ACTS Retreats at IHM
ACTS is an acronym that stands for Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service. It is a retreat format that was started in San Antonio, Texas, and grew out of other retreat formats that already existed. It is centered on how we as Catholics can improve our relationship with God and build a better, stronger faith community.
Through the ACTS retreat, ACTS Missions provides a spark that ignites Catholics worldwide with the eternal flame of the Holy Spirit. As an instrument of God, ACTS is a light that will help bring about the New Evangelization by fostering love and true discipleship, leading others to a commitment and obedience to Our Lord Jesus Christ by our every word, action, and thought.
The Holy Spirit helps us to find and to articulate these mysteries. The teaching on the Trinity, that is, that there are three Persons in one God, is found in the Bible in the many instances where Jesus speaks about his relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The terms that the Church needed to express this mystery were given to her over several hundred years by the same Holy Spirit that inspired the Gospel writers as they wrote of the words of Jesus that revealed the mystery in the first place. The Church’s teachings about the Blessed Mother, the saints, the role of virtue and holiness are found in the Bible implicitly in varying degrees.
Bible Study has become a very effective way to help Catholics uncover the true meaning of Scripture. The Bible is at the heart of our faith and our relationship with God. It is the living Word of God, where our Father meets with us and lovingly speaks to us. Through guided study, one is able to grow in the knowledge and appreciation for the written Word of God, such that it reminds us of our beliefs and inspires our devotions.
The retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday at a Mass celebrated with the parish community. Retreats for men and retreats for women are given separately. Talks and activities during the retreat focus on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service. Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are the guides for the retreats.
Each retreat is conducted by a retreat "team" composed of 20-30 individuals who have attended prior ACTS retreats. The team organizes the retreat, conducts the retreat talks and activities, and ministers to the needs of the retreatants during the retreat weekend. At IHM, ACTS retreats are conducted both in English and Spanish for men and women separately.
For further information, please contact our office at (210) 226-8268
More about ACTS Missions can be found at http://www.actsmissions.org