SPIRITUS FAQs

I have never done a retreat before, can I still apply?
Retreat experience is not necessary, but it is helpful. It is necessary to have a love for God, the Catholic faith and for sharing that with young people. It is also important to be open to the Holy Spirit guiding and forming you throughout the year.

What is the time commitment?
Team members serve from mid-August through mid-May each year. The exact dates vary each year.

Do I have to be active in my parish or college ministry?
No, but you will need to be a practicing Catholic and provide a letter from your pastor that you are in good standing with the Church.

What happens during training?
The first week or so we will join the NET Ministries training. NET Ministries has a long history of training retreat teams and they do an excellent job. SPIRITUS team members receive training in the following areas: loving God and loving others; the content of the Gospel message; leadership and team building skills. They follow a busy schedule that includes daily Mass and prayer, opportunities to meet individually with a priest, staff-led sharing groups, and recreation.

After training camp, we will return to Mount Tabor Center for training in Catholic evangelization and retreat ministry.

What happens on a SPIRITUS retreat?
The retreats consist of ice breakers, praise music, witness talks, small groups, dramas, challenge activities, and prayer.

Where will I live?
The women will live in a separate residence located in Mount Tabor Center and the men will live in a local rectory. All team members will have their own room.

How will we get around?
There will be a 12 passenger van and a minivan available for team transportation.

What about community prayer?
Our ministry is founded in Christ and His presence in the Eucharist. We will attend daily Mass as the retreat schedule allows.The team will pray 30 minutes each day to the Holy Spirit in praise and song. These forms of community prayer are foundational to our evangelization ministry. We will also practice 30 minutes of daily private prayer.

What about my health insurance?
Mount Tabor Center provides each team member with medical insurance. However, pre-existing conditions are excluded.

What does it mean to “make appeals in parishes we serve?”
Team members are not asked to raise money before joining SPIRITUS. Members are asked to talk about their ministry to the parishes we serve and invite them to partner in our evangelization efforts.

Can I get a loan deferment?
We can provide you with a letter to send to your lender asking them to give you a deferment since you will be doing service work for a year.