Into the Garden: Lenten youth retreat reflects on journey to cross

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

During the diocesan Lenten retreat Into the Garden on April 6, middle and high school students were called to enter the garden and reflect upon Christ’s journey to the cross.

According to Danielle Fennessy, a faith formation coordinator for the diocese and member of the team organizing the event, 66 students from 11 parishes including three from outside the diocese attended the retreat hosted by Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City.

The keynote speaker for the event was Steve Angrisano, who is a singer, songwriter and storyteller.

Power of confession
Through songs of worship and personal stories that combined humor and a strong message, the speaker asked the students to open their hearts to the Lord and stressed that confession could be life-changing if they allowed it to happen.

“There was a night incredibly similar to tonight at a big youth rally in my diocese when I had the opportunity to go to confession,” he said.

He relayed a story to the teenagers from his youth – the need to go to confession after cheating on a Spanish test when he was 15 years old.

“When you see a line in the ground and you know on the other side is wrong and you step across it anyway, it hurts your heart. A wound happens that you can’t change,” said Angrisano. “Sin is like that, that’s why we have reconciliation.”

He compared it to throwing a tiny pebble in a lake and the ripples flow outward.

“Sin is like that, even the smallest sin that is totally private … affects the way I think of me and it affects the way I think of you, it affects the way I talk to you – it affects everything,” said the speaker.

Angrisano urged the students to stay close to Jesus and reminded them that he carries the cross for us.

He acknowledged that the teens may be struggling with some heavy stuff – others might be bad-mouthing them, parents could be separated and so on.

“Jesus came to say, ‘I know what it’s like to be you and I carry the cross with you,’” said Angrisano, who stressed if they stay close to Jesus it can help make it clear who they are and what they should do with their lives.

Angrisano’s talk was bookended by the Stations of the Cross led by Deacon Pat Brockhaus and eucharistic adoration with an opportunity for confession, which concluded the event.

The retreat began with activities that allowed for fellowship, light-hearted fun with some catechesis included. When students arrived, they had a chance to make friendship bracelets and a game of trivia with a Catholic/diocesan focus was next on the schedule.

Divided up by table teams, students tested their Catholic knowledge and were rewarded with prizes for correct answers – which could be stolen by another team with a correct response in the next round.

Father Travis Crotty, director of vocations, and two Missionary Benedictine Sisters were also on hand to test their own knowledge as well as be present for the youth.

Deacon Pat Brockhaus leads the Stations of the Cross at Into the Garden youth retreat held at Sioux City Sacred Heart

Deacon Brockhaus served as the emcee for the event and led many prayer portions of the retreat. As the day opened, he asked God to enter the hearts of the participants so they may build in love for the Lord and support one another.When the game had wrapped up, Knights of Columbus from Sacred Heart served hamburgers and hot dogs. After dinner, the group headed to the church for prayer, the talk, worship and adoration.

Impressions of the day
Owen VanVonroij, a sixth grader from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Sioux Center, said this was his first retreat and he thought it might be boring, but “it wasn’t, I really liked it.”

The singing and talk by Angrisano was his favorite part.

Avery Metcalf, a sophomore from Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer, said she really liked the talk by Angrisano, especially the part when he mentioned you can be yourself with Jesus – he is open to who you are.

“I also enjoyed trivia because I felt as though I learned quite a bit from it and I hadn’t done Stations of the Cross for a while so that was good. It was different from what we did at our church so I liked experiencing that,” she said.

Andi Canoles, an eighth grader from Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City, called it a great experience.

“It was a lot of fun to meet new people,” she said, adding “it was cool to get together with kids who have the same faith.”

One of the special parts of the retreat for her was the Stations of the Cross, as she was one of two servers to assist Deacon Brockhaus.

Mary Lehr, faith formation director at Sacred Heart and a member of the planning committee, called it a great day.

“The youth were awesome. The volunteers were amazing. Steve and his ministry is truly blessed and Jesus showed up,” she said, adding that during the time of worship led by Angrisano, “I felt heaven come down to earth. I did not want it to end.”

Fennessy’s overall impression on the retreat was joy.

“There was never-ending laughter with the trivia game, Steve had us laughing his whole talk, the music, the graces from confession, the bracelet making, the prizes. I was smiling with joy from start to finish,” she said.

In closing remarks at the retreat, Deacon Brockhaus asked the participants to be the Jesus freaks who can gather with their friends and “learn about Christ and grow together.”

The deacon said he thought the youth had a great time with fun games as well as adoration, which they generally like to do.

“Steve Angrisano is super great with the kids and communicates really well with them,” said Deacon Brockhaus, who added that the guest speaker was also able to get the teens into a prayerful moment during adoration.

“I hope the teens walked away with a desire to meet Christ in the sacrament of confession,” said Fennessy. “Steve shared an incredible story of confession when he was 15 years old that seemed to resonate with a lot of teens.”

For Lehr, her hope is that the teens left with experiencing Jesus in a deeper way.

“I also hope they went home with a renewed sense of community,” said Fennessy. “There were many individual sign-ups and walk-in registrations. It was awesome to see kids meet new people and share friendships bracelets and pray alongside one another.”