RETREAT INSTRUCTIONS

Hello Everyone,

I would like to give you this last minute instruction for the Confirmation Retreat.

CONFIRMATION RETREAT
Saturday, February 28, 2009
10am-4pm

ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK YOUTH CENTER
499 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, NJ 07032
Phone: (201)998-0088/ Fax: (201)299-0801

Please know that we are not meeting at St. Joseph School Parking lot anymore. Please go directly to the Archdiocesan Youth Retreat Center and plan to be there before 10:00AM. As you arrive, please look for me (Fr. Manolo). With me as Chaperones are Katherine Paredes and Maura Walsh. Both are wonderful parent-volunteers who also are our parish catechists. The day will begin when all registered groups arrive. We will gather in the Gym building (labeled “Boystown”), next to the church towards the front of our property

The basic schedule of the day is as follows:

10am Registration, Welcome, Prayer, Games (Gym)
11am Breakout Sessions, activities and reflections (Retreat Center, Basement Level)
12pm Hot Lunch and Free Time (Dining Hall)
1pm Keynote by Chris Padgett (Gym)
2pm Breakout Sessions, activities and reflections (Retreat Center, Basement Level)
3pm Closing Mass (Church Building)
4pm Dismissal from Church Building


PROGRAM
This is a mega– style Confirmation retreat with candidates for the reception of the Sacrament of confirmation for the other parishes of the Archdiocese of Newark. Participants in this retreat get to experience the larger Church community by meeting youth from other parishes who are on the same journey.

We will be engaging in …discussions, prayer, activities, Reconciliation experience, Mass, community building and fun. Everyone’s participation is important to the group, so we look forward to perfect attendance. If you have any question or concern, please call Fr. Manolo right away.


KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Chris Padgett

Chris has utilized music and stories to convey the love of Christ to a generation in need of Good News for close to a decade. Chris is a popular Keynote Speaker and Performer at National and local Youth Rallies, Conferences and Retreats including the Steubenville East Conferences, and National Catholic Youth Conferences. Chris will definitely entertain and enrich the young people present!

Fr. John Gordon

Currently parochial vicar at Holy Family Church in Nutley, has been very involved in the Catholic Charismatic movement and has been a prominent presence at the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Youth Conferences.

Fr. John has a great love for young people and a zeal for Christ! He will celebrate the Liturgy of the Eucharist to close out our retreat day.