An Outline for a Secondary School Retreat

‘That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith,

as you are being rooted and grounded in love.’

Although these activities are designed to be delivered outside the regular school environment as
a retreat, they can easily be adapted for use in the classroom. Some activities could be adapted
for adult prayer time. Each of the activities should be timed to include moments of quiet
reflection. Breaks should be scheduled as deemed appropriate. There are more activities here
than needed for a full day retreat so you can tailor the day to meet the needs of your group.

Time required: 4-5 hours or tailored for in-class/group use

Opening Prayer:

God who has guided our steps this year,

we want to explore paths of joy together.
When we open the Scriptures and share the stories of Jesus
help us to follow his example and grow to be more like him.
When we are at liturgies may we focus on the message found in God’s word.
May this year continue to be abundantly blessed by You! Amen+
(Adapted from Prayers for the First Week of School OCSTA 2014)

Community Building Activities:

Choose an ice-breaker or community building activity that is suitable for your group. These
websites have activities that can be used by teens.
http://topten.org/content/tt.AU20.html
http://wilderdom.com/games/Icebreakers.html
http://humanresources.about.com/od/icebreakers/Ice Breakers Energizers and Activities.html
http://www.jubed.com/youth ministry/
http://www.teampedia.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
http://www.CreativeYouthIdeas.com

SUB-THEME 1 – WALKING TOGETHER AND SHARING OUR STORIES

Activity 1: Walking Together and Sharing Our Stories

Purpose: to walk in pairs and/or small groups to share a common story

Planning: outline a couple of outdoor walking paths, preferably paths without traffic

Outline of activity: Invite students to pair up. Ask students to discuss their first day of high
school.
Activity 2: Walking Together

Purpose: to experience a walking meditation

Planning: outline a couple of outdoor walking paths, preferably paths in woods.

Or walk on an outdoor labyrinth. The length of the path is not crucial but the width will have to
allow more than one walker at a time.

Outline of activity: Invite students to step out of their comfort zone. Explain that they will do a
walking meditation. They will walk on an outdoor path in silence and allow creation around
them to speak to them. Ask them to listen to how God wants to share the joy of silence with
them. As they walk ask the students to repeat the word maranatha as a focal point for their
minds.

Activity 3: Sharing Stories

Purpose: to offer students an opportunity to discuss closeness to God

Materials needed:
Handout #1: Where is God?

Outline of activity: have students grouped for this activity. Depending on the maturity of the
group, decide if you need to choose the groups or if the students can group themselves. Give the
groups Handout #1 as a conversation starter. Invite one student to read the situation. Then have
the first question asked. Allow students to discuss their thoughts and feelings. When the
conversation from one question dies down, ask the group to move to the next question.
Where’s God?
This week at summer camp has been one of the best weeks of Janet’s life. Although she resisted
it at first, the campers have been required to spend one hour every day in a discipline of silence.
Students were encouraged to journal whatever came to their minds. On the last day of camp
Janet was sitting by the lake and reading over her journal entries. Her Wednesday entry was
really bothering her:
I have never felt so close to you, God, as I do today. I have
never had this happen before. I was sitting here watching
the sun sparkle off the water like a million diamonds when
I was overcome with emotion. The tears surprised me as they
overflowed from my eyes down my cheeks. I couldn’t stop
them. I didn’t want to stop them. I just knew you were with
me, and I could feel your arms around me, your love for me,
your affection for me. It was as though you were trying to
tell me that I was okay, that you were pleased I was your
follower. I didn’t hear any voices, I didn’t see any visions,
but this experience was the most real experience of God – or
of anything – that I have ever known.
Janet was afraid as she thought about going home. Was God really present? Why had she never
felt this before? Could this have been some kind of emotional experience and not God at all? At
the same time, something inside of Janet was tingling, something inside was telling her that she
had just had a glimpse of God, and from that moment on she would never be the same. She also
knew there was no way she could explain this experience to anyone, even her youth minister.

1. Was this a purely emotional experience, or could this have been real?

2. Have you ever experienced God similarly?

3. How does God communicate with us?

4. Was Janet correct to not even try to explain her experience? Are some experiences
simply impossible to describe or explain?

Adapted from Keep ‘Em Talking! – Real-Life Dilemmas That Teach by Mike Yaconelli, pg. 47

Handout #1
SUB-THEME 2 – OPENING THE SCRIPTURES

Activity 4: Opening the Scriptures

Purpose: to open the Scriptures to seek some wisdom

Materials needed:
Handout #2: Scripture Guide
Bibles
Recipe cards
Pencils/Pen
Markers
Pencil crayons

Outline of activity:
Make copies of Handout #2: Scripture Guide. Invite students to take ten minutes to find a
scripture passage that speaks to them. Have students copy the passage on the recipe card so they
can post it in their locker at school.
Scripture Guide

Matthew 5:5 Matthew 25:35 Luke 18:27

Matthew 17:20-21 Isaiah 61:1 Deuteronomy 6:5-6

Luke 6:38 Genesis 17:1 John 14:1

Matthew 5:14 Zechariah 4:6 Romans 8:35-39

John 15:13 Mark 9:13 1 Timothy 4: 12-13

Luke 11:9-10 Jeremiah 29:11 1 Corinthians 13:4

Ephesians 3:20 Philippians 4:4 Colossians 3:12

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scripture Guide

Matthew 5:5 Matthew 25:35 Luke 18:27

Matthew 17:20-21 Isaiah 61:1 Deuteronomy 6:5-6

Luke 6:38 Genesis 17:1 John 14:1

Matthew 5:14 Zechariah 4:6 Romans 8:35-39

John 15:13 Mark 9:13 1 Timothy 4: 12-13

Luke 11:9-10 Jeremiah 29:11 1 Corinthians 13:4

Ephesians 3:20 Philippians 4:4 Colossians 3:12

Handout #2
Activity 5: Opening the Scriptures

Purpose: to reflect on the scripture passage of the disciples on The Road to Emmaus.

Materials needed:
Bible
Paper for silent journalling

Outline of Activity: Read the passage The Road to Emmaus, Luke 24: 13-35. Break up the
reading as indicated below, asking questions for reflection at each part. Have students quietly
write responses to each question. Closely monitor the group. When most students have stopped
writing, continue to the next part of the reading.

Read Luke 24:13-24 then ask:

What do you think prevented these followers from recognizing Jesus as he walked along the road
with them? Watch the group and when most of them have stopped writing, continue.

Read Luke 24:25-27 then ask:

What do you think is going through the followers’ minds as this stranger (Jesus) explains to them
everything about their friend Jesus?

Read Luke 24:28-30a then ask:

Would you invite a total stranger to stay the night in your home? Why? Or Why not?

Read Luke 24:30b-32 then ask:

Why do you think Jesus vanished from their sight? Why didn’t he stay with them once they
recognized him?

Read Luke 24:33-35 then ask:

It was dark and late in the day when the followers returned to Jerusalem. There may have been
thieves. Have you ever done anything dangerous because you were excited?

Debrief: This year’s theme for Catholic Education Week is “Exploring Paths of Joy.” Can you
make connections between each segment of the story and a particular path of joy? Allow the
students to discuss this question aloud.

Activity 6: Opening the Scriptures

Purpose: to hear the passage of scripture from which the Our Father comes or to enact a
reflection for the students in a group

Materials Needed:
Bible – with Luke 11:1-4 marked
Our Father script
Outline of Activity: Have students sit and listen to a reading of the passage.
Discuss the words that are written in the passage and how they are different from the Our Father
that we pray. Pray the Our Father as a group to close this session.
OR use the script below to understand the passage in a deeper way.

Script: [two voices – God and a student]

Student: Silently make the sign of the cross and begin aloud – Our Father
God: Yes
Student: What, who’s there? Oh, I will begin again. Our Father,
God: Are you calling?
Student: Who are you?
God: Your father in heaven. You called me. You said, “Our Father.”
Student: You are actually listening to me.
God: I always listen to you when you speak to me.
Student: Oh.?
God: Continue with your prayer.

Student: who art in heaven.

God: That’s where I am. Yes, continue.
Student: Hallowed be thy name.
God: Most of the time.
Student: Pardon me, why do you say that?
God: Sometimes you say “Oh my God,” and you are just exasperated, or excited, or – well, you
just aren’t really interested in talking to me then.
Student: I never really thought of it like that. Shall I continue?
God: Continue.

Student: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

God: Wait, do you really want my kingdom to come and my will to be done?
Student: It’s part of the prayer.
God: But do you mean what you are praying?
Student: I guess so.
God: What about when you are arguing with your brother? Do you think that is kingdom-like
behavior, or my will?
Student: I don’t think so… sorry God.
God: My kingdom is about peace, justice and joy.
Student: Right! Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins.
God: Right! Continue.

Student: As we forgive those who sin against us.

God: Woe! That means that you have forgiven your friend for not completing her part of the
assignment last week.
Student: But, God, she did not do her fair share of the work.
God: She told you that her aunt was really sick and she was worried about her aunt.
Student: You mean she was telling the truth? I thought she was faking.
God: No, her aunt was really sick and she was very worried. Can you forgive her?
Student: I will call her as soon as I am finished praying. Sorry, God. Again!

Student: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
God: My pleasure. I would never lead you into temptation.
Student: This prayer is much more meaningful than I thought. This was a good prayer time.
Thanks God.
God: Any time! You are most welcome.

Debrief: Sometimes we say words we know by heart but we don’t pray them. Discuss.

SUB-THEME 3 – WELCOMING OTHERS TO THE TABLE

Activity 7: Welcoming Others

Purpose: to explore how to welcome others

Materials needed: prepare chart paper banners with welcoming phrases like
“Hello, my name is….”
“Welcome to our school, my name is….”
“Hello, may I help you?”
“________, would you like to join our group?”
“Hello, are you new here?”
“Hello, are you looking for a particular classroom?”
“Hello, my name is… Have you reported to the office yet? I can help you if you wish.”

Outline of Activity: Explain to students that there are times when we see someone we do not
know in the school. It is important to learn how to welcome the person and to assist them. Most
schools have a policy that visitors report to the main office. It would be good to establish if this
step has happened yet. If it is an adult, he/she may be an occasional teacher or a person who is a
guest speaker. If it is a young person, he/she may be a new student or someone touring the
school to see if he/she would like to be a new student. How do we welcome people in the
school? Explain that we are going to practice welcoming others to our school.

Student will pair up. One person will be the “new person” and the other will be a “welcomer.”
The new person will decide why he/she has come to the school. The new person will not share
this with the welcomer until the conversation begins. The pair of students will decide before
they begin, where in the school they will meet each other. Once the scenario has been played
out, students will change partners and do it again. Be sure that everyone has a turn as a
welcomer.

Debrief: Invite students to express how it felt to be the new person and the welcomer.
If you are in a part of the school that is far from the main office, how would you help the stranger
get to the main office? [take him/her there] Being gracious is a lost art in our hustle-bustle
society.
It takes practice to feel comfortable helping others. You may want to explain the difference
between saying “May I help you?” and “Can I help you?”

Activity 8: Welcoming Others to the Table

Purpose: to welcome others to our table

Outline of Activity: If there is a time of eating during the retreat, invite the students to eat with
others that they do not know well. Ask the students to welcome others to their table so everyone
has a place to eat. Watch the students to see if they follow instructions.

Debrief: Why is it difficult to move out of our comfort zones? If we place ourselves in other’s
shoes, how uncomfortable is it to not know where to sit? Is it possible that the cafeteria in our
school may become a more welcoming place? What can we do to ensure everyone has a place to
eat comfortably?

Activity 9: Welcoming Others to the Table

Purpose: to discuss how table time is experienced in your home; to learn that different cultures
may have different table rituals/manners

Materials Needed:
one place setting for six students
one piece of 8.5” X 14” for each student
crayons

Outline of Activity: Put the one place setting (plate, fork, knife, spoon, glass, serviette,
placemat) in the centre of the table. Give each student a piece of paper and a crayon. Invite the
students to draw how the table is set at their home on the paper that is theirs.
NOTE: Some students may neither eat at a table nor with utensils. Be aware of these
possibilities and ask these students to draw what they usually use to eat with on their sheet.

Once the place settings are completed, explain to the group that you are going to pose a question
for the group to discuss. Once the group is finished, ask them to be quiet so you will know when
to ask the next question.

Questions:
In your home…
…do you serve yourself or does someone serve your plate?
…what happens if you do not like the food that is prepared for a meal?
…do you wait until everyone is served before you begin to eat?
…do you pray grace before meals, grace after meals, or no grace?
…can you leave food on your plate if you are finished?
…do you wait until everyone is finished before you start to clear the table?
Debrief: What did you learn about your home experience of table time? If you are invited to
someone’s home for a meal, it is best to be observant about how that family dines; it may be
different from the way you do at your home. Watch and listen respectfully as you eat so you will
not offend your hosts.

SUB-THEME 4 – RECOGNIZING JESUS IN THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Activity 10: Recognizing Jesus

Purpose: to look for a picture of someone who looks like how you imagine Jesus would look

Materials needed:
magazines
scissors
construction paper
masking tape
collection of prayer cards, images of Jesus from Google images

Outline of Activity: put the Google images of Jesus on a wall close to where the activity will
take place. Give each student a magazine, scissors, a piece of construction paper. Ask each
student to find an image of Jesus in the magazine, cut it out and mount it on the construction
paper. Put their name on the back side of the mounted image. Clean up their work space and
then put their image up on the wall with the other images.

Debrief: Which of these images coincide with your idea of what Jesus looks like? Explain.
Which of these images create dissonance within you?

Activity 11: Recognizing Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread

Purpose: to participate in a guided meditation

Materials Needed:
instrumental music
meditation script
chairs that allow feet to touch floor
mats to sit on

Outline of Activity:
 Participants need to be in a space where they can sit quietly without another participant
being too close physically.
 The lighting could be dimmed, if it is possible or practical.
 Gentle subtle instrumental music can be played in the background.
 The space ought to be free of distracting noises.
  The leader may want to practice reading the script slowly before actually doing the
guided meditation.
 The markers … indicate when a pause is to occur and longer markers like………..
indicate significantly longer pauses.
 The longer pauses give the participants time to use their imagination to respond to the
guidance of the meditation.
 Usually the leader will get a cue from the group about when the next line should be
offered for reflection, i.e. movement in their bodies.
 The leader’s voice should be calm, directive and lower in volume than a normal teaching
voice.
 The initial instructions can be offered using a normal voice, then after the******** a
prayerful voice can lead the meditation.

Meditation script:

We are going to experience a guided meditation. During this time I invite you to use your
imagination to help you to pray. If the guided nature of this experience is not helping you…just
allow yourself to relax and be calm. Try to keep your body still. If you are able to enter into the
experience do so.
Sit with your back and your legs completely supported by the chair you are on. Bend your knees
so your feet are flat on the floor and your hands are resting on your lap in a relaxed fashion.
Gently close your eyes and relax the muscles in your face. Breathe deeply in and out….doing so
without making any sound.
**************************************
Breathe in peace….. and breathe out stress….
Breathe in calm….. and breathe out tension…
Breathe in all that is good and ….breathe out all that is not good…

Pause allow everyone to focus on their breathing for a minute

Sense your heart rate slowing….and your breathing becoming deeper and fuller. If a
distracting thought comes to mind…
allow it to pass through your consciousness…
do not react forceably toward it…
simply allow it to pass through…as if on a river floating by.

Breathe in…and out…

In….and ….out….

Let the Spirit of God lead you…

to a place of solitude…
where you feel comfortable….
a place of peace….
a place where you can invite God to be with you….

A place where you can be still….with God….

A place where you can be safe….and free….and still…..
A place where nothing can disturb you….

Where you can be quietly aware of God’s presence…

Aware of the silent breath of God…
Breathing life into your life…
Quietly….in…and …out
Be still ….just slowly breathing with God….
In and out….peacefully….calmly….
Slowly breathing in rhythm with God….
Slowly….

Become aware that you are in the upper room with Jesus and the disciples.
Sit where you feel comfortable….
In your imagination see the table and the apostles gathered around….
Experience the peace of this gathering…. It is the celebration called Passover….
Everyone is joyful like at a party….
Jesus says, “I have longed to eat this Passover with you….”
Everyone’s face smiles in response to this.

Jesus takes a large flat circle of bread,

He lifts his eyes toward heaven to give thanks….
He breaks the bread and hands it to those beside him, saying, “This is my body which will be
given for you.”
Each person takes the bread and breaks off a piece and passes it on.
Jesus says, “Do this in memory of me.” ………..
The bread comes to you. You break off a piece and pass it on.
You put the bread in your mouth and chew it and think about what Jesus has said……………
Everyone seems puzzled by what Jesus is saying.

Then you see Jesus taking a cup….

He pours wine into it….
He lifts his eyes toward heaven saying a quiet blessing.
He says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which will be poured out for you.”
He passes the cup to his left……...
Each one takes a small sip then passes it on……….
Again, everyone seems puzzled by these words.
The cup comes to you, to take a small sip and pass it on………..

Jesus says, “I love all of you very much.”

Jesus looks at all gathered around………...
His eyes stop when they meet yours…... He smiles at you ……..
He says, “I am among you as one who serves. I invite you to do the same.”

You feel blessed for having been present at this Passover meal…...
You know that this experience has offered you an example to follow……...
You want to serve too…….

How will you serve? Who will you serve?

When you are ready…you may slowly become aware of your breathing…
Aware of your sitting….
Aware of where you are….
Open your eyes…remain quiet and still…
Hold onto the peace and gentleness…and love…
Breathe…

In the style of the guided meditation found in TIME WITH JESUS: Twenty Guided Meditations
for Youth by Thomas F. Catucci, Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, ISBN 0-87793-499-1.
An excellent resource for high school teachers and chaplaincy leaders.

Debrief: Sometimes people are not able to enter into the meditation…and that is all right.
Simply taking time to breathe and relax is all we need to experience.
It is one way to pray. It can be helpful for some people.
How do you feel?
Are you more relaxed now than before we started?

Activity 12: Breaking of the Bread

Purpose: to share bread together

Materials Needed:
a couple of different kinds of loaves of bread (white, tortilla, pumpernickel, bagel,
breadsticks) cut into bite size pieces [don’t cut until day of retreat otherwise it will dry
out]
NOTE: Have a couple of choices for students with gluten sensitivities, do not cut pieces
with same knife as other breads unless thoroughly washed. Ask students with gluten
allergies to sit together.
Bowls to hold the different types of bread
serviettes to be used as plates
If your Foods Program has a poster with different types of bread on it – bring poster to
retreat for students to see.

Outline of Activity: invite students to sit in a circle with a group of 6-8 people
With a gloved hand, put a piece of each type of bread into a bowl for each group.
Ask one student to come to get a bowl for their group. Invite the students to try a bit of each
type of bread. Have students discuss why they think bread is such a staple in many cultures.
SUB-THEME 5 – PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS

Activity 13: Proclaiming the Good News

Purpose: to proclaim the Good News in song

Materials Needed:
musical instruments
music [sheet/word copies]
select a joyful song that students already know

Outline of Activity: Project the words to the song on the wall. Have student musicians ready
to perform the song so the group can sing or provide a machine to play the song. Enjoy singing
the song and dancing if that is appropriate.

Activity 14: Proclaiming the Good News

Purpose: to proclaim the Good News of Philippians 4 or Colossians 3

Materials Needed:
Handout #3: Philippians 4:4-9 and Colossians 3:12-17

Outline of Activity: Invite students to memorize as much of the passage as they can in the time
that is given. Then invite students to present, with expression, the passage to the group.
Philippians 4:4-8
4
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your
gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not
worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And
the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, beloved,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is
commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things.

Colossians 3:12-17
12
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear
with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another,
forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also
must forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds
everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of
Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the
one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with
gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.

Handout #3
Activity 15: Proclaiming the Good News

Purpose: to invite students to reflect upon and share how the Good News can be revealed in
everything, even the mundane items of everyday life. Using a collection of ordinary and
unremarkable objects, the participants reflect on how each one can become a symbol that reveals
a specific quality of God.

Materials:
a cloth or a blanket
candle and matches
Bible
a cross, crucifix
religious statue or other traditional and recognizable icons/symbols
a collection of everyday objects: paper clip, eraser, crayon, marker, small battery,
correction fluid, ruler, highlighter, ball cap, headphones, matches, jigsaw puzzle piece,
seashells, sunglasses, cup, candle, float noodle, glue, pen, hand cream, etc.

Outline of Activity: put a cloth or a blanket in the centre of the room, on the floor or a table.
Place on it the collection of everyday objects around a central candle. Because some younger
adolescents may be intellectually stretched by this activity, it may be helpful to include in the
collection a few traditional faith symbols such as a cross, a crucifix or a religious statue. Set a
prayerful atmosphere by doing some or all of the following: dim the lights, light a candle, play
reflective music, move to a different area or room. Invite the young people to sit around the
blanket of ordinary things that you prepared. Introduce the activity by explaining the concept of
symbols as images that reveal a quality or a face of God to us.

Script: Often we look for God’s presence and message in great people, amazing things, and
supernatural events. Many times we fail to notice that God can speak to us in simple and quiet
ways through the things, events, and people we see or experience every day.

Read the story of Elijah’s encounter with God in the cave from 1 Kings 19:11-13. Allow a
minute or two for quiet reflection. You may wish to play some quiet or instrumental music
during this time. Invite the group members to look at each item on the blanket and then let their
eyes be drawn to one specific item that catches and holds their attention.

Invite the young people forward one by one to select an object from the blanket. After everyone
has selected an item, tell them to hold it and examine it as they reflect on the following
questions:
 What attracted you to this object?
 Is there one thing about it that you particularly like?
 What is your object called, and what is its function?
 How would you use this object?
 Is there something about this object that reminds you of who God is or what God is like?
Ask the young people to share how their chosen object is a symbol that reveals something about
the mystery of God in our life. The leaders in the group may need to model this prayer:

A paper clip. Paper clips hold things together; often they are undervalued, cheap, and easily lost,
but they hold important papers together. God holds things together for me and us.

An eraser. Erasers are commonplace items, but any student knows how important it is to make
changes and corrections. Erasers can turn a mistake around. God erases failures and sins, and
give us the chance to start again.

Conclude by inviting the young people to return their object to the blanket. Pray the following
words aloud:

Thank you God, for revealing to us the many mysteries in ordinary everyday things. We can
proclaim your Good News every day by using these ordinary things mindfully. Amen+

Adapted from Prayer Ideas for Ministry with Young Teens by Joseph Grant, pp. 45-47

Closing Prayer for the Retreat Day:

Loving God, You bless us with your unconditional love and compassion
each day as we come to recognize You in the many places and spaces of our lives –
as we come to know Your love better through our love for one another.
We ask that you continue to walk with us on our journey this year, making us ever mindful
of the needs of all in our school communities.
We pray for those whom we have failed to include,
for we know You are present in all of us.
We thank You for the blessing of all those in our midst,
who through their service to others, reveal Your love for us.
Continue to guide us as we strive to open our minds and our hearts to do Your will –
proclaiming the Good News to all we meet along the path to joy. Amen+

From the Prayers for the First Week of School Kit OCSTA 2014