Youth Ministry interns host CONNECT Retreat for middle schoolers teaching them to do small things with great love

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Diocese of Covington Office of Youth Ministry hosted the first of its bi-annual CONNECT middle school retreats. These retreats offer middle school students throughout the Diocese of Covington a chance to gather, connect and grow together in love of their faith.

The theme this year was “do small things with great love,” the well-known teaching of St. Terese of Lisieux. Twenty-seven middle schoolers came together in prayer, learning together how they can do small things with great love.

Leadership team members and current Thomas More University, Crestview Hills, students Dexter Bent, Eli Brown, Samuel Fisder and Adam Scott, recalled how the students interacted with the theme throughout the day, keeping it at the forefront of their prayer.

“It was really neat seeing them going up the front near the Eucharist and praying in front of it, kneeling on the hard ground … it was a small thing, but it meant a lot for them to do that,” said Mr. Fisder.

Small group leader, Mr. Brown, said that it was the student’s engagement with the theme which moved him. “The answers that some of the kids gave were really insightful, on topic. It kind of gave a statement to their knowledge of the faith, and where they were at individually.”

The students were able to engage with the theme in practical, hands-on ways.

“The activities were even centered around it,” said Angie Poat, director of the Office of Youth Ministry. “The small groups built roses out of Legos, so it was very practical, hands on — all ways from the activities, the discussion, the prayer.”

At the conclusion of the day, the small groups had assembled a bouquet of Lego roses, which was laid at the foot of a large rosary.

“The idea is small things with great love, like each Lego piece builds up the bigger act,” said Mr. Bent, emcee for the event.

This is the first CONNECT retreat planned entirely by the Office of Youth Ministry interns, which is currently comprised of Thomas More University students.

“These interns were using their gifts to create something special and unique that was for that day, that time, that moment,” said Mrs. Poat. “Seeing it executed so beautifully is what discipleship is all about, so we were multiplying the ministry in the way that the Lord intended.”

As they were planning the retreat, Mr. Bent said the interns had one goal in mind, “to spread youth ministry across the Diocese. My personal goal in any type of youth ministry ever is that the kids have fun, that they’re associated with the Church.”

“Helping the kids to understand that they can start practicing their faith now, is a huge, huge goal,” said Mr. Brown. “Even though they’re really young, the passion for the faith is still incredibly visible, it’s very vibrant, especially the young kids. It’s really cool to see not just the future of the Church, but also the Church starting to grow in the present,” he said.

Mr. Scott wants to remind students that it might be easy to forgo small retreats like these but encourages students to come.

“It’s very laid back, there’s not really any pressure. You just come, have fun and have that prayerful experience … I think they can be very powerful,” he said.