By now, you’ve probably heard some chattering by fellow parishioners about something called an ACTS Retreat and maybe have even been invited or encouraged to attend such a retreat. Also in that same conversation, the acquaintance who was telling you about the retreat probably didn’t reveal much other than, “you just have to go and experience it!” So what exactly is entailed in an ACTS Retreat?
An ACTS Retreat is a three-day, three-night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow parishioners. The retreat begins on a Thursday evening as retreatants gather at the sponsoring parish [Mercy] for a short send-off ceremony. Retreatants are then transported to a retreat facility [The Solomon Center] for the rest of the weekend. The retreat ends Sunday as the full team of retreat participants and leaders return to Our Lady of Mercy for a welcome Mass celebrated with the parish community followed by a simple reception.
Talks and activities during the retreat focus on Adoration, Community, Theology and Service, from which the ACTS program acronym is derived. Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church are the guides for the retreats, although one does not have to be Catholic to attend. The retreat takes on the traditions and atmosphere of the parish community sponsoring it. The retreat facilitates the attainment of a new or deeper relationship with the Lord through:
Adoration – the call by, acceptance of, and response to God
Community – the love and caring of each other
Theology – the study of God through Scripture and the Catholic Faith
Service – to God and His people
This results in a new or renewed dedication to the life of the parish community and a new recognition of the needs of those around us and of our obligation, as followers of Christ, to help meet those needs. The ACTS Retreat weekend brings the retreatants to a better understanding of God’s love for them, and also develops
their need to share that love with others through their involvement in a faith-centered parish community. It is
a powerful community building experience and a powerful and enduring personal conversion experience.
We ask that you remember our women’s retreat participants in your prayers as they make their retreat
August 29th – September 1st. Registration for the men’s retreat (NOVEMBER 14th – 17th) will open soon.
Please stay tuned to communication via the church website (olomchurch.com); social media; or the ACTS
website (mercyacts.weebly.com) for registration opportunities.
(225) 926-1883
(225) 923-0448 
