Retreat under the stars at Tecaboca

Jose J. Matos Auffant, Executive Director of Tecaboca: Camp and Retreat Center, sends us this update.

Confirmation candidates from St. Paul Catholic Church in San Antonio enjoyed unique experiences at their retreat in preparation for the reception of the sacrament.  The group leaders took advantage of a full moon and clear skies to integrate an inspiring stargazing meditation (see photo) to cap a full night of outdoor activities.  Their favorite moment was the adoration led by the parish deacon at The Amphitheatre located right by the Johnson Creek waterfront (see photos). 

These opportunities to retreat under the stars will continue in the near future, according to the group leaders. The participants expressed their awed and humbling experiences during the retreat that was designed to be held outdoors during most of their time at Tecaboca.

Experiences like these are invaluable to connect young people from an urban setting with the Texas big sky at night in a natural environment.  When designing retreats in an environment like Tecaboca, we encourage group leaders to think creatively in order to develop an ecological spirituality that helps participants respond to the cry of the Earth once they return home. This way, Tecaboca continues to advance Laudato Si platform action areas in the beautiful surroundings of the Texas Hill Country.