Higher Ground Retreats: An Invitation for the Youth of Our Diocese to Encounter Christ

The Higher Ground and Higher Ground Extreme Faith Middle School Retreats are two summer retreats that the Diocese of Grand Island offers for the youth and young adults all across the diocese. These retreats offer students the chance to gather with their peers, share life with them over five days, and grow closer to God through their new community and relationships.

The Higher Ground Retreat is offered for sophomores, juniors, and seniors in high school. Week one will be held from May 29-June 3, and week two will be held from June 5-June 10. The retreat is held at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford, Neb.

Students are provided the opportunity to meet young adults from other communities throughout the diocese and to spend time getting to know them. Throughout the five days, students learn what it means to be a part of this community and leave at the end of the week with a real sense of their place within the larger Church community. They can experience what a Christian community is supposed to look like — understanding, supportive, inviting, and a place where they can belong. One student reflected on her experience and shared her favorite part of the week.

“My favorite part of the week was definitely adoration because by that point in time we were all already so close that it was really comforting to be with all of the people that we knew and that we had grown to love,” she says. “I thought we all did a great job of supporting each other and it was just a really great bonding moment.”

Higher Ground Extreme Faith is the middle school retreat that will be offered from July 10-July 14. This retreat is for students who have completed sixth, seventh, and eighth grade in the spring of 2022 and will be held at Maranatha Camp near Maxwell, Neb. Students will be given the chance to play, pray and work together as a community of faith. The youth will be introduced to the Gospel message in the midst of fun outdoor activities such as rock wall climbing and archery.

The registration cost for Higher Ground is $250, with a late registration rate of $300 after May 1. The cost for Higher Ground Extreme Faith is $325, with a late registration rate of $375. Space is limited for both programs, but if you are interested and the program is full, there will be a waiting list.

An important aspect of any faith community is prayer. While these youth and young adults will be spending time encountering Christ with their new friends and leaders, these retreats also need the prayers of the larger community. One way you can support them through prayer is by joining in the Novena to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati leading up to the retreats. Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati is the patron saint and we will be asking for his intercession leading into the retreats. Participating in this is a simple, but important way that anyone can get involved.

If you are interested in volunteering as an adult leader, you can fill out an application and you will be contacted if leaders are still needed. Both the novena and the leader application can be found at www.highergroundretreats.org.