YOUTH RETREATS
New Year's Overnight Retreat
Into the Dark is an adrenaline-fueled, unforgettable two days designed specifically for students in 6th-12th grade to encounter Christ in a radical way! It flips the script on the fears, and peer pressure, stepping straight into the shadows to reveal the unstoppable, blinding light of Jesus.
Expect high-energy worship, pulse-pounding games, deep small groups, and a life-changing encounter with the Sacraments. This isn't your average church retreat—it is a bold, joyful expedition out of the dark and into the radiant truth of who God created you to be!
9:30am, Thursday, December 31st, 2026 through 2pm, Friday, January 1st, 2027.
Thursday, December 31st, 2026
- 9:30am: Meet in Trinity Hall to sign-in and take group picture
- 9:45am: Sleeping assignments
- 10:00am: Gathering activities in the gym
- 10:30am: Session One: Out of the Dark
- 12:30pm: Lunch
- 1:00pm: Music, large group gathering games in gym, and snack
- 2:00pm: Session Two: Seeing Light
- 3:30pm: Reconciliation/Quiet reflection time/journaling in Church
- 4:00pm: Solemnity of Mary Mass (open to parish)
- 5:00pm: Dinner and free time
- 6:30pm: Session Three: Encountering Light
- 8:00pm: Snacks, dance party, and small group skits
- 11:00pm: Prayer Service in Church to ring in the New Year
- 12:15am: New Year's Party!!
- 1:00am: Relax in sleeping quarters, watch a/multiple movie(s), and sleep
Friday, January 1st, 2027
- 8:30am: Breakfast
- 9:00am: Free time
- 9:30am: Session Four: Into the Dark
- 11:00am: Group picture (If not able on Thursday)
- 11:10am: Pack your belongings in room assignments/Free time
- 12:00pm: Lunch
- 12:30pm: Retreat clean-up
- 2:00pm: Departure
Thursday, Lunch
- Burgers
- Variety of Chips
- Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip
- Cookies
Thursday, Dinner
- Spaghetti
- Bread Sticks
- Lettuce Salad
- Fruit Tray
Friday, Breakfast
- Pancakes
- Scrambled Eggs
- Bacon
- Two Cereal Choices
Friday, Lunch
- Pizza
- Lettuce Salad
- Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip
- Fruit Tray
Does it cost for my child to attend?
$40 is requested at registration to help pay for food, guest speakers, and supplies for our activities.
Where will my child sleep?
Students will be assigned rooms based on their age and gender (example: room one - middle school girls, room two - high school girls, room three - middle school boys, room four - high school boys).
They will sleep on the carpeted floor in the Parish Life Center 2nd Floor classrooms.
What does my child need to pack?
Click here for a packing list!
What if my child takes medication?
Medication Form will be available upon request at sign-in on Thursday, December 31st at 9:30am.
What if my child has a food allergy or will not eat what is being provided?
Please contact Carrie Albaugh (chenrichsalbaugh@stpaulhighland.org or 618-654-2339 x210) about allergies or concerns. Your student is welcome to bring food they'd like to eat as long as it does not need to be refridgerated.
Where can I register my 6th-12th grade student?
A link for registration will open November 16th, 2026.