For 90 years, Christians have gathered for a summer retreat at Notre Dame to grow in faith through a weekend of prayer. The annual retreat, which has run continuously since 1918, welcomes families and friends to campus for a spiritual journey that promises to strengthen their bonds with God and with each other.

This year’s retreat will be held Aug. 1-3 on campus. Families are invited to attend the three-day event, which will center on the theme “All for the Glory of God” with specific attention to the writings of Paul.

Rev. Steve Gibson, C.S.C., who has been involved with the retreat for more than 30 years, said the event has “changed nature” over time. “It used to attract nearly 2,000 men, but now it’s primarily a family retreat,” he says. “There are many opportunities for families to take advantage of Notre Dame’s facilities.” 

Participants of the retreat stay in campus residence halls and eat at University dining halls. The retreat will include conferences and presentations to promote family and individual prayer, including Masses at Washington Hall and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Stations of the Cross along the shores of St. Joseph’s Lake, a candlelight procession to the Grotto, and time to relax with family and friends amid the peaceful ambiance of Notre Dame’s storied campus.

University of Las Vegas Drama Professor Clarence Gilyard—who played the deputy on the television series Walker, Texas Ranger—will be guest speaker at the retreat.

The retreat is sponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries, an organization that—under the sponsorship of the Congregation of Holy Cross—champions the belief that “a family that prays together stays together” and promotes the overall spiritual well-being of the family.

According to Father Gibson, the “spirit of Notre Dame” and its communal atmosphere attracts many participants to the retreat year after year. “The campus is beautiful in the summer,” he says. “People look forward to being with those they met in prior years.”

Individuals or families interested in attending this year’s retreat should e-mail amelanson@hcfm.org or visit the HCFM Web site. The cost of attendance for adults is $125 and $90 for children age 5-17. Children under the age of 5 may attend at no charge.

For more information, contact Father Steve Gibson at sgibson1@nd.edu or 574-631-8763.