Baptism marked the start of your relationship with Christ. Now it is time for that grace to be perfected! Through Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens your baptismal graces bringing you closer to Christ and better preparing you to face the daily challenges of Christian life
Youth in grades 7-12 being Confirmed in 2025 are invited to join us on retreat.
April 26-27, 2025
at
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
1840 E. 8th St. / Jeffersonville, IN
September 13-14, 2025
at
Mount St. Francis Retreat Center
101 St. Anthony Dr. / Mt. St. Francis, IN
Drop off at 9:30am on Saturday / Pick up at noon on Sunday
Youth are required to attend the entire retreat.
While on the Fire & Water retreat, candidates will have the opportunity to:
Experience the larger Catholic community of the New Albany Deanery
Explore topics relevant to their upcoming Confirmation with their peers
Learn from energetic, faithful young people in an engaging, non-classroom setting
Become more comfortable with prayer, Sacred Scripture, and the Traditions of the Church
And, most importantly, see how the Holy Spirit can transform their lives!
The Fire & Water Confirmation Retreat is offered twice a year and accommodates candidates in grades 7-12. This is an overnight retreat, and participants are expected to attend the entire event. Each retreat is led by a trained group of adult leaders, including caring adults from your local parish.
There is a $50 retreat fee per person to help cover the costs of meals and materials. If this fee poses a challenge for your family, confidential scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of donors to the Jan Loi Memorial Endowment. If you are interested in learning more about financial assistance, please indicate this on the registration form.
FAQs
What should my child bring?
Students are asked to bring a sleeping bag, comfortable clothing, and a snack or drink to share. If you have an air mattress, please bring that as well.
My child has an extracurricular activity that overlaps with the retreat. Can they arrive late or leave for a period of time?
Due to the nature of retreats, we do not allow youth to come and go, arrive late, or leave early. Retreats are designed to be immersive and communal experiences, where youth have the opportunity to step away from regular life to connect with their faith and their peers. We have seen how missing even small parts of the retreat can negatively impact the experience for individual participants and their small groups.
We understand that balancing commitments can be challenging and we appreciate the time and energy that goes into Confirmation prep. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis asks that each candidate participate in a retreat or day of reflection, of which the Fire & Water Retreat is one option. If there’s a scheduling conflict that cannot be resolved, we encourage you to work closely with your Confirmation preparation coordinator to explore alternative ways for your child to meet the Archdiocese's requirements.
Who is hosting the retreat?
Fire & Water Retreats are organized by Catalyst Catholic, the office of youth ministry for the New Albany Deanery. We collaborate with staff members from many parishes in Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties to ensure this is a beneficial part of your child's Confirmation preparation. The retreat team consists of trained adults from the local area who have undergone safe environment background checks through the Archdiocese.
Questions about the Fire & Water Confirmation Retreat?
Contact Kelli Reutman at kelli@catalystcatholic.org or 812.923.8355 ext. 204