Retreat for High School Seniors

Each year the Diocese of Des Moines hosts a retreat exclusively for high school seniors. This three-day weekend retreat is an opportunity for high school seniors to step out of the hectic nature of their last semester and into a relaxing and prayerful experience, where they can say, "Take Lord, and receive..." and prepare to live their faith beyond their high school years.

Suscipe, "Take Lord, and receive..."

Suscipe is the Latin word for 'receive'. The term was popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises and is the name of one of his famous prayers, the Suscipe.

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me. - St. Ignatius of Loyola

Registration for the retreat is $160. This covers the cost of lodging, retreat materials, meals, and snacks. If cost is a concern, financial assistance is available. Please reach out to Jessica Pancho, Director of Youth Ministry, at jpancho@dmdiocese.org.

Past Attendee Testimonials

"Go on the senior retreat, open your heart, and leave your worries behind. Every time I surrendered myself for God to change me it was worth it. The food is great. You meet great people in a way very rare in our community, you deepen your bond with Christ. Just show up and be ready for fun. I came on my birthday and it was worth it."

"GO!!!!! It was an amazing experience of growing closer in my relationships with others and with God. It helped prepare me for how to keep my faith rooted in college."

"As I came from a public school, I didn't know much about my faith, not even knowing how to read the Bible. But the team leaders and my fellow retreatants were there to help me learn and grow. Go to the senior retreat, it will change you tremendously and it's a great thing."

"I would completely recommend going on the senior retreat. Leaving high school comes with a lot of changes, however your faith should remain a constant and Radix helps keep you rooted in your faith. One of my favorite weekends of my senior year for sure."

"The senior retreat was an awesome opportunity for me to relax with friends, reflect on my faith, and begin to prepare for the future of my faith journey."

"I wasn't really sure that I wanted to go on the senior retreat, but the weekend far exceeded my expectations and helped me grow in my faith in ways that I hadn't even considered before. I would definitely recommend going."