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Confirmation 2 Retreat

February 14-16 at St. Edward Retreat Center

Retreat Announcement

It's time to get ready for Retreat! This is a fun opportunity for your teens to step away from the busyness of life and focus on their relationship with Jesus Christ. Through a variety of engaging activities, your teens will grow closer to God and be more prepared for their Confirmation in May.

Retreat is also a fun experience to grow closer with their friends and make new ones! There will be plenty of time to relax, have fun, and bond with others. This weekend combines faith, fun, and fellowship in a way that will help your teens take the next step in their faith journey with joy and confidence!

If you have questions, comments, or concerns about the weekend please don’t hesitate to reach out to Matt Jennerson at 949-586-7803 or mjennerson@stkilianchurch.org.

    • Please click the button above, fill out the form, and return it either by email to mjennerson@stkilianchurch.org or drop it off at the parish office.

    • Please indicate if your son/daughter is taking prescribed medication with instructions as well. Please bring it in a ziplock bag with their name and small group number on it during check in. Per Diocesan policy we must maintain custody and have record of it on the Permission Form even if it's over the counter. Additional instructions or anything for us can be covered at the Thursday check in. We have a wonderful volunteer with a medical background volunteering to join us for the weekend so she will administer any medications and is at our service.

    • On Thursday night (yes Thursday), February 13th, we will have check in between 6pm and 8pm. Just like the airlines, this will be a time to check paperwork, drop off luggage, drop off medication, and answer any questions you may have about the retreat. Luggage goes up to the retreat center Friday morning with our early crew and will be in your teen’s room waiting for them when our first evening concludes. Matt, Zeke, and Youth Ministry volunteers will be there to help with anything you need to ensure we have a smooth retreat.

    • See the packing list above. This is a good guide for what you’ll need for the weekend. Feel free to add anything else you might want to it, but please don’t overpack either. Beds with mattresses are provided however linens are not so please bring a sleeping bag or sheets and blanket and a pillow to sleep in.

    • In the event that they forget an item from the packing list, have them bring it Friday in a small backpack.

    • We are going to be at 6000 feet of altitude so drinking lots of water is essential! Please send them with a refillable water bottle like a hydroflask and make sure their names are on them.

    • On Friday please arrive at St. Kilian at 5pm to check in, eat dinner, pray, and load the bus. Please do not be late, we leave as soon as we can.

    • On Sunday we will arrive at St. Kilian around 2:30pm however this largely depends on traffic so please be patient. Our luggage truck will arrive just before the buses so that you can get their luggage and take them home once they’re off the bus.

    • We will send you an email when they’ve arrived at retreat and once they’ve departed with an ETA.

    • Retreat Center Location: Saint Edward Retreat Center 5701 Acorn Dr, Wrightwood, CA 92397

    • Cell Phones are not allowed on the retreat. This is a time to decompress and be with the Lord. They will survive a few days without their phone (if anything they may grow to appreciate the luxury more after having been away from their devices).

    • Please help us out by taking their phones from them before you drop them off on Friday. This also prevents their phones from being lost or left at the retreat center (you know your kids, it happens).

    • If there is an emergency and you need to contact your child, contact the parish office and they will relay the message to us. The following number is for emergencies only: 657-221-7244.

    • We have a wonderful group of teens going (so hopefully this won’t affect us) but as a warning your child will be immediately dismissed from the retreat if they are found with alcohol, drugs, inappropriate materials or content, engaging in inappropriate behavior, or sneaking out of the retreat. It will be your responsibility to drive to the retreat center to pick them up.

    • If a child is sent home for the retreat for the mentioned behaviors, they will need to have a meeting with Fr. Angelos and Fr. Brandon to discuss their readiness to be Confirmed.

    • Help us out and ensure your son/daughter understands the expectation that they behave and be respectful on retreat.

    • Meals will be provided regularly and thankfully this retreat center doesn’t serve “camp food” but has a kitchen that actually knows how to cook.

    • Parents are invited to generously donate boxes of snacks that can be shared during the Thursday night drop off.

    • Please do not send your teens on retreat with their own snacks in their bags as they’ll attract rats, squirrels, and bears into their cabin.