Search Weekends take youth to deeper faith

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)
Posted Oct. 3, 2002

Juniors and seniors in high school are encouraged to attend a Search Weekend. The retreat focuses on the cycle of conversion - hunger, search, encounter and response.

"Conversion isn't something that we do once. We are in the process of conversion throughout our lives," explained Dr. Stephan Davis, director of youth and intergenerational ministry. Search helps youth identify and raise awareness about their spiritual hungers and then reflect upon healthy ways to fill the hunger and respond to God.

This particular subject can be of special value to this age group, noted Davis, as it will help them build a solid faith foundation for college years. If they don't have a strong conversion experience now, he added, in college they might be converted to the wrong thing.

At its August meeting, the Search Board decided to make a change in the retreat format so that it would be more accessible to a larger number of juniors and seniors. Because there are so many Friday evening school activities that have deterred students from attending Search in the past, the retreat will now be presented in a two-day format, Saturday and Sunday, as opposed to Friday evening to Sunday.

Two Search Weekends are planned for this school year - Nov. 16 and 17 at Kuemper High School in Carroll and Feb. 15 and 16 at Holy Family Parish in Emmetsburg.

The content of the retreat will remain the same as in past years.

"The value of this particular retreat is that it is not related to confirmation. It is not a sacramental retreat or preparation for a sacrament," said Davis. "So much of our development as Catholics has to do with the sacraments - it's all front-loaded. The Search retreat stimulates young Catholics to move into a more mature faith."

At this stage, Davis added, the juniors and seniors are in the process of becoming more autonomous and forming themselves into adults.

"Their experiences as Catholics need to match their stage in life," he said. "In the latter high school years and the first college years, young people are more clearly developing or solidifying their convictions, their core values. Search is a way of assuring that the call of Christ to discipleship and growth in faith take their rightful place in young Catholics' minds and hearts."

He pointed out that all Catholics - of every age - are called to continue to grow in faith, to continue to conform to Christ. With that in mind, everyone can benefit from a retreat.

Ryan Gaspers, a junior in high school and parishioner at St. Mary's in Danbury, said he found Search to be an amazing experience.

"Everybody in high school is searching for something - searching for God and a place to belong. At Search you find it, and everyone is welcome there," he said.

After attending Search last year, Gaspers was so taken with the retreat that he went back a second time as a member of the Carepower team. This year he will attend another Search, serving as a small group leader.

Janet Klein attended a Search Weekend in 1983 and found it to be a life-changing event. While she was raised in a strong Catholic family, she noted that Search opened a whole new door in relation to her faith.

Like Gaspers, her positive experience at the retreat spurred her to get involved in the program. She has volunteered at Search Weekends for the last 20 years. Her husband has been a volunteer for the retreat even longer. The two actually met as a result of their work on Search.

"Through the years, I've made many friendships at Search," said Klein. "I've never had a bad weekend. They've always been positive."

She added that there is no question their children will be a part of it.

Many students who have attended the retreat in the past, pointed out that they were so happy that their parents, youth ministers or pastors talked them into going. The response to the retreat has been overwhelmingly positive.

"I have a binder full of letters from people who have written about what great things happened to them on Search," said Davis.

At Search, participants and volunteer workers also develop a web of positive, Christian relationships.

"It can deepen all of their relationships. Their relationship with God, each other and themselves," he said. "Plus, it's flat out fun. They have a good time."

Cost of the retreat is $50 for high school participants. Adults who would like to learn more about Search may attend the retreat for $35.

The diocese also sponsors a retreat for freshmen and sophomores. Dates of Discover retreats planned this year are Oct. 5-6, Jefferson; Jan. 25-26, Cherokee; and March 22-23, Sioux City.

For more information or an application form for either retreat e-mail stephand@scdiocese.org or judyf@scdiocese.org or call (712) 233-7520.