Confirmation Retreats Fast Approaching!

"A shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of strength, a Spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD."

Hearing this reading today at Mass, I couldn't help but think of our coming Confirmation retreat season --as this is the very passage from which ancient theologians drew up the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (you'll notice some translation differences) I, personally, am very excited about the coming retreats --which I pray will be opportunities for the youth of this Archdiocese to "set the whole world on fire", to quote Blessed John Paul II.

The deadline for December's retreat has passsed, but we are offering 4 more in the coming months for those parishes who would like to take advantage of this opportunity. You can find out more here. Like I said, change is happening and we're excited about the changes we've been implementing in our Confirmation Retreats over the past year. At all our Confirmation Retreats we will be focused on providing:

1.) The opportunity for Mass, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration at every retreat
2.) A transformative conversion experience that leads youth into a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ
3.) Solid catechesis rooted in the teachings of our Catholic faith.

Blessings to you all, and Happy Advent!

Young Adult Ministry Launched in Seattle

The Archdiocese of Seattle recognizes the importance of the parish as a spiritual home for every individual, and is excited to announce its implementation of parish-based small group ministry for young adults! The first stage will consist of piloting initial groups in four regions of the Archdiocese – Seattle, Vancouver, Tacoma and in the Northern part of the Archdiocese– with teams of young adults from various parishes in that region. The groups will gather twice a month for faith formation and leadership training. Faith formation in the small groups will incorporate prayer, fellowship, Scripture study and Catechesis, all tailored to address the unique needs of young adults. The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will directly support these groups through resource provision, small group facilitation, assistance in evangelization skills and peer ministry development, and a consistent presence. To compliment the small groups, the Archdiocese will continue to offer large events, such as Wine and Wisdom, monthly service opportunities and multiple yearly retreats.

During the second phase of implementation, members of the pilot group will take the model and ideas back to their own parishes, with the intent of rooting a meaningful young adult community in their parish, integrating similar programs within that community, and training new leaders to ensure the continuation of the ministry into the future. We believe this cycle can only have a positive impact, particularly because it is peer-driven and encourages a greater ownership of new ministries. The Archdiocese will continue to support and advocate for parish-based small group ministry, and will provide ongoing leadership development.