Have you ever been on a retreat before?

If the answer is yes, then more than likely you will probably remember the
great feeling of getting away from your regular routine and doing something
so different and interesting. Perhaps you have gone on a Confirmation
retreat with your classmates or a youth retreat with people from your
parish. No doubt you will remember the time set apart for prayer, quiet
time, and fun! Many people look back at their retreat experiences and
often talk about the way those retreats have changed their lives
You will find a similar experience of prayer, quiet-time, and fun if you
choose to join us for the retreat experience here at the Seminary.
On the other hand, you may have never gone on a retreat before and that's
fine because the Cathedral Prep experience will be unlike any other.
Everyone starts anew.

Cathedral Prep High School
Retreat Weekends

DATES AND TIME:

2003
September 26th - 28th
November 14th - 16th
December 12th - 14th

2004
January 23rd - 25th
February 20th - 22nd
March 19th - 21st
April 30th - May 1st

Who can go on these retreats?
Students in high school from freshmen year thru senior year are invited to
join the Prep retreats. You also have to have some initial interest in the
priesthood. This does not mean that you are entirely sure that you want to
be a priest. What is required is at least some interest in exploring the
possibility of priesthood. Let's say that you think about marriage, for
instance, as much as you do about the priesthood. That's wonderful! These
retreats are definitely for you. You will find that the retreat is a great
time to seriously ponder God's vocation in your life. Spending time in
prayer and asking God for direction will never be a waste of time for anyone
who comes on the retreats! When and where do these retreats take place?
About once a month. Usually toward the end of the month, the retreat
weekends begin on Friday evening around 7:00pm and conclude on Sunday
morning with Mass at 10:00am The retreats take place at St. Joseph‚s
Seminary in Yonkers, New York. One whole wing of the Seminary building is
designated as the Prep area with its own meeting space, living quarters and
chapels.What is the schedule like?
For the most part, the schedule of the retreat follows a certain rhythm.
Most of the young men on the retreat often talk about how fast the retreat
goes usually because they are having such a good time. Occasionally, there
might be certain variations in the schedule because of the speakers or
because of special events taking place. Here is what a typical schedule for
the monthly retreats looks like in a detailed fashion:

Friday evening
7:00pm Arrival of students,
            Greeting, Rules, Room assignments
8:00pm Conferences and group discussions
9:00pm Snacks and activities
10:00pm Night prayer
10:30pm Bedtime

Saturday
8:00am Morning Prayer
8:15am Breakfast
9:00am Conference
9:45am Activity
10:15am Break
10:30am Conference
11:00am Discussion and Interaction
11:45am Break
12:15pm Mass
12:45pm Lunch
1:30pm Conference
2:00pm Activity
2:30-4:00pm Recreation time: Gymnasium will be open Students
             play basketball, play pool, bowl, exercise, play ping pong.
4:30-5:30 Holy Hour in the Prep Chapel
5:30pm Break
6:00pm Evening Prayer
6:15pm Dinner
7:15pm Conference
8:00pm Group Rosary [Sometimes done in the Cloister]
8:30pm Break
9:00pm Final Conference: Summary of reflections and thoughts of
             the weekend. Discussion
9:45pm Movie (Usually a classic film, e.g., Man for All Seasons, Thomas
            Becket, On the Waterfront, I Confess, etc.) Snacks are provided
11:30pm Bedtime

Sunday
8:15am Morning Prayer
8:30am Breakfast
9:00am Clean-up time
10:00am Mass with parents and relatives ( sometimes we attend Mass at St.
Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan where the Cardinal takes some time to speak with us. You will be told way in advance whenever we go to the Cathedral.) Who coordinates these retreats and how can I sign up?
The Dean of Cathedral Prep is Father Thomas A. Lynch. He works with the
Rector of the Seminary and the Vocation Director of the Archdiocese. He
coordinates the retreats with the assistance of priests and seminarians who
help out on the weekends.

To contact Father Lynch with any questions or to sign up for a retreat, email Father Lynch directly at FrLynchPrep@aol.com . Or call him at 914-968-6200, extension 8182. You and your parents may want to visit the seminary and meet with Father Lynch to discuss the retreat experience and the Prep's overall program.

PICTURES

Retreat weekend pictures