First Eucharist Virtual Retreat
First Eucharist Family Retreat
You will need to take time to gather/ prepare these things:
Internet with a large screen—laptop or bigger. Does your phone communicate with your TV screen? That will be perfect!
A prayer table or sacred space.
A special snack or small meal prepared and set aside for later.
Some paper or a notebook or journal and a pen. You only need one of these, as only one person will need to do writing for the whole family.
Silent fidgets (pipe cleaners, Legos, etc) for anyone who needs something to do to help them listen better.
Set aside about 70 minutes when all outside communications stop, when you are energized but calm. The whole family can participate in this at-home / online retreat, so long as everyone agrees to try their best to really enter into it and participate.
Virtual Retreat
Gather your family.
Light the candles on your prayer space.
Begin with the Lord’s prayer. Then thank God for calling you into this time with Him. (3 minutes)
Watch the lesson about Eucharist. (10 minutes)
As a family, share some ideas of how you would pray, what you can say to Jesus after receiving Him in Eucharist.
Somebody takes notes.
As a family, turn those ideas into a prayer. Practice praying it together. (15 minutes)
Watch the John Michael Talbot video (7 minutes)
Talk about: (10- 15 minutes)
What ideas stand out to you?
What did you learn that is new?
Open your bible.
Start with this prayer:
Holy Spirit God, let your living word be alive in each one of us. Show me a word that you want me to understand more deeply. Give us your divine life and freedom.
Amen.
Read John 6: 48- 58 (5 minutes)
Say: We’ll let the word sink into our hearts. Sit for 3 minutes thinking about the word you read.
Read it again.
Discuss: What do you hear the Lord saying to you in this word? (5 minutes)
Thank God for speaking into your heart.
Listen to the music video again
Make the sign of the cross to end your prayer time.
Enjoy a meal or snack together.