"Thank you for helping me learn more about God and myself." 

"I thought a retreat would be boring.  It wasn't!  I'm glad I came.  Thank you." 

"There were people here who really listened to me..." 

"I wish I could stay here longer." 

    Resurrection Center welcomes teenagers.  They come to Resurrection Center in groups ranging from 20 or 30 to 80 or 90.  They come with sleeping bags, appetites and attitudes.  Some of them are students in Catholic schools, given a day or two off from classes to attend a retreat experience with their classmates.  Others are public school students who come on weekends as part of parish youth groups or Confirmation classes.  Some are in eighth grade.  Most are in high school. 

    A retreat can last as long as four days or as short as five hours.  The staff at Resurrection Center works with the schools and parishes to tailor a retreat experience to fit the needs of a particular group.  "Community Building" is a popular retreat theme.  So is "Knowing Myself."  Confirmation classes usually focus on the Gift of the Holy Spirit and commitment to the Church. 

    If you are of a generation which learned that retreats meant "silence," you might be surprised at the high energy and joyful sounds that are hallmarks of youth retreats.   Games, songs, good meals, hikes in the woods, outdoor sports and contemporary music exist hand-in-hand  with times of reflection, opportunities for silent prayer, liturgical celebrations and serious discussions with a group or a caring individual adult. 

    A day or two is a very small slice of a teenager's life.  A few students return for retreats in subsequent years of high school.  Most never cross the Center's threshold again.  The Center's team of retreat leaders makes an act of faith each time they meet a new group of students.  Does this short time away from their school routine make any impact on these young people?  The last thing each group hears at the end of a retreat is an invitation:  "Join our mission," they are told.  "Take something with you from this place and join us in working for the resurrection of society."