One of the most important parts of this retreat is prayer, prayer and more prayer. Prayer is the strong foundation upon which this entire evangelization process is built and cannot be stressed enough. Fortunately, in our Catholic faith we have an arsenal of prayer choices -- Mass, rosary, novenas, fasting, adoration, etc. -- to draw from.
Retreat Coordinator and Main Evangelizer meet to discern the Team. First, pray over a list of past retreatants, highlighting those they believe the Holy Spirit is calling to mind. Roles include Evangelizers (3), Shepherds (6-10), Service (1), Chapel (1), Hospitality (1-4), Music (1-2). Be sure to discern extra candidates in case some of them say "no."
Also, be sure to receive your Pastor's approval of the list. Make sure the Pastor also approves the extra candidates in case some of your first choices say "no."
The Retreat Coordinator should have already secured these.
Once the Retreat Coordinator and Main Evangelizer have recruited three additional Evangelizers -- even if the rest of your Team hasn't been assembled yet -- discern talk assignments together. Recruit priests for various jobs during the retreat (i.e. talks, confessions, adoration, etc.).
Ask the Team candidates to join us on this retreat.
Include names and email addresses. This list will enable the Retreat Coordinator to send a team welcome letter from both of you.
Retreat Coordinator should prepare four binders to give to each of the Evangelizers and the Main Evangelizer. They will keep these and add to them for the duration of the planning process. Retreat Coordinator also makes copies of the handouts (see below or in agenda) and three-hole punch them. Main Evangelizer will lead the meeting.
As soon as the Retreat Coordinator and Main Evangelizer have successfully recruited three additional Evangelizers, hold an Evangelizer meeting, led by the Main Evangelizer. You don't have to wait until the rest of your Team is recruited. Hold this meeting as soon as possible once you have your three additional Evangelizers. This allows your Evangelizers plenty of time to write their talks.
The Retreat Coordinator will be updating the retreat schedule. Feel free to review it, if you'd like.
The outlines for your talks can be found below.
Retreat Coordinator will bring enough binders to give to each of the Team members. They will keep these and add to them for the duration of the planning process. Retreat Coordinator will also make copies of the handouts (see below or in agenda) and three-hole punch them. The Main Evangelizer leads this and all Team meetings.
Talk to each of your teams (Music, Hospitality, Chapel & Service) about their roles, supplies, etc. Work out all the details and answer all their questions.
Retreat Coordinator will make copies of the handouts (see below or in agenda) and three-hole punch them. The Main Evangelizer leads this and all Team meetings.
Retreat Coordinator will make copies of the handouts (see below or in agenda) and three-hole punch them. The Main Evangelizer leads this and all Team meetings.
Remember to ask the retreatants to donate to Light of the World Evangelization Ministries, the national organization. This ministry can only continue with the generous support of its participants. This should be done at the end of the retreat, as indicated in the Retreat Schedule. The donation handout is a double-sided handout that tells retreatants who we are, and gives them easy ways to donate.
Remember to ask the retreatants for their testimonies on Monday by giving them the Testimony Handout. This way we can keep fresh testimonies on our website.
On the last day of the retreat, gather up the retreatants and retreat team for a group photo. Of course, you'll want to ask for their permission first. Then post the photo on your parish's social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) using the hashtag #lightoftheworldretreat with each of the posts.
Posting the photo is a small opportunity to evangelize, for others to see the faces of the real-life people whose lives have been transformed by Christ, to generate excitement in your parish, and to help get the word out about Light of the World and share it with other parishes.
Your Light of the World retreatants are probably on fire with the Holy Spirit right now! Awesome! They want to know more about their faith and to continue to be inspired.
We've got just the thing for them!
Share the link below with your retreatants, and they can sign up to receive our emails, which have helpful and inspiring evangelization videos, articles, and more. Consider it a gift you can offer your retreatants after such a powerful, life-changing weekend. We recommend you simply copy and paste the link into an email to all of your retreatants.
We encourage you to sign up to receive emails from Light of the World packed with evangelization videos, articles, and more!
