Search retreat helps strengthen relationship with God, others

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 9, 2006

Juniors and seniors from throughout the Diocese of Sioux City attended a Search retreat March 4 and 5 at Spalding High School in Granville.

Search is a retreat geared for juniors and seniors and is led by a group adults and peers that challenge attendees to think about their life, their relationship with God and their relationships with others.

"The basic idea of Search is to provide an opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to number one get away from their life experiences - school, work, extracurricular activities," said Jessica La Fleur, director of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese. "It challenges them to really think about the role of Christ in their life and what it means to be a Christian."

According to La Fleur, there were 19 candidates and another 24 team members who put on the retreat. All of the team members were previous attendees of Search. Not only were there students from the Sioux City Diocese, but there were a few students from Jefferson and Elk Point in the Sioux Falls Diocese.

"It went really well," said La Fleur. "We had a lot of really good candidates and the team was great. You could definitely feel the Holy Spirit's presence. It is important to offer retreats to youth because it provides them with an opportunity to get away from all the distractions in the world and to focus completely on a relationship with God."

During the weekend, the candidates experience witness talks and a number of different ways of praying.

Stephanie Youngers, a high school junior and Sheldon St. Patrick parishioner, had been to other retreats such as Steubenville. She had a good time on other retreats and thought Search would help her gain a "deeper relationship with God."

She noted that the small group portion of the weekend was her favorite part. Each time there was a discussion, she was put in her small group.

"We got really close in those groups and made a lot of friendships. It was very deep discussions," said Youngers. "I gained a deeper faith. Reconciliation was very deep with the singing in the background."

Youngers added that she would recommend this retreat to other juniors and seniors. She said it was "awesome."

B.J. Baskerville, also a junior in high school, is a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Fonda. He decided to attend the retreat as a requirement for confirmation and had attended a Discover retreat last year.

He explained that he enjoyed getting to know the other candidates and team members and seeing where they are from.

"I gained a deeper respect for Christ and everyone else," said Baskerville. "I highly recommend it. It is fun and you meet new people. You also learn something from it, too."