Before the retreat, pray together as a team:
Lord Jesus, we place this retreat in Your hands. We are not the ones who will change hearts—You are. Help us to decrease so that You may increase. Give us wisdom, patience, and love. Protect this day from distraction and disruption. Let every participant encounter Your love. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us. St. John Paul II, pray for us. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us. St. Augustine, pray for us. St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us. St. John Henry Newman, pray for us. St. John of the Cross, pray for us. All holy men and women, pray for us. Amen.
This retreat is designed to help catechumens in the Catechumenate stage deepen their understanding of how they personally receive and respond to God's love through grace and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love.
These catechumens have already completed instruction on: - The existence of God and the problem of evil - Love as the integration of truth, justice, and mercy - The dignity of the human person - The Blessed Trinity - God's covenant plan - Jesus Christ - The Church and its four marks - Scripture and Tradition
This retreat builds on that foundation by focusing on the personal encounter with God.
By the end of this retreat, participants should:
Each session follows this pattern:
| Phase | Duration | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teaching | 30 min | Parish Hall | Present the content |
| Prayer with Jesus | 25 min | Sanctuary | Personal encounter with the Blessed Sacrament |
| Group Discussion | 20 min | Parish Hall | Share insights and process together |
Key Insight: The prayer time comes after teaching so participants can bring what they learned directly to Jesus. The discussion comes after prayer so they can share what they experienced.
| Role | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Lead Facilitator | Overall coordination, welcome, closing |
| Session Teachers | Deliver teaching content for each session |
| Discussion Leaders | Facilitate small group discussions |
| Sanctuary Coordinator | Manage Blessed Sacrament exposition, transitions |
| Hospitality | Setup, lunch, participant needs |
Location: JP2 Parish (Parish Hall & Sanctuary) Start: 9:00 AM End: 3:30 PM
Each teaching session follows this pattern: 1. 30 minutes - Teaching (Parish Hall) 2. 25 minutes - Prayer with Jesus (Sanctuary) 3. 20 minutes - Group Discussion (Parish Hall)
Discussion Format: Each group discussion begins with an open question inviting participants to share insights from their time with Jesus. Additional discussion questions (drawn from the devotional reflection questions) are available if needed.
Total per session: 1 hour 15 minutes
| Time | Duration | Activity | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM | 25 min | Welcome & Introduction | Parish Hall |
| 9:25 AM | 5 min | Break | Parish Hall |
| 9:30 AM | 30 min | Teaching: Grace | Parish Hall |
| 10:00 AM | 25 min | Prayer with Jesus | Sanctuary |
| 10:25 AM | 20 min | Group Discussion | Parish Hall |
| 10:45 AM | 30 min | Teaching: Faith | Parish Hall |
| 11:15 AM | 25 min | Prayer with Jesus | Sanctuary |
| 11:40 AM | 20 min | Group Discussion | Parish Hall |
| 12:00 PM | 30 min | Lunch | Parish Hall |
| 12:30 PM | 30 min | Teaching: Hope | Parish Hall |
| 1:00 PM | 25 min | Prayer with Jesus | Sanctuary |
| 1:25 PM | 20 min | Group Discussion | Parish Hall |
| 1:45 PM | 30 min | Teaching: Love | Parish Hall |
| 2:15 PM | 25 min | Prayer with Jesus | Sanctuary |
| 2:40 PM | 20 min | Group Discussion | Parish Hall |
| 3:00 PM | 30 min | Closing Remarks & Prayer | Parish Hall |
| 3:30 PM | — | Retreat Ends | — |
[ ] Print Facilitator Guide
[ ] Test any A/V equipment
[ ] Place Participant Guides at seats or welcome table
[ ] Brief prayer with team
| Role | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Facilitator | ||
| Pastor/Priest | ||
| Parish Office | ||
| Facilities |
Time: 8:00 AM - 8:25 AM (25 minutes) Location: Parish Hall
This opening session accomplishes three essential goals: 1. Orient participants to the day's schedule and rhythm 2. Establish the theological foundation (virtue, theological virtue, grace) 3. Invite participants into an encounter with Jesus, not just information about Jesus
Sign of the Cross
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we ask Your blessing over this entire day and over all of us gathered here. Send Your Holy Spirit upon us, that we may encounter You more deeply in Your perfect and all-loving Grace. Help us grow in faith, in hope, and most importantly, Lord, in Your love. Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us as we begin this day with you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Begin warmly but purposefully:
Good morning and welcome to our retreat on Grace and the Theological Virtues. Today is not primarily about learning information—though you will learn. Today is about encounter. We want you to meet Jesus in a deeper way and to receive what He wants to give you.
This opening session sets the tone for the entire retreat. We want participants to feel welcomed, oriented, and spiritually prepared for the day ahead. This is not just logistics—it's the beginning of an encounter with Jesus.
Welcome everyone warmly. Make eye contact. Smile. Let them know you're glad they're here.
"Good morning! Welcome to our OCIA Retreat: Grace and the Theological Virtues. We are so glad you're here. This is going to be a special day—a day set apart to encounter Jesus in a deeper way and to reflect on the incredible gifts He offers us: grace, faith, hope, and love."
Brief Prayer:
"Let's begin with a prayer. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
"Lord Jesus, we thank You for bringing us together today. Open our hearts to receive what You want to give us. Help us to be present, to listen, and to encounter You in a new way. We ask this in Your holy name. Amen."
Explain the flow of the retreat:
After this welcome, we'll have four teaching sessions: 1. Grace — The foundation of everything 2. Faith — Our response to God's gift 3. Hope — Trusting in God's promises 4. Love — The destination and the journey
Each session will follow the same pattern: - 30 minutes of teaching - 25 minutes of prayer with Jesus in the Sanctuary - 20 minutes of group discussion back here in the Parish Hall
Emphasize the prayer time:
The prayer time is not just a break. It's the heart of each session. After each teaching, you'll go to the Sanctuary for 25 minutes of silent prayer. This is your time to bring what you've heard to Jesus—to sit with Him, to talk to Him, to listen to Him.
You'll have a devotional guide to help you reflect, but the most important thing is simply to be with Jesus. Speak to Him from your heart. Be honest. Be real. He's waiting for you.
"So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NABRE)
This is what we are focusing on today. The Church calls these - faith, hope and love - the theological virtues.
Before we dive into the theological virtues, let's make sure we understand what a virtue is.
CCC 1803: "A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself."
Think of it this way: A virtue is a good habit of the soul. It's not just doing something good once—it's becoming the kind of person who does good naturally, almost without thinking.
Make it concrete:
Virtues are like spiritual muscles. The more you exercise them, the stronger they become.
Distinguish human and theological virtues:
The Church teaches that there are two kinds of virtues:
1. Human Virtues: - Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance - Other Human Virtues: Patience, Humility, Chastity, Generosity, Diligence, Kindness, Gratitude, Honesty, Compassion, Meekness, Modesty - These can be acquired to some degree through human effort and practice - They perfect our natural human capacities - However, they reach their full perfection only when animated by "grace" and the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. - They are rooted in the theological virtues of faith, hope and love (CCC 1812)
2. Theological Virtues: - Faith, Hope, and Love (Charity) - These theological virtues are infused by God into our souls—He is their author and source - These virtues are what enables us to love God and neighbor - We receive them, cooperate with them, and grow in them through grace - They connect us to God Himself and when we practice them, we connect God to others
This brings us to the heart of today's retreat...
Explain the three reasons:
The virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love are called "theological" for three specific reasons (CCC 1812):
1. God is their ORIGIN - God infuses them directly into our souls - We don't obtain these virtues through our own willpower - They are pure gift - we cannot earn or create them in our soul
2. God is their OBJECT - These virtues are directed toward God Himself - Faith believes in God - Hope trusts in God's promises - Love loves God above all else (and neighbor for God's sake)
3. God is their MOTIVE - We practice these virtues because of who God is - Not to earn rewards or avoid punishment - But because God is worthy of our faith, our hope, and our love
CCC 1813: "The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life."
Key insight:
Notice the pattern: God acts first. We respond.
This is the Catholic understanding of salvation. God initiates. God gives. God enables. And then—by His grace—we are able to respond with faith, hope, and love.
Connect to Scripture:
St. Paul names these three virtues together:
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NABRE):
"So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
These are the three virtues that remain for eternity. When we see God face to face: - Faith will become sight (we'll see what we believed) - Hope will become possession (we'll have what we hoped for) - But Love will remain forever, because God IS Love
Without grace, the theological virtues are impossible.
Show the logical progression:
This is why our sessions are ordered the way they are:
Each session builds on the one before. Grace enables faith. Faith opens us to hope. Hope flowers into love. And love is the goal—because God IS Love, and He created us to share in His love forever.
Set the tone for the day:
As we begin this day, I want you to know: Jesus might want to give you something today.
Maybe it's a deeper faith—to believe what you've struggled to believe. Maybe it's a stronger hope—to trust Him with something you've been carrying alone. Maybe it's a more complete love—to receive His love and let it overflow to others.
Whatever it is, He's here. He's present. And He's inviting you into something deeper.
Let us prepare to go to Him together in the Rosary.
Sign of the Cross
Lord Jesus, as we go now to pray the Rosary with Your Mother, open our hearts to receive all You wish to give us today. Amen.
Sign of the Cross
A time to reflect on the day and send participants forth with a blessing.
Gather everyone in the Parish Hall.
"We've come to the end of our retreat. What a day this has been."
Invite brief sharing (optional):
"Before we close, I'd like to invite anyone who feels moved to share—in just a sentence or two—one thing God spoke to your heart today. What will you take with you from this retreat?"
Allow 2-3 people to share briefly. Keep it short and focused.
Lead the group in a final prayer:
"Let us pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
"Lord Jesus, thank You for this day. Thank You for Your grace that has been poured out on us. Thank You for the gift of faith, the anchor of hope, and the call to love."
"As we leave this place, go with us. Help us to live what we have received. May Your grace sustain us, Your truth guide us, and Your love transform us."
"We ask this in Your holy name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
Final Blessing:
"May almighty God bless you: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
All respond: "Amen."
Dismissal:
"Go in peace to love and serve the Lord."
All respond: "Thanks be to God."
The priest or retreat leader may add:
Lord Jesus Christ, you have fed us with your Word throughout this day. You have poured out your grace upon us and strengthened our faith, hope, and love.
Send us forth now as witnesses to your perfect love— love that is sacred, sacrificial, and covenantal, love that binds truth, justice, and mercy into life-giving communion.
May the theological virtues you have planted in our hearts bear fruit in our daily lives, that all we meet may encounter your love through us.
We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, and all the saints who have gone before us.
All: Amen.
The retreat concludes. Participants depart in silence or with quiet music.