assyrian liturgy during the weekend?

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

Hello there!

I am a member of the Chicago chapter of Couples for Christ Youth for Family and Life, and I’m going to be leading a youth camp this May. I have a bit of a situation on my hands.

Every youth camp my chapter holds includes the participants going to Confession and Sunday Mass. The thing is, I’ve invited some non-Catholics to the retreat (meaning those who are not baptized Catholics), and I was wondering as to how I could approach this in a way that I don’t make those non-Catholics feel excluded due to their inability to receive the Sacraments at this point.

Oh, and I’ve also invited some from the Assyrian Church of the East. I don’t know if the ACOE has a Sunday obligation, but if they do, would attending a Catholic Mass count because they lack access to the Assyrian liturgy during the weekend?

Anything done nicely and with sincerity will always be respected. First of all which is most important to announce that Non Catholics cannot receive Communion, But can receive a Blessing if they cross there hands over there chest, that is if they want to go to Mass. If they don’t you have to respect there wishes, most probably they will all go and then cross there hands on there chest. Well prayers are prayers no matter what sort of Christian one is . A spiritual talk will fall into the same category, if you have invited non Catholics to this youth camp you have to cater for them also, Grace before meals is the same, its only doctrinal matters that are different and I don’t think your going to go down that road, so there should be no problem. You be true to who you are, and respect them for who they are also. This then should cause no problems, you bless yourself when this calls for, and the non Catholics wont and that is that.

Good luck and Good wishes. God Bless walk with the Lord.

 

[Miserissima]

Throughout school, there were non Catholics in almost every class. They received a booklet outlining the Mass from soup to nuts (including the readings of the day) with which to follow along.

Consider making a bunch with keepsake covers commemorating the event. Find a sample Order of Mass (with short explanations) and plugging I the Propers.

I’ll even make a draft if you like. That way, folks can follow along and also understand what’s going on.

 

[Jon_S_1]

Hello there!

I am a member of the Chicago chapter of Couples for Christ Youth for Family and Life, and I’m going to be leading a youth camp this May. I have a bit of a situation on my hands.

Every youth camp my chapter holds includes the participants going to Confession and Sunday Mass. The thing is, I’ve invited some non-Catholics to the retreat (meaning those who are not baptized Catholics), and I was wondering as to how I could approach this in a way that I don’t make those non-Catholics feel excluded due to their inability to receive the Sacraments at this point.

Oh, and I’ve also invited some from the Assyrian Church of the East. I don’t know if the ACOE has a Sunday obligation, but if they do, would attending a Catholic Mass count because they lack access to the Assyrian liturgy during the weekend?

As far as confession, I’d recommend doing what we did on my RCIA retreat.

The candidates had their first confessions and the priests were available for the elect to go and “talk to” if they wanted.

As long as the non Catholics tell the priest they are there for counseling and spiritual direction and you also let the priest know. It should be fine. That way the non Catholics can “participate” if they want to.