Dear Eighth Grade Parents,

Get excited! The seventh-annual Assumption Luke 18 Retreat is fast approaching! Assumption Youth Ministry
is hosting the retreat over the weekend of March 18-20, 2011. This retreat is offered to eighth graders who are
preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. It is a way to get them to “open the invitation” given to them by
God as they get ready to be fully initiated into the Church. The Luke 18 Retreat is designed to remind the
eighth graders that they are important to the Church right now, as well as in the future. Luke 18 has been a
successful retreat experience for more than 20 years. The retreat is comprised of talks, songs, games, and
personal sharing. Eighth graders are encouraged to have fun and break down any walls they may have. High
school- and college-age students make up the team that gives the talks and leads discussion groups. Through
meetings, planning sessions, and lots of prayer prior to the weekend, this team will prepare itself to be a witness
to the eighth graders. The goal is to help prepare the eighth graders spiritually to become full members of the
Church and good witnesses of Christ.

The Luke 18 retreat will be held March 18-20, 2011, at Assumption Parish Center, 403 North Main St. Check-in
begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night, March 18th, and the retreat begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Each eighth
grader attending the retreat is required to remain there for the entire weekend to ensure that all retreat-goers
receive the most out of the weekend. On Friday and Saturday nights, the eighth graders will be sleeping at
parishioners’ homes, separated into all-male and all-female sleep groups and accompanied by two team
chaperones. The retreat culminates in a closing Mass at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 20th at Assumption
Church. We invite all family and friends of the eighth graders to join us for this Mass.

It might be helpful to offer a tutorial on Luke 18 “terms”. We have several “older” young adult leaders who are
putting things together before the retreat and will participate throughout the weekend, acting as the “adults.”
First, we have a Married Couple (MC) who are your primary contact people before and during the retreat. They
are Dan and Jackie Kretschmer. Next, we have two Young Adult Team Leaders (YATLs) who direct the retreat.
They are Ashley Blattel and Matt Winkelmann. Lastly, we have a number of Young Adult Support Team
members (YASTs), and they act as the support beams to the YATLs and MCs throughout the weekend.

Outside of praying for your children and supporting them by celebrating Mass with us at the closing of the
retreat, there are many ways you can help during the weekend. Volunteer help with sleep houses, meal
preparation, and registration are a few ways in which your support is needed and appreciated in the overall
experience for the eighth graders. The volunteer opportunities are described in detail in the form attached.
After the registration forms have been received, a Medical Release and Consent Form and a List of Things to
Bring will be sent to your eighth grader.

The cost of the Luke 18 retreat is $55 per person. This covers all meals, supplies, and a t-shirt. Please make
checks payable to Assumption Church. There will be an additional $5 fee for those registering after March
9th. Lukers who register after this date will not receive a t-shirt. Registration, volunteer forms, and
medical release forms along with checks can be dropped in the mail slot at the Parish Office or mailed to the
Parish Office: 403 North Main, O’Fallon, MO, 63366. Please mark all envelopes “LUKE 18 REGISTRATION”.
The completed forms can also be e-mailed to acygluke18@gmail.com. All forms are due by March 9th. If the
registration fee presents a problem financially, contact Cathy Pescarino at the Parish Office, 240-3721, ext 222.

Thank you in advance for volunteering to make the retreat possible! We hope your son or daughter is able to
share in the experience with us. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call or e-mail
Colleen Martens, (636) 578-4410/acygluke18@gmail.com.

Peace in Christ,

Ashley Blattel & Matt Winkelmann Dan and Jackie Kretschmer

Young Adult Team Leaders Married Couple