CHRISTpower is a weeklong service retreat that will take place in the Jefferson City area from July 8 - 14, 2018. The week-long experience is designed to make you more aware of the importance of service to those in our community as part of our Christian life and to help you discern the future God has planned for you. Helias Catholic High School will be the host site for the retreat. We will be using the high school facilities for showers and overnight accommodations. During the day we will be working at various service sites in the Jefferson City area (e.g., Salvation Army, Jefferson City Day Care, Cole County Residential Services, Capital Projects, Special Learning Center, Villa Marie Skilled Nursing, and others). The evenings will allow time to discuss our daily experiences and focus on the week’s theme.

A typical day’s agenda includes: awake at 7:00 am, go to chapel for prayer, breakfast, clean-up breakfast area, pack lunches, head to the service site, return to Helias Catholic, free time, Mass, dinner, meditation talk pertaining to the theme, discussions, lights out at 11:30 pm. Cost for the week is $150. Due to financial constraints for some during these economic times, we have decided to keep the fee the same again this year.

CHRISTpower begins on Sunday evening, July 8, at 7:00 pm. Arrival time at Helias Catholic High School is between 6:00 and 7:00 pm on Sunday evening. Wednesday evening is Family Night when your families (ONLY family members please – due to costs involved with the meal) are invited to join us for mass, dinner, and the evening’s events. Families also are invited to join in our closing mass Saturday morning (July 14) at 10:30 am.

Applicants must have completed 9th grade as a minimum, through 12th grade in 2018.

All applicants are expected to arrive on Sunday evening and remain throughout the week until closing services on Saturday. The week is structured so each day builds on the preceding day’s experience. Missing any portion is detrimental to the individual as well as the other participants and to the week’s dynamics. It also complicates the planning process. Thus, for the Greater Good of the entire group, only teens willing to commit to the full week should consider this year’s CHRISTpower.

CHRISTpower involves youth from parishes throughout our Diocese, but enrollment is limited. If you are interested in participating in this opportunity to serve your community and grow in your faith, please ask Mrs. Emmel for an application. Applications will be accepted on a “first-come-first-to-serve” basis, using the “postmark date”. The application deadline is June 22, 2018. If you have questions regarding CHRISTpower, feel free to contact Mrs. Emmel or the Parish Office. You will be notified when your application is received and receive additional information in June. Any missing information, along with any balance due, MUST be returned by June 22 in order to RETAIN your spot.