The Freshman Encounter is designed to help young people of the diocese become disciples of Jesus Christ who are formed as fully engaged members of the Catholic Church. The Encounter begins with a one day retreat. The focus of this retreat is three fold: encountering Our Lord, healing through Our Lord, and following Our Lord wherever he calls us. The Freshmen are placed into small groups to discuss the themes at the retreat and throughout the year.
Encounter Retreat
This one-day event gives freshman students an opportunity to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. There will be three meditations. The topics will consist of encounter with God, healing, and discipleship. After each meditation, there will be a breakout session. During the breakout session, the students will discuss questions and/or thoughts regarding the preceding meditation. For these breakout sessions, the Catholic school students will be placed into groups of eight to ten students from different parishes; they will be called Encounter Groups. At least one adult mentor who has completed safe environment training will lead the Encounter Groups. For Public school students, they will be divided into groups by parish. All freshmen in the diocesan Catholic schools will be required to be at the Freshmen Encounter and a member of an Encounter group.
For more information contact your local Catholic high school.
Encounter Small Groups
The purpose of the Encounter small groups is to allow students the opportunity to hear, witness, and proclaim Jesus Christ within a community. Because of the diversity of situations of schools and parishes in the Diocese of Lincoln, these groups will be formed according to what is most appropriate to for each location.
Students in the Catholic Schools: The groups will ideally meet once a week. This consistent contact among group members and the group mentor(s) is meant to encourage relationship, discipleship, witness, and prayer. In general, groups will be organized by gender and ideally the group size will be 8-10.
Students in Public Schools: These groups will also meet once a week with a focus not only on encounter but also catechesis for the purpose of teaching the fundamental tenets of the Faith. Of course the principles of relationship, witness, discipleship, and prayer will be an integral part of these groups as well. In many cases, these groups will be a continuation of the current God-teen groups.
Each groups will look different according to location. The following is a general guideline for group formations:
- Scenario 1: For parishes not connected with a Catholic school. The only change to the system would be the opportunity to kick off the Godteen or youth group setting at the Freshman Encounter event itself.
- Scenario 2: For public school students at parishes with a connection to a Catholic high school outside of the city of Lincoln. This becomes the Godteen group. There is the opportunity of the Freshmen Encounter event as well as the once a month gathering at the parish or regional space.
- Scenario 3: For Catholic school students at parishes outside of the city of Lincoln. The Freshman Encounter becomes the first meeting place of the Encounter groups, which will be run through the school. The change for the parish will be to host the monthly gathering with Scenario 2.
- Scenario 4: For public school students at parishes in the city of Lincoln. This becomes the Godteen group. There is the opportunity of the Freshman Encounter event as well as hosting the once a month gathering at the parish.
- Scenario 5: For Pius X students. The Freshman Encounter becomes the first meeting place of the Encounter groups. Groups will be established through The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in conjunction with Campus Ministry at Pius X. The change for the parish will be hosting the monthly gathering with Scenario 4.
