The Catholic Standard and Times

‘Can I get a witness?’
OYYA sponsors retreat for young adults

By NADIA POZO
CS&T Staff Writer

Life is slowly returning to it’s usual grind after a Christmas season of family, friends, fun and relaxation — but should we let it?

After all, didn’t we just receive Christ into our hearts on His birthday, and didn’t we just resolve to do things differently this new year?

Yes — and the archdiocesan Office of Youth and Young Adults will help us keep to that resolution by starting out the year with a special retreat focused on how to have the courage to live our faith as young adults in a culture that is often unsupportive and contrary to our faith.

“It’s difficult for young adults to live their faith, especially if they work in a secular workplace or don’t have Catholic friends, or if they’ve fallen away from the faith,” said Rosey Lester, the assistant director of Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese.

But the support and the opportunity to reconnect is available, she said.

“There is no better place to start than with prayer,the Eucharist, the sacraments, and the witness of other courageous young adults. And you can find all of these things, and more, at the annual young adult retreat,” Lester said.

Her office is inviting young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 to participate in the day-long retreat. It will offer participants the chance to go to Mass, an opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and attend Eucharistic Adoration, and to hear engaging talks about being courageous and Catholic — and about finding courage in the sacraments. In addition, two young adults will be giving personal faith testimonies.

The retreat will be held Saturday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Daylesford Abbey. It promises to be a great opportunity to start the new year centered on Christ, and to become courageous witnesses of our faith to the world.

Consider this your official invitation.

Please download registration from www.oyya.org and mail to Office for Youth and Young Adults, Attn: Young Adult Ministry, 222 N. 17th Street, Philadelphia, Pa., 19103, with a $25 fee that will cover lunch. For more information contact Rosey Lester at (215) 965-4635.

CS&T staff writer Nadia Pozo can be reached at npozo@adphila.org or (215) 965-4614.