What is ACTS?

ACTS is a Catholic weekend retreat designed with the purpose of engaging Catholics in their faith lives, especially within the parish community. A retreat is not a vacation, but rather an opportunity to get away from the pressures of everyday life and deepen your relationship with God. Retreatants are encouraged to put into practice that which we learn from the Gospel and to truly live the sacramental life. Throughout the weekend there are group activities, sharing, prayer, and the Sacraments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCLP-eLchDA

What Does ACTS Stand For?

ACTS strives to assist members of the parish family to attain a deeper relationship with our Lord and with fellow parishioners through:

  • Adoration: the call, acceptance, and response to God
  • Community: loving and caring for each other as members of the body of Christ
  • Theology: study of our faith through sacred scripture
  • Service: service to God, each other, and our parish community

To achieve this goal, there are two major focus points:

Weekend Retreats

First, ACTS sponsors weekend lay retreats, which are patterned after the description of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles.

“They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” ~ Acts 2:42-47

The purpose of the weekend is to invite the retreatant to a new relationship with our Lord and fellow parishioners through Adoration and daily prayer; through Community in one’s parish as a member of the body of Christ; through Theology encouraging an intellectual and spiritual growth that gives fruits in our daily lives; and finally to encourage a spirit of Service to our Lord, our parish, and each other. Participants experience God’s love and joy throughout the weekend, returning to their faith community with a deeper love for each other and an increased desire to become more involved in their parish community.

Post-Retreat Support

ACTS also focuses on spiritual development, service orientation, and on-going community building among those who have attended ACTS retreats. This mission is continued and enhanced by retreat unions, scheduled gatherings of the ACTS community, prayer groups, evangelization, community service projects, and other faith enriching events.

For more information regarding post-retreat enrichment opportunities, please click here.