Quest Retreats: A Valuable Opportunity for Our Youth to Encounter Christ
Parents and teachers work so hard to teach and inspire their children to grow in their faith. Through the reception of the sacraments, growing in knowledge of the Church, and learning about the mysteries of our world that He created, they receive grace and understanding of the faith. As much as parents and teachers can encourage it, a personal encounter and relationship with Jesus is something that a child must experience on their own. One way that we can foster that encounter is by providing opportunities for them to experience that relationship with Christ.
The Quest Retreat is a perfect opportunity for our youth ages 13-15 to slow down and spend time with peers and develop that relationship with self, others, and God. The retreat is a fast-paced experience especially formed for this age group — it’s a smaller version of the TEC retreats that are put on for young adults, 16 years and older. It is 24 hours long, with one overnight.
“The idea of this retreat is to inspire the kids how to love themselves better and how to have a stronger foundation in their relationship with God,” says Caroline Wiewel, the coordinator for Quest retreats. “They listen to talks, have recreational time, and have lots of food and fun. It is a technology-free space and the kids get the chance to hang out with other kids their own age who are also looking to grow in their faith.”
Each weekend priests and adults attend and give talks. Fr. Arisman is often the spiritual director for retreats, as well. This really gives the youth the opportunity to hear of a broad range of experiences that people have had on their faith journeys.
“Quest has made a big influence on my life,” says Adelia Untiedt, one student who has attended the retreat. “It has made me realize more of how God is always there and how there is a reason for everything.”
“Quest has helped me with my devotion to the Eucharist and becoming closer in my relationship with Christ,” says Caitlin Shively, another attendee. “I enjoy meeting new people who have struggles like me and I love listening to the stories that they have to tell.”
The Quest Retreat takes place four times a year — October, December, February, and April/May. The retreats take place at Quincy University North Campus. It is open to anyone in Quincy or the surrounding area.
For more information or to sign up for the retreats, visit greatrivertec.org/minitec-quest or contact Caroline Wiewel at [email protected].