What is the Discipleship Week?

Discipleship Week is an opportunity for high school teens from across the diocese who desire to know Jesus better and to live and serve as He did.  This week is for teens who are ready for more:  more faith in their own lives, more community with Catholic peers, and more action to spread the Good News.  This week will include growth in personal discipleship through prayer and mentoring, practical training on how to be a Catholic leader who leads from their love of Christ, and a final group project where they put these skills into practice.  They will pray, learn, and work alongside other teens from across the diocese, helping them to see that they are not alone in their love of the Lord or in their desire to serve His people.  The hope is that the high school teens who attend Discipleship Week return to their communities with a renewed zeal for their Catholic faith.

The final group project is EPIC, a one-day diocesan event for middle school youth (rising grades 6-8).  The high school teens from Discipleship Week will hold a variety of leadership roles at this event, from giving short testimonies to coordinating relay race games.  To find out more about EPIC visit the Office for Evangelization website.

A typical day of Discipleship Week will include 3 sessions that will be a combination of Zoom and off-Zoom talks and activities.  These sessions will include personal prayer and reflection, practical skills for missionary discipleship, and group projects to prepare for EPIC.

Where and when is the Discipleship Week?

The Discipleship Week will be held virtually from Tuesday, August 3, 2021 through Friday, August 6, 2021.  In addition to Discipleship Week itself, all participants will be given roles at EPIC, an in-person middle school event that will happen all-day on Saturday, August 7, 2021 in Richmond, VA.  At this point, participants will need to coordinate their own transportation to and from EPIC, and no overnight housing accommodations will be provided.

Who should attend the Discipleship Week?

The Discipleship Week is aimed at rising 11^th & 12^th graders, with the option open for rising 10^th graders to attend at the discretion of their parish Youth Minister.  This week is aimed at equipping teens in parishes who are ready to be missionary disciples, whether in formal leadership positions at the parish or simply in the way they live their lives.  Youth Ministers are encouraged to identify and specifically invite teens who they think would be interested to attend.

What is the registration fee?

The cost for youth participants is $75/person

How do I register my child?

The last day to register is Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 11:59pm.  Stop by the church office and speak with Joyce or Homero to check on availability and pickup registration.