Nurturing faith through a retreat culture
March 25, 2025
By Ryan Johnson
The Diocese seeks to create a vibrant retreat culture for young people.
During the Diocese’s recent visioning process, parishioners said they wanted more opportunities for young people to grow in faith. Now, several retreats are starting or returning to central and southwest Iowa.
The growing retreat culture is a successful outcome of ongoing strategic planning initiatives taking root in parishes. One of the Diocese’s priorities, accompanying youth in discipleship, aims to enhance opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus Christ and develop their relationship with him.
“Giving our leaders, and youth opportunities where they can experience God outside of the parish setting, and along with other peers, is another foundational block to building up community in our Diocese,” said Jessica Pancho, coordinator of diocesan Youth Ministry. “The leaders that have been involved in building up a retreat culture are very well connected to their community life, and understand the value of a retreat, and the effect it can have even after we live out a retreat.”
Teens Encounter Christ
A popular retreat for high school students is called Teens Encounter Christ, more commonly known as TEC. Absent from the Diocese of Des Moines since 2007, the national retreat is making a local comeback, and the effort is being led by a combination of young people and adults.
Gigi Wilwerding, the director of youth ministry at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines, expresses her strong support for the Diocese’s renewed commitment to youth retreats.
“It’s vital that we provide these opportunities for all young people, especially those who may not have access to retreats through a Catholic high school,” Wilwerding says. “Every young person in our Diocese deserves the chance to experience the transformative power of a retreat.”
Notably, her father-in-law, Bernie Wilwerding, was a key figure in introducing TEC to the Diocese. Today, Gigi’s daughter, Catherine, is contributing to the relaunch efforts as part of her work for the National Youth Advisory Council. The first TEC retreat will be in 2026, with three to four more scheduled for 2027.
The TEC retreats will be held at the St. Thomas More Center near Panora, Iowa. It’s centrally located in the Diocese and a blessing for Catholics throughout the region, said Jason Anderson, executive director of the center.
As the home to Catholic Youth Camp, the center is thoughtfully designed to foster meaningful religious experiences for youth and young adults. Beyond diocesan-led retreats, numerous groups use the St. Thomas More Center, bringing their dedicated retreat teams and extending warm hospitality to participants.
YOUTH 2000
On Feb. 21-23 the YOUTH 2000 retreat drew about 325 youth to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines for a weekend of prayer, inspirational talks, adoration, and Mass with Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
“I feel that before this retreat, I had really lost my purpose,” said Augustine O’Hagan, of the Basilica of St. John Parish. “I was emptily aiming at a standard of sinlessness without truly comprehending why it was I was striving for that. I became detached from God and my spiritual life was hollow.
“But coming to this retreat, I found myself face to face with God. I was really reminded of why I continue, and it really drew me back towards God. Here I was sitting in near constant adoration, close to Christ in the Eucharist, comforted and strengthened by his presence. And what is heaven but eternal adoration?” O’Hagan said.
“It was very heartening to have this totally focused on the true presence in the Eucharist, literally centered around Christ’s presence in the sacrament,” he added.
Additional Upcoming Retreat Opportunities
Families with eighth graders can participate in a weekend retreat called “My Jesus: Friends at His Table.” It will take place March 29-30 at St. Thomas More Center.
In April, a three-day weekend retreat designed for high school seniors called "Suscipe" will be taking place. Suscipe (pronounced soo-shee-pay) is a Latin word that means “receive.” It was popularized by St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Spiritual Exercises. The retreat starts at 6 p.m. on April 11 and ends at noon on April 13 at St. Thomas More Center.
And on May 9 – 11, high school freshmen and sophomores can participate in a retreat called “Never Alone,” which focuses on the gift of the sacrament of confirmation. It is being organized by NET Ministries, a missionary organization that focuses on inviting Catholic youth into a deeper relationship with their community and Jesus. This retreat will also be held at St. Thomas More Center.
“I think what Bishop (William Joensen) is encouraging our leaders and our youth in trying to build a retreat culture, the idea that community life and encountering Jesus, can happen outside the day-to-day routine,” Pancho said.