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Friendship
Friends in Christ: What does it mean to be a “Friend in Christ?” What model of friendship did Jesus give us? Using Scripture, we will explore the qualities of Christian friendship; the model Jesus gave us for being a good friend and the way we can live that model in our daily lives.
Qualities of a True Friendship: Using the story of David and Jonathan, we will explore the qualities of a faithful and healthy friendship. We will discuss positive attributes of a healthy friendship and explore those “pitfalls” of unhealthy relationships. Through activities, faith-sharing and scripture, we will examine the friendships we have and discover how to be a good friend.
Building Communication for Strong Relationships: This workshop educates young people on how to appropriately express themselves through word and action to build healthy relationships. Students explore the topics of communication, respect, and prayer to see how they can better communicate with each other and with God. This workshop can also be done with parents to help foster healthy communication between parents and teens.
Discernment
The Voice of God: Youth will explore how God talks with them and guides them to healthy decision-making. They will talk about what discernment means, how Lectio Divina can be used in discernment and the qualities of a positive and Christ-centered decision.
Sexuality
Sex! It's Not Just a Verb: We will work with you to develop a program to meet your group’s needs. Multiple approaches are available and can include exploration of what sex is and isn't, body image, healthy dating, abstinence, marriage, pornography, communication, etc. We believe youth should be given the opportunity to ask questions that will have complete, age-appropriate, and morally grounded answers. Programs are designed around the Diocese of Albany’s Christian Approaches to Human Sexuality program for 6-12 graders, the “Safe Environments” Initiative and the Theology of the Body. We are available to meet with parents or parish/school leadership in advance.
Sexuality and Safety, Teen Issues: Whether 13 or 18, the struggles to understand your own sexuality are only made more complicated by the dangers that exist. Although schools talk at length about physical dangers, they seldom address emotional and spiritual dangers to our kids. This program explores healthy and unhealthy boundaries in relationships. We will discuss issues of personal boundaries being crossed. We will talk about situations to be aware of and the negative effects of things like alcohol, drugs and pornography on maintaining healthy boundaries. Finally, we will discuss things youth can do to protect themselves or begin healing if their boundaries have violated.
I Am Beautifully Made!! This program explores how we are made in the Image and likeness of God, and of course, God doesn’t make junk. We address societal attitudes toward the human body in the media, in our laws and in our schools. We talk about modesty, sexualization, objectification and self-esteem. Youth will be able to identify those media messages that are contrary to God’s message of love for them and how they can fight those messages.
Pornography Awareness: This program explores the dangers of pornography for individuals and families. It addresses the myths that exist around pornography and pornography use, and explores the damage to healthy sexuality and intimacy that pornography possess.
Miscellaneous
Spirit of Music: This retreat takes teens through the Liturgy of the Mass and explores the different types of music that are used. At the end of this retreat day, teens will be able to plan a full liturgy for any occasion using appropriate readings and music.
God Speaks? No, God Sings! : This retreat explores how God speaks to us through music. Using traditional prayer forms, we will explore how we can use contemporary music as a way to hear the voice of God.
Isn’t Social Justice When Our Friends are Fair??: This workshop explores the 7 pillars of Catholic Social teachings with teens. We look at how each teaching is rooted in Jesus and how youth can work toward those missions in their lives.
“Devotion in Motion”: How do I live out my faith? How is God calling me to live out my faith? When Paul tells us to “Pray unceasingly” did he really mean to never stop talking and listening to God? Or was he calling us to a lifestyle emulated by St. Francis, “Lord, make my life a prayer?” This retreat helps individuals hear the call of discipleship and develops ways teens can answer that call in their lives.
Gifts given, but Not Opened?: What are the Gifts God has given each of us? How do we use these gifts? How do I recognize gifts in myself and in others? This retreat explores how we are made in the image and likeness of God and what gifts He has given us for our journey.
Gifts of God, Gifts of Faith: This overnight retreat explores the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit as gifts of doing, being and knowing for our journey.
Respect: We will explore Jesus’ words “treat other as you would like to be treated” and Jesus’ actions toward those he encountered. This retreat also includes team building activities to help teens work together to solve problems. Through these experiences, we learn how respect is a necessary part of working together.
Holy Heroes: This retreat/ workshop explores Saints and other Holy People in our world as messengers of God’s unfailing Love. We look to them as guides, wherever we are on our journey. We will meet St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis of Assisi, Brother Lawrence, Mother Teresa and more. We can focus on Holy People of your choosing.
J21!- Just Think twice and act once!! Learning to cooperate and accept differences in community- this retreat works with teens to come together, break down cliques and bullying and see the value of each other and ourselves.
Peer Training: We will train teens and adults from your community to develop and implement retreats in your parish.
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"The
retreat was informative and eye opening because we learned a lot and how our actions affect our lives"
"This was really fun- it opened my eyes to many things I did not know" AHN Retreatants "It helped bring us closer to the ideal of living every facet of our lives for the love of God" St. Mary's Nassau Retreatant "I was very impressed at how this was done." St. Mary's Nassau Chaperone |
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