Students connect with peers, leaders and Bishop Iffert at biannual retreat

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The 2026 Winter CONNECT Retreat brought together 110 middle school students from across the Diocese, Feb. 21, for a day of reflection focused on the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The theme “Take Heart,” was drawn from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops upcoming consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart, June 12, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“The theme was … in concern with where we’re going as an American collection of Catholic churches, we just thought that the message of the Sacred Heart would be great to present to students,” said Bradley Barnes, youth ministry volunteer and CONNECT leader.

“You never know what middle schoolers are going to be excited about,” said Mr. Barnes, “but they seemed to really take the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the heart of Jesus, cared for by the heart of Jesus.”

Students began the day with a surprise visit from Bishop John Iffert, who joined in fun activities before leading the Liturgy of the Hours. Primarily prayed by priests and other religious, Liturgy of the Hours is not well known among lay people, especially middle schoolers. This, however, was the point of the exercise, said Mr. Barnes.

“What a great opportunity for the kids to get to see a way that our bishops and priests pray, a way that religious men and women throughout the world are praying. In the theme of the Sacred Heart, just the idea of that being the prayer of Jesus as our high priest. That’s a prayer where, in a really special way, I feel like we hear the heart of Jesus leading us and guiding us in worship,” Mr. Barnes said.

Mr. Barnes called the visit from Bishop and the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, “such a cool Holy Spirit moment,” underscoring the emphasis of prayer and connection brought to middle schoolers through this biannual retreat.

“For the first time in a long time I feel like every middle schooler took the times of prayer, the times of song, the times of activity, they took it really well. There was a great openness from their hearts,” said Mr. Barnes.

The goal of each CONNECT retreat is to connect middle schoolers to, “something beyond just their local particular church, to the diocesan and maybe even the universal Church. So, if a kid came and felt seen and known and loved and appreciated, that’s always my goal. That was the same goal for this retreat,” said Mr. Barnes.