Teen Talk Retreat

For the past 6 or so years, I have been blessed to be a part of a youth ministry that Father Jeremy started and calls "Teen Talk".  It's a night once a week where teenagers from 9th grade and up can come to talk about their week...their highs, their lows, and where God is in the middle and bring up any other things that come up.  It has changed a little over the years because of the fact that the kids grow up and move on and new ones come in, but the reason we're there is the same...to provide an environment where teens can talk about their lives and the wisdom and love of God is incorporated into that.  Many of them can get this at home, but not all do, but no matter where they are in their journey with God, they know that each week, they can experience it with their peers.

 

This year I was able to attend the 2nd annual retreat.  It was at the beautiful, serene, grace-filled retreat center of Broom Tree in Irene, SD.  Despite the cold & wet weather, we made the best of it all and it turned out to be an awesome weekend spiritually.

 

We did Morning Prayer each day in the chapel...a mile-long walk.  After getting muddy a few times and braving the wind and cold, we decided to drive them back and forth after it rained all day.  (I am glad I took this picture on the first day!  I missed a beautiful sunrise picture the next morning though!)

 

Since it rained all day, we had to move our "campfire" indoors.  Quite the ingenuity on Sister Maris Stella's part!  (Oh, yeah, there were 2 Handmaids and 2 postulants there to guide the weekend.)

 

I missed another opportunity to get a picture with everyone in it.  We had 14 teens, Father, Jeanne & myself, and the 4 Handmaids in attendance.  Missing from the picture are 3 that had to leave early for DYC (Diocesan Youth Council).

It was truly a gift from God that He called me to be on this retreat with this group.  It's certainly not an easy task for a SAHM of 5 (with one who is still nursing) to be away for 3-1/2 days, but He made it work so I could be a part of this wonderful experience that was so much more than I could ever explain in one blog post.  Praise Him & the Blessed Mother for answered prayers!