March 24, 2007
Dear Confirmation Parent(s),
We are so honored and privileged to be facilitating the Confirmation Retreat for your youth. Father Jim spoke to the Confirmation class about the retreat but we wanted to make sure we are all on the same page.
First, we traditionally plan the retreat on a Sunday and Monday. The High School has no problem excusing the students for a Church retreat. Your youth will just have to let their teachers know they will be absent that day and make up the work . This year the retreat is on Sunday and Monday, April 15 - 16, 2007.
We will be taking the class to Horn Creek. It is located at 3758 County Road 130, Westcliffe, Colorado, 81252. Their phone number is 719-783-2205 and their website can be accessed at www.horncreek.org , if you would like more information about the actual facility.
The Diocese requires a retreat for all Confirmation candidates in High School and I can assure you that they will have a unique experience. The setting and facilities up there are just terrific. In the event that your youth is unable to attend (which we’ve never experienced in the past) you must contact Father Jim to make other arrangements - call the office 275-7549.
All your youth will need are clothes - some warm stuff, it’ll be only April and we will be up in the mountains and hiking, hygiene items, and prayers from their family!! There is a bowling alley and arcade up there and they can participate in that for a small fee. Everything else comes as part of our fee. The cost is $60.00 per participant and includes lodging for the night, dinner, breakfast and lunch, and use of the grounds and the facilities. There is a gorgeous recreation center up there that we can rock climb, play racquetball, volleyball, basketball, run, lift - and another building with ping pong, foosball, and log game. It is really a fun place!
We will be meeting on Sunday at the 10:30 a.m. Mass - we will celebrate Eucharist together before taking off for Horn Creek. Father Jim asks that the participants not drive themselves so we will provide transportation. We will be returning on Monday at about 3:00 p.m.
We ask that no one bring electronic devices - it takes away from the fellowship building experience of a retreat - that means no cell phones! However, if there is an emergency, both of us will have our cell phones so your youth can contact you or you them. They are: Becky - 431-3254 and Harvey 429-3674.
Attached is a permission slip that you will need to complete and sign. The cost of the retreat is $60.00. We are asking that each participant pay $30.00 of this fee. If this is in anyway a financial burden to your family, please let us know and arrangements will be made -it wouldn’t be a retreat if ALL the candidates could not attend!! Please return these two items when you bring the letter. We’ll need all three: the letter, the permission slip and the payment by Thursday, April 12, 2007.
Again, we are so excited to be accompanying your youth to the Confirmation Retreat. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us at 275-3854.
Peace,
Harvey and Becky Church
cc: permission slip
