Letter from the Catskills:

A Teen Parishioner on the Lenten Retreat

BEATRICE OLDEROG

A Lenten retreat provides an opportunity for us to step away from our busy lives and focus on our spiritual growth. It allows us to disconnect from the distractions of daily life and engage in activities that foster a deeper connection with God. 

I recently attended a Lenten retreat for teenagers that our diocese puts on every year in the Catskills. The weather was much colder than we anticipated, and I didn’t bring enough warm clothes; but the snow-covered hills were so picturesque, it made up for the discomfort. In the end, the chilly temperature and the heavy snow made the event all the more memorable. 

While many people may believe that spiritual growth has to happen in some serious manner, I believe that sometimes fun experiences can also help us in our spiritual lives. This was made a possibility with this retreat. It consisted of morning and evening services, where we were able to listen to great sermons from a priest. During the day there were activities like candlemaking and team-building exercises, as well as time to simply relax and talk to others. One of the highlights was a presentation by Archbishop Michael, where he told us his life story and spoke about the history of the diocese. But aside from the formal program, I also enjoyed the chance to step outside my ordinary routine and spend some time in the wilderness. It gave me space for contemplation and personal reflection and helped me reconnect with God. 

Besides teenagers from our diocese, there were also people there from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. There was a warm feeling among the whole group and I had several lively discussions with both counselors and campers about a variety of different topics. I had a very enjoyable conversation with a counselor about our experiences with different denominations. These discussions provide me with more insight spiritually and made the overall stay much more enjoyable.  

In conclusion, I was able to make many connections which will hopefully last me a very long time. The time spent away from my phone provided me with ample room for contemplation. Most notably, I was able to simply spend time in nature while still having an opportunity to dedicate time to God. All in all, I would strongly advise anybody considering it to take part in the retreat. 

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The Department of Youth Ministry has set Teen Retreat dates for the 2023-2024 school year which will again be held at Frost Valley YMCA Camp in Claryville, NY. Middle School and High School students in grades 8-12 are encouraged save the dates and attend. Registration announcements will be posted at www.nynjoca.org.

Lenten Retreat: April 12-14, 2024 (registration will open in January)