OPERATION ROCC RETREATS

REBUILDING OUR CATHOLIC CHURCH

“Upon this Rock I will build my church…”

Matthew 16:18

The idea behind Operation ROCC is that every school is a faith community of its own.  It has leaders waiting to be discovered and they can help to promote a healthy, active, and faith filled atmosphere in the elementary school.

Operation ROCC is a program developed to give our children and young adults a chance to experience Jesus through the retreat experience.  ROCC retreats are based on the themes in their religion courses.

GOALS OF OPERATION ROCC RETREATS

• To give students at every grade level a personal encounter with Jesus!
• To show that our faith can be fun!  And to give role models of faith for our students.
• To continue the catechesis that has begun in the classroom and to build on and complement the learning that has already started.
• To give students concrete ways of continuing the retreat experience so that their relationship with Jesus continues to grow.

Four sessions teach truths of the Gospel:  God Loves us, He died for us, gave us His Spirit, and a Prayer experience.  These sessions will consist of skits, music, prayer, talks, small groups, discussions and games.  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also an important part of the retreat experience (except in grade 1 or 2 if the Sacrament has not yet been celebrated).

Retreats happen within the school day.  The first one of the school year is for the grade 7 & 8 students, put on mostly by high school youth.  From this retreat day, each school will choose or ask a total of 12 grade 7 & 8 youth, and a staff member to come forward to be their school’s representatives of faith.  They will become the Operation ROCC Faith Team for their particular school.  This Operation ROCC Faith Team will then be taken through training weekends in November, February and May.  Upon completion of these training weekends, they will put on the other grade retreats in partnership with the high school youth.  Grade 1 & 2 retreat days are in November, grade 3 & 4 are in February, and grade 5 & 6 are in May.  The retreat themes, based on the religious curriculum for each particular grade, are alternated each year. 

 Operation ROCC retreats are designed to encourage and foster faith and community.