ACTS

What is an ACTS Retreat?

     An ACTS retreat is a three day and three night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow

parishioners. The retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday at a

Mass celebrated with the parish community. Retreats for men and retreats for women are

given separately. Talks and activities during the retreat focus on Adoration, Community,

Theology and Service, from which the ACTS program acronym is derived. Holy Scripture

and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are the guides for the retreats. The

retreat takes on the traditions and atmosphere of the parish community sponsoring it. The

retreat facilitates the attainment of a new or deeper relationship with the Lord through:

Adoration – the call by, acceptance of, and response to God,

Community – the love and caring of each other,

Theology – the study of God through scripture and the Catholic Faith,

Service – to God and his people.
 

     Each retreat is conducted by a retreat “team” composed of 20 – 30 individuals who have

attended prior ACTS retreats.

What is the purpose of the retreat?

     An ACTS weekend is designed to help the retreatants enter into a new or deeper

relationship with our Lord and fellow parishioners. This is accomplished through Adoration

and daily prayer, the call to Community in one’s parish as a member of the Body of Christ,

and Theology in encouraging the study of scripture and our Catholic Faith. All of these

which emphasize and encourage the virtue of Service to our Lord, our parish and one

another.


 

Why attend an ACTS retreat?

The weekend is a powerful and enduring personal experience. There will be talks that

draw from the personal experiences of team members that focus on Adoration, the need for

prayer and meditation on the word of God. Community, the importance of community built

on faith and love, Theology, the need to read and understand scripture and our Catholic

Faith and Service, the need to answer Christ’s call to servanthood. Activities conducted

during the weekend give retreatants a better understanding of the significance and

importance of prayer, liturgy, the sacraments, scripture, community and service.

Retreatants are also given guidance to help them in their faith journey. It is a powerful

community building experience. The ACTS weekend brings the retreatants to a better

understanding of God’s love for them and also develops their need to share that love with

others through their involvement in a faith-centered parish community. The retreat

emphasizes our call to service, service to the parish community and to our world

community. There results a new or renewed dedication to the life of the parish community

and a new recognition of the needs of those around us and of our obligation, as followers

of Christ, to help meet those needs.

If you would like to be a part of the ACTS retreat for more information please contact the parish at 956-722-6215.